10 Hidden Moments You Might’ve Missed from a Wild Masters Weekend
Rory’s Grand Slam drama stole the show, but Augusta was packed with storylines — here are 10 that flew under the radar.
If your Masters weekend revolved around Rory McIlroy’s Grand Slam pursuit, you probably missed some of the chaos, heartbreak, and brilliance happening elsewhere on the course. Let’s catch up on the lesser-known but no-less-fascinating subplots from a thrilling tournament:
1. Patrick Reed’s Putt Could’ve Changed Everything
Reed’s back-nine rollercoaster included a missed three-footer for birdie on No. 13, followed by a missed comebacker — a brutal bogey at the worst time. Minutes later, he holed out for eagle on 17 to finish at 9 under. If those short putts had dropped, he could’ve posted 11 under and potentially forced a playoff. Instead, it was a podium finish with a side of “what if?”
2. Lefty Surprise: Bubba and McCarty Shine
Of the record eight left-handed golfers in the field, few predicted that Bubba Watson and Matt McCarty would end up as the top finishers. Both finished T14, outshining past champions and hot picks like Mickelson, Harman, and Bhatia.
3. Ludvig Åberg’s Costly Collapse
At 10 under with two to play, Åberg was very much in contention. A bogey on 17 followed by an aggressive misfire from a fairway bunker on 18 led to a triple bogey. The final cost? A solo third turned into solo seventh — and a $700,000 difference in prize money.
4. Shane Lowry Took One for the Team
Lowry’s final-round 81 included seven bogeys and two doubles, yet when McIlroy sealed his win, Lowry was one of the first to celebrate. A brutal round, but a classy moment.
5. Xander Schauffele’s Major Machine Keeps Rolling
Schauffele’s T8 finish made it five straight majors inside the top 8 and 12 consecutive top-20s at majors. Quietly consistent, quietly elite.
6. Max Homa Earns His Invite Back
After nearly falling out of the top 100, Homa’s T12 finish locks in an invite for next year’s Masters. A promising return to form after months of struggles.
7. Rose and Zach, an Unlikely Final Pairing
Justin Rose led after Friday. Zach Johnson was nearly last among those who made the cut. By Sunday, they were paired together after a 75 from Rose and a stunning 66 from Johnson. Both closed strong — Johnson finishing T8, Rose surging to a 66 and nearly stealing the show.
8. Hideki Matsuyama’s Weekend Swing
Hideki shot the worst score on Saturday (79), then turned around Sunday with a co-low round of 66. That kind of swing in performance? Peak Augusta.
9. Rory’s 15th-Hole Redemption
Last year at the U.S. Open, McIlroy overcooked a pivotal 15th-hole iron shot. This time? A towering 7-iron to six feet on the par-5 — one of the best shots of the weekend. Even though he missed the eagle putt, it was a major shot in a major moment.
10. Rory and Bryson: A Cold Front Brewing?
Playing alongside each other, McIlroy and DeChambeau barely exchanged a word. DeChambeau later said, “Didn’t talk to me once all day.” No bad blood, it seems — just laser focus. Still, given their recent major history, this rivalry might just be heating up.
From missed putts to mini-redemptions, unlikely heroes to low-key legends, the Masters always delivers drama. Sometimes, you just have to look a little deeper down the leaderboard — or the broadcast — to find it.
