As the 1986 Masters got underway, Jack Nicklaus had achieved pretty much everything one could achieve in the world of golf. He had 17 major victories and cemented himself as the greatest of all time. Still, this particular Masters was special because of who was on the bag: his son, Jack Nicklaus II, better known as Jackie. Talk about the ultimate father-son moment. 

By this point in his career, Nicklaus was 46 and hadn’t won in two years. Read: he wasn’t supposed to compete here. Entering the final round, he was four shots back of the lead. As he made the turn, he was still four shots back of the lead. Then, he turned back the clock. He opened the back with three birdies and a bogey. He was still four shots back, but continued charging. He tallied birdie, par, eagle, birdie, to head into No. 17 in a three-way tie for first. 

Nandina is a tricky, but not impossible par four. It plays relatively straight and is protected by greenside bunkers. As a five-time Masters winner, you’d think Nicklaus would know how to navigate Nandina blindfolded. You’d also be wrong. The broadcast cameras lost his drive instantly. When they found his ball, it was way left, but playable. He had 125 yards to the pin. The crowd erupted as he placed it about 17 feet from the hole. With a birdie, he could take the lead.

This is where Lundquist and Nicklaus become locked together in Masters lore. Nicklaus taps the ball. We hear Verne say, “maybe,” as the ball inches closer to the cup. Nicklaus raises his putter as if to steer the ball in. It drops and Lundquist’s smooth voice utters the most famous call in Masters history, “Yes sir!”