O’Meara wins Masters at age 41
Golfer Mark O’Meara entered the 1998 Masters having enjoyed a successful and lucrative career but seemingly was on its downside.
During a magical week at Augusta National Golf Club, O’Meara discovered the fountain of youth, inspired by his young friend and fellow Isleworth resident Tiger Woods.
Despite 14 wins on the PGA Tour, the 41-year-old O’Meara rarely had been a factor in major championships, recording just seven top-10s during 57 previous appearances. O’Meara’s only top-10 during 15 previous Masters was a tie for fourth in 1992.
But O’Meara, like everyone in golf, had been awestruck watching Woods win the Masters in recordsetting fashion at year earlier at age 21. Woods and O’Meara had become good friends and played together regularly back home in Orlando.
O’Meara wanted his own green jacket — who better than Woods to drape it over his friend’s shoulders?
“I knew there were comments about why I hadn’t won one,” O’Meara told the Augusta Chronicle. “If I’d known what the answer was, I would have solved the problem. Today, it was timing, a little bit of luck and doing things at the right time.’”
O’Meara reached the winner’s ceremony in dramatic fashion, becoming the first Masters champion since Arnold Palmer in 1960 to birdie the final two holes. O’Meara, who also made birdie on the 15th hole, sank a 20-foot putt on the 18th green to seal the deal.
“When I was over the putt, I said to myself, ‘This is what it’s all about. This is what you come to play for,’ ” O’Meara said afterward. “It was my opportunity. Fortunately, I seized it.”
O’Meara’s heroics gave him a one-shot victory against 1992 Masters winner Fred Couples and rising star David Duval.
“I think this completes his legacy,” Duval said afterward. “It proves he’s a true champion.”
O’Meara offered further proof that summer with a victory at the Open Championship at Royal Birkdale. In the process, he became the oldest winner of multiple majors in the same year.