Schauffele’s Disastrous 16 Hole an All-Time Choke in Masters History

There is nothing quite like playing in The Masters, let alone the final pairing on Sunday. The pressures and surrounding eyes of spectators across the world were highly focussed on the unlikely final pairing of Hideki Matsuyama and Xander Schauffele, both of whom have had great success at The Master’s but came into Sunday still seeking the illustrious green jacket to add to their trophy cases.

As we all witnessed throughout the day, Hideki Matsuyama was playing Master’s caliber golf and maintaining a healthy, comfortably lead heading into the final couple of holes. With most of the days’ final pairs finished and in the clubhouse, it became pretty evident that the 2021 Master’s champion would most likely reign from the final group.

At one point, down the stretch, it seemed that Matsuyama was locked and loaded to crush the field and take down the title, but Mr. Schauffele wouldn’t make it too easy for him. A birdie streak on holes 12 through 15 would help Xander acquire the fire power he needed if he wanted to make a late run at upsetting the Japanese native.

Hole 15 was the most exciting of the bunch as it would take hostage of Matsuyama’s approach shot after it ended up in the water. Xander’s approach was safely on deck and in the right, green-side bunker. Dropping 3 and hitting 4, Matsuyama was faced with a difficult up-and-down to try and save par and, at the very least, save bogey.

Four birdies in a row for Xander Schauffele puts him within striking distance with three holes to play. #themasters pic.twitter.com/khTsjqKZ4j

— The Masters (@TheMasters) April 11, 2021

Ultimately, his water-bound hole would cost him one stroke which, in turn, would provide Schauffele with an opportunity to execute a two-shot swing. Hitting out of the bunker, Xander’s ball was millimeters away from dropping in for eagle; he would, instead, make birdie and come within two shots of Hideki heading into the final three holes.

The electricity and true competition we had all been eagerly awaiting throughout the day had finally arrived. At this point, the match was prophesying a toss-up on who would don the green jacket at the end of the day, and both golfers wanted nothing more than to close out the tournament triumphant.

Schauffele was first off the tee on 16. A hole where Augusta has seen a handful of aces, one couldn’t help but imagine how amazing it would be if Xander made a 1. But, his ball had other plans. A flush 8-iron which both sounded and looked fantastic off the club-face would turn out to be a let down, as it would end up in the drink. Hideki hits his first and he is safely on.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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At the absolute best, Xander could knock in his third from the drop zone, but it just seemed highly unlikely. A poor chip shot, which landed on the back of the green by the patrons, added onto the immense package of troubles that he was already dealing with.

The famous 16th took advantage of Xander, consequently providing him with a triple-bogey. On Hideki’s side of the game, he would go on to three-putt for bogey and drop down to -11. The green jacket was, at this point, surely his. A par on 17 and a 2019, Tiger-esque bogey on 18 secured Hideki Matsuyama a one-shot victory over first time Master’s competitor Will Zalatoris.

Now, I am surely not alone in the immediate thought process of “What if Xander made it safely on 16 and either parred or birdied?” right after the events played out. A par would have put him within one shot shy of Hideki with two to play, while a birdie would have tied it. While I am sure that these thoughts were racing through Xander’s mind both before, during and after the disastrous 16th, there is nothing that he could do about it.

Augusta allowed him to soak in the excitement and then, in the blink of an eye, put a damper on all those efforts and amazing shots. Like so many others before him, Xander experienced some of the highest highs and the lowest lows one can encounter on the final day of the 2021 Master’s. As he has proven in the past, Augusta is his place; he consistently plays well there. I know I am not alone in thinking that Xander will, one day, sport the rare green jacket.

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