AUGUSTA, Ga. — The Masters Tournament has seen remarkable moments throughout its history. Each anniversary tells a story of triumph, often filled with drama and unforgettable feats. Here are some legendary victories commemorated this year, each telling its own tale of perseverance and skill at Augusta National Golf Club.
**75 Years Ago (1950):**
Jimmy Demaret captured his third Masters title, setting a remarkable record. On the final day, Demaret played spectacularly, shooting a 69, three under par, to achieve a total score of 283 over 72 holes. His victory was facilitated by Jim Ferrier’s unfortunate collapse on the last six holes, where Ferrier, starting with a two-stroke lead, squandered his advantage to finish two strokes behind the new champion. Ben Hogan, another strong contender, concluded the day with a 76 for 288, unable to maintain pace with the leaders.
**50 Years Ago (1975):**
Jack Nicklaus took the golf world by storm on Augusta’s par-3 16th hole known as “Red Bud.” Finding himself in a tough spot, Nicklaus eyed a challenging 40-foot sidehill putt while the echoes of cheering fans resonated from the previous hole. Tom Weiskopf had briefly taken the lead with a birdie on hole 15, but Nicklaus felt a surge of confidence. “I thought I could make the putt,” he remarked. Weiskopf, shaken, misjudged his next tee shot, resulting in a bogey and flipping the tournament in Nicklaus’s favor. In the end, Nicklaus secured his unprecedented fifth Masters title.
**25 Years Ago (2000):**
Vijay Singh’s improbable journey in the Masters was crowned with victory, an effort marked by resilience and determination. From humble beginnings in Fiji, Singh’s road to Augusta was filled with challenges, yet on Sunday, he donned the iconic green jacket. His path to glory involved outplaying golf’s elite, facing down challenges from David Duval, evading an early surge by Tiger Woods, and maintaining composure against Ernie Els in the final stretch.
**20 Years Ago (2005):**
Tiger Woods demonstrated sheer mastery with a legendary chip that defied the laws of nature, rolling precariously before dropping into the hole. The shot was memorable, but even Woods faced adversity shortly after, hitting shots into unforgiving areas. Despite these challenges, Woods remained composed in the closing moments, clinching the title with a thrilling playoff victory against Chris DiMarco for his fourth Masters win.
**10 Years Ago (2015):**
Jordan Spieth delivered a stunning performance at the Masters, reminiscent of the legendary Tiger Woods in 1997. As only the second 21-year-old to achieve such dominance with minimal stress, Spieth went wire-to-wire, leading through all four rounds, a feat not seen since Raymond Floyd in 1976. Demonstrating calm and precision, Spieth finished four strokes ahead of Phil Mickelson and Justin Rose, securing his place in history as the second-youngest to wear the green jacket.
**5 Years Ago (2020):**
In a Masters tournament unlike any other due to the absence of fans, Dustin Johnson made history with the lowest score in the event’s history. Displaying mastery over his game despite a course famously known for surprise twists, Johnson finished with a commanding five-shot victory. His record-breaking performance resulted in a 20-under 268, surpassing previous marks set by Tiger Woods and matched by Jordan Spieth. Battling nerves and memories of past disappointments in major tournaments, Johnson finally realized his lifelong dream of donning the Masters green jacket.