Editor’s note: In the April difficulty, inside the closing tale Dan Jenkins did for Golf Digest earlier than his death at 90, he added our Greatest of All Time Invitational—The GOAT. The pinnacle 32 within the mythical event superior from stroke play qualifies at Augusta National to suit play venues around the arena. In the May problem and online day by day from March 20 to April 3, Senior Writer Guy Yocom is documenting the 30 in shape-play results leading to the final at Pebble Beach. Who will become the champion? The winner will be found out online on April four and within the June difficulty. Screenwriter Mark Frost, whose books have covered The Greatest Game Ever Played and The Match: The Day the Game of Golf Changed Forever, will write versions of the very last with exclusive winners.

 Golf

When Jack regarded at the tee wearing a duplicate of the argyle sweater he wore during his 1978 Open Championship victory at St. Andrews, cheers erupted from the gallery and the florid-faced denizens within the R&A clubhouse. Seve, pleading for special mojo from the golf deities, arrived embellished in the same navy blue V-neck sweater he’d worn while winning the Open at the Old Course in 1984. Such a din became uncommon at the Home of Golf, and the starter, Ivor Robson, had to improve his voice for the first time so the player’s introductions could be heard.

Steve had the honor, and while sure at first almost bounded into the Swilcan Burn, Nicklaus judiciously chose a 1-iron. A deft pitch by Seve led to a birdie and 1-up lead, and he improved the advantage to 2 up with a chip-in for birdie at the strong fourth. Ballesteros sustained the margin thru nine holes, his ball-striking far higher than many expected. “He’s out-Nicklaus Nicklaus!” said TV commentator Henry Longhurst, in short placing down his martini.

Steve became an entire flight, striding imperiously down the fairways, head held excessively, chin jutted ahead. Jack knew there had been but one way to break Seve’s momentum—his very own incomparable game. At the shortish par-four 10th, he bludgeoned a motive force into the heart of the green and made birdie for a win. At the suggest, par-3 11th, the wind blowing tough from the right left, he hit a towering cut 6-iron that held its line and stopped four toes from the flag. The birdie that accompanied squared the suit.

There changed into no blood on the subsequent two holes, but at the par-five 14th, Jack obtained his first lead of the healthy while Seve determined the Hell Bunker—his first critical tactical miscue—and took 4 to reach the green. That gave Nicklaus a 1-up lead to the par-4 17th, the famous—and notorious—Road Hole. With Nicklaus the inexperienced, Seve performed a low, running hook that drew too much. His ball didn’t just discover the Road Hole Bunker; it nestled close against its sad face. Seve’s most lofted wedge became fifty-six degrees, and no longer even his creativity and gifted palms should store him.

When Seve failed to break out on his 2d attempt, he emerged from the bunker and congratulated Jack. The St. Andrews townsfolk, awed by the drama of the in shape, hoisted both players on their shoulders as they had Bobby Jones on the 1927 Open Championship at the Old Course. They carried them all the way to the clubhouse.