STROKE OF THE DAY

"Goof golf is simply a matter of hitting good shots consistently."

With lots of history, an unbelievable setting and one of the most recognizable (and fashionable) trophies in American sport, the Masters may be the most complete golf tournament on earth.

Six players with strong ties to Southern California have won a Green Jacket, two of them on multiple occasions. Here’s a recap of their triumphs at the season’s first major.

1970: Casper wins battle of San Diegans

With two U.S. Open titles under his belt, San Diego’s Billy Casper seemed poised to add a third major when he had the 54-hole lead at the 1970 Masters. But fellow San Diegan Gene Littler, who began the final round one shot behind, posted a 70 to Casper’s 71 Sunday to force an 18-hole playoff the following day. Casper held off Littler, 69-74, marking the last time the tournament would be decided by a full round as opposed to sudden death.

1982: The Walrus hangs on

First-round rains in 1982 made scoring tough at Augusta, but Craig Stadler rebounded from an opening 75 to win his only major. He sure made it interesting, though: “The Walrus” was six clear of the field when he started the back nine Sunday, but a 4-over 40 dropped him into a tie with Dan Pohl at the end of regulation. Stadler, a San Diego naitve, rebounded, draining a 6-foot par putt on the first extra hole to beat Pohl.

1992: Freddie finally gets major

Widely regarded as the best player in the world without a major at the time, Fred Couples relied on a stroke of luck at the treacherous par-3 12th to rid of himself of that title. During the final round, Couples hit his tee shot short on the front bank of the green, and while just about every other ball would have rolled into Rae’s Creek, his stayed dry. The La Quinta transplant went on to shoot 1-under on the back nine to win by two strokes over 49-year-old Raymond Floyd.

1997: The prince arrives

There are so many astonishing facts about Tiger Woods’ first Green Jacket, but let’s start at the beginning: During his first nine holes in the opening round, Woods shot 40. That’s 4-over par, so the fact the Cypress native was able to shoot 22-under-par for his remaining 63 holes is incredible. Woods set 20 Masters records in 1997, most notable total score (270), margin of victory (12 strokes) and age for a champion (21 years old). With all respect to his equally astonishing performance at the 2000 U.S. Open, the 1997 Masters will remain his most memorable major victory because of what it did for his career and the profile of golf across the world.

 
1998: O’Meara comes out of nowhere

Mark O’Meara’s victory at the 1998 Masters remains one of the most improbable in the tournament’s history. David Duval seemed to be in control of the event on the back nine Sunday, but a three-putt bogey on the 16th hole gave O’Meara a small opening. The former Mission Viejo resident took advantage, notching dramatic birdies on his 17th and 18th holes to beat Duval and Fred Couples, who saw his chances for a second Green Jacket slip away after a double bogey on the par-5 13th.

2001: The “Tiger Slam”

Tiger Woods was firmly entrenched atop the golf world in early 2001, and he validated one of the best runs in sports history by winning the 2001 Masters for his fourth straight major title. Beginning the final round with a one-shot advantage over Phil Mickelson, Woods fired a 4-under 68 to win comfortably over Mickelson and David Duval, who threatened the lead Sunday on his way to a 67.

2002: Woods joins Faldo, Nicklaus in elite company

When the third round of the 2002 Masters began, the leaderboard was crammed with big names. But, not surprisingly, the biggest name managed to separate himself from the pack. Woods shot a 6-under 66 Saturday, tying Retief Goosen at 11-under par heading into the final round. Goosen struggled Sunday, shooting a 74, while Woods hung on with a 71 to join Jack Nicklaus and Nick Faldo as the only back-to-back Masters winners.

2004: Lefty gets it right

San Diego native Phil Mickelson began the final round of the 2004 Masters tied with Chris DiMarco. Some early stumbles knocked Mickelson out of the top spot and opened the door for Ernie Els, who held the clubhouse lead at 8-under par after a stellar 67 Sunday. But Mickelson proved to be resilient, posting four birdies on the back nine prior to the 18th hole. Lefty saved his best for last, holing an 18-foot birdie putt that led to one of golf’s most memorable victory leaps.

2005: Best chip ever?

Still left with a bad taste in his mouth after the ’04 Masters, Chris DiMarco returned to Augusta in ’05 and again put himself in contention with a pair of 67s in the first two rounds. Just when it looked like a Green Jacket was in his sights, Tiger Woods stormed the field Saturday with seven straight birdies and a 65 that vaulted him to the lead at 11-under par heading into the final round. DiMarco fought hard, shooting a 68 Sunday to force a playoff with Woods, who punctuated his pedestrian 71 with a incredible holed chip on the par-3 16th that started well above the hole and rolled into the cup on its last revolution. There wasn’t much drama in sudden death, as Woods birdied the 18th while DiMarco failed to give himself a real chance.

2006: Two drivers, two Green Jackets

Many people thought Phil Mickelson was crazy for putting two drivers in his bag at the 2006 Masters. Turns out he was crazy — like a fox. Using two Callaway FT-3s — one with a fade bias, the other a draw — Mickelson played steady golf in slick conditions to capture his second Green Jacket. Though Tiger Woods finished in a five-way tie for third, he failed to break 70 during the tournament and never seriously threatened Lefty.