Tiger Woods’ 2005 Masters chip-in was the shot heard around the world. We almost didn’t see it.

Sat Apr 12 22:00:00 UTC 2025: ## Near Miss: How a Quick Decision Saved Iconic Tiger Woods Masters Moment

**Augusta, GA** – Twenty years after Tiger Woods’ miraculous chip-in at the 16th hole of the 2005 Masters, the story behind the iconic moment is still captivating. The shot, which secured Woods’ fourth Masters title, almost wasn’t seen by viewers worldwide.

Lance Barrow, then coordinating producer for CBS’s golf coverage, recounts the nail-biting tension. As Woods assessed his tricky shot, trailing by a stroke, the CBS team faced a crucial decision. Following a long-held mantra—”nothing is more boring than a stationary ball”—director Steve Milton ordered a camera switch to a close-up of Woods as the ball appeared to pause on the edge of the cup.

Technical director Norm Patterson, however, defied the order, keeping the camera trained on the ball. His decision, potentially made in a split second, allowed the world to witness the ball drop into the hole, creating one of the greatest moments in sports broadcasting history.

“If you start looking at the main monitor, you become a fan and you forget what you’re supposed to do,” Barrow explained. “I’m not really watching, because I’m thinking what am I going to do next.”

The near-miss was only revealed later. Milton initially feared they’d missed the shot. Patterson’s quick thinking and steady hand captured the moment, resulting in an Emmy Award for the CBS coverage and cementing Woods’ legacy. Tragically, the event held a bittersweet memory for the team. Patterson passed away from a sudden heart attack just months later.

“I remember Norm every time I see that shot, it reminds me of him,” Milton stated. “It was his moment.”

Barrow, now retired, reflects on the pressure of live sports broadcasting, highlighting the split-second decisions and the constant risk of missing crucial moments. The 2005 Masters, he said, is a perfect example of this high-stakes balancing act, a moment that almost wasn’t captured but ultimately became a defining moment in sports history.

Read More