Masters Top 10 Shots/Moments List

With the Masters beginning on Thursday, what better way to kick it off here with a Golf Coast top 10 list.

So here is our opinion of the Top 10 Masters shots or moments that aided a player donning the green jacket:

10. Charl Schwartzel, 2011

Schwartzel didn't have one shot that got him an annual invitation to Augusta National for the Masters, rather the South African escaped a maddening final round with four consecutive birdies to earn a two-shot victory. His string of birdies to close that Sunday's action was the first time in Masters history to complete the feat and triumph, and it came in a tournament forever linked to Rory McIlroy's epic collapse.

9. Fuzzy Zoeller, 1979

The importance of Zoeller's winning putt is what makes his inclusion in this list mandatory. It came in a playoff against Tom Watson and Ed Sneed, while the sun was fast setting. But the real point to it all is that Zoeller won the tournament in his first appearance, a historical no-no considering Masters champions usually come after learning the intricacies of Augusta National over time.

8. Phil Mickelson, 2004

Lefty entered that year's edition still holding the tag of "Best player to never win a major." That was shed as he dropped a birdie on the 72nd hole. The putt is one we've seen several champs convert on the final hole such as Mark O'Meara and Vijay Singh, but Mickelson's winning putt resonated with everyone that had witnessed the left-hander implode down the stretch at too many majors in the past.

7. Jack Nicklaus, 1986

The Golden Bear was past his prime. He was washed up, and wasn't a contender because he hadn't won a major in years. Or so it was said leading into the 1986 edition. The momentum shifted firmly in Nicklaus' favor when he delivered a birdie on the 17th hole on the final day for his first lead in the 72-hole tournament. He sealed things up on No. 18 and watched as his challengers faded.

6. Jack Nicklaus, 1975

Yes, the 18-time major champion is listed twice. And back-to-back, for that matter. There's a good reason as Nicklaus drained a 40-footer on the par-3 16th that led to another Masters title. The putt was much-needed for the Golden Bear as Johnny Miller and Tom Weiskopf were in the mix, threatening to take the green jacket for themselves.

5. Larry Mize, 1987

Most people would rate this shot higher, and perhaps I have it a little low. Well, the significance and pure shock of Mize's chip-in to defeat Greg Norman in a playoff in addition to the length (over 100 feet) is enough to make it standout as possibly the greatest shot ever. However, this writer feels there are four better ones.

4. Tiger Woods, 2005

Perhaps it's recent history swaying my mind, but I feel Tiger's chip-in on the 16th was really difficult to judge despite the slope aiding in his conversion. The crowd was loud on an epic level, and Nike had the perfect advertisement as the ball stopped briefly before falling into the cup with the company's swoosh logo visible to a global television audience. Despite having gravity aiding the effort, Woods had to throw the ball quite high on the ridge as he was short-sided and then hope it stayed on the path toward the hole. It did, and he found another green jacket.

3. Phil Mickelson, 2010

Nobody has ever confused Lefty as the conservative type in his course management, and he took the bold approach to a whole new level on the par-5 13th at the 2010 Masters. Facing an improbable 207-yard shot over water from the pine needles with some branches affecting his shot, Mickelson's choice seemed clear: lay-up and try making birdie with a wedge. Alas, Mickelson didn't do that and the result was one that is forever etched in the memory of that year's tournament. Fitting it in between two trees and just getting it past Rae's Creek, Mickelson reached the green in two and was quite close. He failed to make the eagle putt, but made birdie and was on his way to another green jacket.

2. Bubba Watson, 2012

This might seem like a tiring trend of so many 21st century shots included, but there's been quite a lot of good ones in the past 10 years. This one is no exception as Watson's winning shot from what seemed like an impossible angle in last year's playoff, easily is deserving of its high ranking. He hooked a wedge 50 yards, displaying his own style of golf, in captivating the crowd en route to his first major.

1. Gene Sarazen, 1935

We go old school with the top shot and/or moment in Masters history. The Squire's double-eagle with a 4-wood on the par-5 15th hole enabled him to get into a playoff with Craig Wood and come way with victory. The shot came with little fanfare in the second Masters tournament as there weren't as many spectators nor the power of television like there are today. Nonetheless, it was dubbed, "The Shot Heard Round the World." And it was memorialized at the course in subsequent years. Why not? The double-eagle is the hardest shot to attain, making a two on a par-5 or an ace on a par-4. It doesn't just take luck, but supreme skill in hitting two shots (in Sarazen's case) so precise to come away with what used to be called an albatross.

Golf Boys release second video

Who says golf is boring?

Leave it to 2012 Masters champion Bubba Watson and fellow PGA Tour players Ben Crane, Rickie Fowler and Hunter Mahan to lighten things up with their boy band musical group, "Golf Boys."

The quartet splashed onto the scene last year with a gnarly music video that was quite funny.

Now they're back at it again.

Crane, the ring leader, got his brethren together for the latest video, which was launched in early March.

Here it is:

Pro golf: Victorian Open leader DQ'ed

Golfers get disqualified from tournament competition for rules infractions. At the top level, it usually comes from a player not knowing they committed the penalty and were called out by a viewer that was sitting at home.

Well, how about the latest DQ in professional men's golf?

It wasn't because of the aforementioned viewer calling out the pro. Rather it's the pro failing to do the simplest of tasks: signing your scorecard.

New Zealander Nick Gillespie posted a 7-under par 65 that tied the course record at Thirteenth Beach Golf Links at the Victorian Open in Australia.

That was good for a two-shot lead heading into Friday's second round.

Except Gillespie didn't sign the scorecard and was promptly DQ'ed.

So local golfers should heed the above as a lesson: when playing tournament golf, double-check your scorecard and make sure you sign the card as well as sign for the correct scores on each hole.

Otherwise, you might cost yourself some big-time cash or a chance at a tournament title.

Poll: Tiger Woods

Will Tiger Woods win a major in 2013? That's one burning question heading into the new season that starts Friday with the PGA Tour's Hyundai Tournament of Champions in Hawaii.

Of course, it's been a question every season since Woods last claimed a major title, the 2008 United States Open on a bum knee.

The subsequent scandal of his infidelities broke globally and Woods hasn't been the same since.

But in 2012, he won three times. It's a sign that his game is recovering. Yours truly tabbed Woods to win either three or four times without a major leading into the 2012 season.

I've made some more predictions for 2013.

What are they?

Find out by picking up Saturday's edition of the Bradenton Herald.

Until then, make your voice heard by voting yes or no to the poll asking if Tiger Woods will win a major in 2013.

Local professional: Steve Pleis wins West Florida Golf Tour's Tour Championship

Logo provided by the WFGT

East Manatee County resident Steve Pleis fired a scorching 9-under par total to win the West Florida Golf Tour's 27-hole Tour Championship on Monday at the Ritz-Carlton Members Golf Club.

Pleis is a former caddy of local famous golfer Paul Azinger, and has considerable talent in his own right as evidenced by Monday's performance.

He defeated a field of more than 40 players to win the championship by five shots and claim the first-place prize of $2,000.

To read more about Pleis and the event, check out tomorrow's Bradenton Herald.

LPGA Symetra Tour: Jaclyn Sweeney on bubble

Jaclyn Sweeney practices ahead of her 2011 season at IMG. Paul Videla/pvidela@bradenton.com

The LPGA Symetra Tour's season is almost over, which means it's crunch time for players looking to earn an LPGA Tour card without having to go through Qualifying School.

Only the top 10 players on the money list at the end of the year earn a free pass to women's golf's biggest tour for 2013.

So with two tournaments remaining in 2012, the pressure is on for anyone on the bubble for the Volvik Race for the Card.

That brings us to the only local player with a real chance: Jaclyn Sweeney.

The Andover, Mass., native and Bradenton resident had a golden opportunity slip away this past weekend to lock up an LPGA Tour card.

After firing a first-round 66 to share the lead at the Symetra Classic in Texas, Sweeney returned scores of 73 and 75 in the second and third rounds, respectively.

The former Arizona State University star, who entered the week No. 9 on the money list, fell into a tie for 11th in the $100,000-pursed tournament.

That dropped her two positions in the money list to No. 11 with $29,866 in earnings this season.

She trails Leah Wigger by less than $400 and still can fight for her LPGA Tour card with solid performances over the final two tourneys.

The Symetra Tour is in Georgia this week for the Vidalia Championship, before heading to Daytona Beach to wrap the season up at the end of September.

Esther Choe, who claimed the inaugural Sara Bay Classic when the Symetra Tour was in Manatee County earlier this year, still leads the money list despite playing in only five tournaments.

Ricoh Women's British Open: Paula Creamer records top three finish

Paula Creamer at the Kingsmill Championship in early September. Photo courtesy of McClatchy-Tribune News Services.

IMG Academies alum Paula Creamer snagged a third place showing in this weekend's RICOH Women's British Open, but she wasn't close to challenging winner Jiyai Shin.

The South Korean blasted the field by nine shots, but Creamer's final-round 72 jumped her from a tie for 10th to third place at the conclusion of play.

Other locals didn't fare as well at the difficult Royal Liverpool Golf Club.

Bradenton native Jessica Korda and Manatee County resident Jodi Ewart both missed the cut.

Also, while not a local, Jacqui Concolino missed the cut. Concolino finished runner-up in the inaugural Sara Bay Classic this year. The tournament is a Symetra Tour event and brought major professional golf back to the area for the first time since the Champions Tour left TPC Prestancia in the early 2000s.