Pebble Beach could well have been the scene of one of the luckiest golf shots of all time during the 1984 AT&T Pro-Am.
Over the years, the iconic Monterey Peninsula venue has played host to some of the game’s great moments: Tiger Woods’ record-breaking 2000 US Open win, Gary Woodland’s victory in 2019 or Jack Nicklaus’ stinging 1-iron to the 17th in 1972.
More recently, Wyndham Clark’s course record in 2024 and Justin Rose’s 2023 AT&T Pro-Am win are moments added to Pebble Beach’s storied past.
Yet, 40 years ago, Hale Irwin’s 1984 AT&T Pro-Am victory still boasts a unique moment in the California course’s history.
Hale Irwin’s lucky moment at Pebble Beach
Hale Irwin, a three-time US Open winner, knew that a birdie on the famous 18th would send the 1984 AT&T Pro-Am into a playoff.
However, after Irwin snap-hooked his drive, the then 39-year-old hopes looked destined to end up, quite literally, at the bottom of the Pacific Ocean.
Yet, the golfing gods were on Irwin’s side that day.
Irwin’s ball miraculously hit a rock and bounced back into the fairway. He would go on to lay-up before hitting the pin with his third shot. And, after he holed the birdie putt, a playoff with Canadian Jim Nelford took place.
What happened during the 1984 AT&T Pro-Am playoff
Fortune was seemingly on Irwin’s side, and during the playoff, he produced a stunning fairway bunker shot to set up a birdie three on the second.
Irwin would sink the putt to clinch victory after Nelford could only manage a par. The Canadian had shot a 68 (four under) to hold the clubhouse lead and was seeking his first PGA Tour win since making his debut in 1978.
Speaking after his win, Irwin admitted the fortunate moment was unlike anything he’d ever seen on the 18th at Pebble Beach. “I’ve seen 300 golf balls go over that cliff, none of which ever made it back to the fairway before,” Irwin said.
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