The Most Shocking Masters Champions by Year That Stunned Augusta

You'll never forget the Tournament's most shocking champions, starting with Roberto De Vicenzo's heartbreaking scorecard mistake in 1968 that handed Bob Goalby the green jacket. Rookie Fuzzy Zoeller stunned everyone in 1979 by overcoming a six-shot deficit, while Larry Mize's impossible 140-foot chip-in crushed Greg Norman in 1987. Zach Johnson won at 1-over par in 2007, and Charl Schwartzel birdied the final four holes in 2011 to steal victory. The stories behind these upsets reveal even more jaw-dropping moments.

When Roberto De Vicenzo walked off the 18th green at the 1968 Championship Tournament, he thought he'd just forced a playoff with Bob Goalby at 11-under par. The thing is, he hadn't checked his scorecard. His playing partner, Tommy Aaron, had mistakenly marked the 17th hole as a par 4 instead of De Vicenzo's actual birdie 3. After signing the card without reviewing it, De Vicenzo headed to the media area. That's when officials revealed the error. Under golf's strict rules, the higher score had to stand, meaning his final round counted as 66, not 65. Goalby won at 11-under 277, while De Vicenzo finished second at 10-under 278. "What a stupid I am!" he told reporters, taking full responsibility for the costly mistake. Tommy Aaron himself later won a green jacket in 1973, achieving personal redemption after years of emotional struggle following the 1968 incident.

While scorecard errors can rob someone of a victory, sometimes the Championship crown lands on the head of someone who seemingly has no business wearing it. That's exactly what happened when 27-year-old Fuzzy Zoeller showed up to Augusta National in 1979. The reality is, rookies don't win the Championship. It's practically an unwritten law. Yet Zoeller, who'd won his initial professional tournament just three months earlier, trailed leader Ed Sneed by six shots heading into Sunday. After making a birdie at the par-5 15th with an 8-iron to ten feet, he forced a three-way playoff. In the first sudden-death playoff in Championship history, Zoeller sank an 8-foot birdie putt on the second playoff hole to capture the green jacket! He celebrated by flinging his putter into the air in a moment of pure joy. It would remain his only Master's victory across 31 appearances at Augusta.

The 1987 Championship playoff looked like a done deal for Greg Norman. After Seve Ballesteros missed a 5-foot par putt on the initial playoff hole, it came down to Norman versus Augusta native Larry Mize on the 11th. The point is Norman's ball sat on the green's edge, while Mize's second shot landed 140 feet away in thick rye grass, practically killing his chances. But Mize pulled out his sand wedge and did the unthinkable: he chipped it in for birdie! Mize's calm demeanor under such intense pressure proved essential in executing what would become one of golf's most memorable shots. Norman's 30-foot putt missed left, and suddenly the hometown kid won his only major championship. The shot's so legendary that Mize's sand wedge still hangs in Augusta National's clubhouse, and he earned $162,000 plus a lifetime Masters exemption. Mize had gained access to Augusta National as a teenager by changing scoreboard numbers at age 14, making his victory even more meaningful.

Larry Mize's miracle chip shot proved that anything could happen at Augusta, but Zach Johnson's victory in 2007 was shocking for a completely different reason. You're looking at a guy who won at 1-over par, matching the highest winning score since 1956. The reality is: Johnson never went for the green in two on any par-5, relying instead on smart layups and solid putting. While Tiger Woods and five other golfers battled for the lead, Johnson quietly grabbed control with back-to-back birdies at 13 and 14. His final-round 69 sealed a two-stroke victory, giving him just his second career PGA Tour win. Johnson's pairing with close friend Vaughn Taylor in the final round provided crucial emotional support during the pressure-packed competition. The victory launched Johnson to his career-best world ranking of 4th just two years later. Retief Goosen praised Johnson's ball-striking, and the results spoke louder than anyone expected!

Four straight birdies on the final four holes, that's how Charl Schwartzel pulled off one of the most dramatic finishes in championship history at the 2011 tournament. You'd have witnessed pure chaos that final round, with eight different players sharing the lead at multiple points. Rory McIlroy? He collapsed with an 80 after leading by four strokes. Adam Scott looked like he'd win after birdieing 16 for a two-shot lead. Then Schwartzel started his historic run on 15, draining birdie putts on 15, 16, 17, and 18 to finish at 14-under. Jason Day's incredible 35-footer on 17 gave him the clubhouse lead at -12, but it wasn't enough. Day had posted a tournament-low score of 64 in the second round, giving him early momentum. Schwartzel's final-round 66 became the lowest score of the day. The South African's remarkable consistency throughout the week showed in his only two bogeys for the entire tournament.

You've just witnessed five of the wildest finishes in Masters history, from De Vicenzo's heartbreaking scorecard error in 1968 to Schwartzel's incredible four-birdie finish in 2011. The reality is: the Masters has a way of producing these jaw-dropping moments that nobody sees coming. That's what makes it golf's most unpredictable major! So next April, don't be surprised if another complete underdog grabs that green jacket.