Watching Final Round of 1975 Masters... a few items.

[V. Kmetz]

1. Audio Treasure #1.  Ben Wright in response to Nicklaus' beautiful 232 yd 1-iron on 15... "a stroke of magnificent violence" (he pronounced "violence" as a 3 syllable word..."vahy-O-lentz")


2. Audio Treasure #2.  Henry Longhurst's pronunciation of "Georgia" (as in "Georgia pines") as 2.5 syllables..."Geeyor-dgya"


3. Audio Treasure #3.  Immediately upon Nicklaus' shot on #16 (which results in the long Bear Tracks putt)...a under-breath cheer picked up by the mics (which I think comes from one of the Pinkerton guards) ..."Be on that shit Jack!"


4. Audio Treaure #4.  Ben Wright regarding the calm, windless weather and the stoic tension of events. "...even the water fears to make a ripple."


5.  Contextual Observation #1. - Green speeds... this was about 5 years before the bent conversion and they looked to be about mid 8s to lo 9s in the average, just short of 8,5 on the up-hillers, just short of 10 on the down-hillers. That's an approximation, but it's not a wild one.


6. Contextual Observation #2 - Tom Watson was paired with Nicklaus in the penultimate group; though he emerged as a name in 1971-72, he hadn't won a major yet (he would later that summer at the Open) and I wonder if this was the first time he was paired with Nicklaus in the final round of a major... outside of a poor chip par on 13 and sloppy bogey on 14, Nicklaus played a classic major winning round in style for which he was famous...a few thrusts but no dumb trouble or blow ups.  Even if it wasn't the absolute first, it must have been one of the firsts... I surmise Watson learned a lot that day (and just like the young inexperienced maverick, he made quadruple "7" on #16 with two in the water) watching Nicklaus win his 15th, outlasting two absolutely peaking stars in Weiskopf and Miller.


7. Masters Watching Note:  Watchign each of the available official ANGC produced films and having watched every single broadcast feed of any years' Masters one can get their hands on, I can say with a certain degree of authority 1975 was definitely a year that the course, the action and the CBS production each took a decided, noticeable turn to the character with which all are familiar now...course showed perfect, action was world class and exciting, CBS's broadcast strikes many reverent notes.   


The 1975 Masters is rightly remembered as a benchmark edition of the tournament, and exemplar of why the ANGC and its Masters, despite their conceits, are sources of joy and interest for and from the game.

[David_Tepper]

The Magnificent Masters is a very good book about the 1975 tournament.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/15843101-the-magnificent-masters

[Ira Fishman]

Reminds me that my bet for charity from about this time last year still stands. No active player will match Miller’s 25 tour wins. Cut off remains when I turn 75 (should I be so lucky) which is now 13 years from now.


The 1975 Masters remains bright in memory even after all of these years.


Ira

[Peter Pallotta]

VK --
you show remarkable restraint, and/or a distaste for the obvious, in not mentioning Audio Treasure #5 (and what should be required study for all would-be sports announcers):

Weiskopf birdies 15, and as the cheers go up they cut to Nicklaus on the 16th tee, and Longhurst says "Ah, evil music to Mr. Nicklaus' ears". Then a couple of minutes later, Nicklaus makes that birdie and the crowd goes crazy, and now they cut to Weiskopf, trying to look nonchalant, and Longhurst adds: "And now young Mr. Weiskopf must take, just as he dished it out".
Announcing (and directing) every bit as good in its way as the golf itself.

And the added beauty, the final chapter: 11 years later, Jack is again on the tee at 16, and Weiskopf is in the booth, and Nance asks him what's going through Jack's mind, and TW says "Jim, if I knew the way he thought I would've won this tournament." And as if on cue, Jack steps away from his address position and starts his pre-shot routine again, which gives TW the chance to add: "No, he's going to fire this right at the pin. He's going to think 'Jack, make the swing you're capable of making'. Stay down, accelerate through the ball. Make a good golf swing. Your destiny is right here". And then Jack hits it.

My goodness, they should put Wesikopf in the sports broadcasting hall of fame just for those few minutes.       

[Paul Rudovsky]

VK --


And the added beauty, the final chapter: 11 years later, Jack is again on the tee at 16, and Weiskopf is in the booth, and Nance asks him what's going through Jack's mind, and TW says "Jim, if I knew the way he thought I would've won this tournament." And as if on cue, Jack steps away from his address position and starts his pre-shot routine again, which gives TW the chance to add: "No, he's going to fire this right at the pin. He's going to think 'Jack, make the swing you're capable of making'. Stay down, accelerate through the ball. Make a good golf swing. Your destiny is right here". And then Jack hits it.

My goodness, they should put Wesikopf in the sports broadcasting hall of fame just for those few minutes. 


Peter-- Those comments by Weiskopf in 1986 IMO were the greatest golf broadcasting comments ever (and perhaps for all sports)...especially since they were almost for sure totally unrehearsed     

[JMEvensky]

My goodness, they should put Wesikopf in the sports broadcasting hall of fame just for those few minutes. 
     

In his own special wing. One of the rare times when the insight is more about the announcer than the announcee.

[Joe Bausch]

They should put Weiskopf in the wardrobe HofF for those bell-bottom Sans-a-belt slacks!  What color were those?!

[V. Kmetz]

They should put Weiskopf in the wardrobe HofF for those bell-bottom Sans-a-belt slacks!  What color were those?!

either dark mauve or amber plum

[Paul Dolton]

I'm sure there is an obvious answer but I've always wondered about the pairings on the last day.
Nicklaus was in second place after three rounds but played with Watson who was in fourth place.

[Mike_Clayton]

Paul


In Australia the tour played 1,3,5 and 2,4,6 (play was always in threes unlike Augusta) draws at the same time. It seems silly now but the argument for it was - in Australia at least - was it split the galleries between the last few groups rather than having them all follow the last group.

[Tim_Cronin]

Paul


In Australia the tour played 1,3,5 and 2,4,6 (play was always in threes unlike Augusta) draws at the same time. It seems silly now but the argument for it was - in Australia at least - was it split the galleries between the last few groups rather than having them all follow the last group.

Augusta did this as well, 1-3 and 2-4 together. Before that, Byron Nelson usually played with the leader on Sunday.