Alabama football coach Nick Saban’s Augusta National moments include the round that got away

Six National Championships. Eight SEC titles. Two Walter Camp Coach of the Year awards.

But once, on a spring afternoon at Augusta National Golf Club, Nick Saban did the unthinkable — he choked.

Since arriving at Alabama in 2007, Saban has annually been invited to play Augusta National. He admits to still getting butterflies on Magnolia Lane and plainly states, “Augusta National is my favorite place to play in the world.”

“When you walk in, you really wouldn’t know if you’re in 1940, 1960, 1980 or 2010,” Saban said. “There’s such a tradition that it’s almost eerie — in a good way.”

During his rounds at Augusta National, Saban’s achieved moments of greatness. On No. 3, he once short-sided himself on the left side. The pin was five paces onto the green, leaving Saban facing his kryptonite: an uphill chip.

“Ask any of our Alabama golf guys,” Saban said. “I love to practice at the (Jerry Pate (Golf Center) and they’ll tell you I’m the worst chipper in the world. I really am.”

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Saban addressed his ball at the bottom of the hill and elected to play a flop shot. The ball landed gently, stopped next to the hole, and led to a tap-in par save.

“It was the hardest shot ever,” said Saban, laughing.

With a front pin location on No. 4, Saban hit his tee shot to the back edge of the green. His caddie pointed toward a spot 10 feet left of the hole and told Saban, “Pretend you’re stopping it here.”

Saban struck the putt, watched as it nearly halted, then regained traction toward the cup.

“I felt like I was putting to Atlanta,” he said. “The damn thing went down the hill, took about three minutes to get there, and dropped for a birdie.”

Those are Saban’s favorite shots at Augusta National. Neither, however, compare to what occurred five years ago. Prior to arriving in Augusta, Saban admits he was playing the best golf of his life. He was a regular at the Pate Center, and had his game readied for one of the toughest tests in golf.

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Through 16 holes, Saban appeared unflappable. He was five-over par and seemed destined to break 80 for the first time at Augusta National.

“I par No. 16, and a voice comes from the group,” Saban said. “I don’t know if it was a caddie or a person keeping score, but they say, ‘You have a chance to break 80. All you have to do is bogey these last two holes.’”

With the outcome in mind, Saban double-bogeyed No. 17. He double-bogeyed 18. He shot 81.

“It was a major league choke,” Saban said.

In the years since, Saban has used his Augusta collapse as an example to his players in Tuscaloosa.

“When you start thinking about the outcome, it’s a distraction on what you have to do to get the outcome,” he said. “That was so true that day.”