“The No.2 Wood”

In 1933 at St Andrews, he suffered his first Major playoff loss, losing the Open Championship to Denny Shute after a 36-hole playoff. Confirming his reputation as a stunningly powerful player and justifying his “Blond Bomber” nickname, on the fifth hole of the playoff Wood hit an unbelievable drive over 430 yards into a fairway bunker. It was mightily impressive - and a plaque was later erected by awestruck locals – but also impulsive and it cost him a stroke. Shute eventually captured the title by three shots.
From the many painful years to choose from, the following year, 1934, was Wood’s annus horribilis. He lost the first-ever Masters by one shot to Horton Smith (who holed a 20-foot birdie putt on 17), was disqualified from the US Open in Merion when he discovered he had played the wrong ball, then lost in the final of the PGA at Park Country Club to Paul Runyan, his one-time assistant, at the second extra hole in the matchplay format used at that time.
His reputation as the unluckiest player on tour was confirmed in 1935 at the Masters. Deep into the back-nine with his first Major title all but in his grasp, Wood fell victim to the “shot heard around the world” – Gene Sarazen’s 235-yard 4-wood at the 15th, which found the cup for an albatross (double eagle) – and lost the ensuing 36-hole playoff. By now, the “Blond Bomber” had another nickname: “The No.2 Wood”, due to his run of second place finishes.