MASTERS '21: Key anniversaries for champions over the years

Published Apr. 5, 2021 2:09 a.m. ET
Associated Press

AUGUSTA, Ga. (AP) — A look at some of the anniversaries this year at the Masters:

75 years ago (1946)

The Masters resumed after a four-year layoff because of World War II and had a major upset. Herman Keiser, who was discharged from the Navy a year earlier, began 69-68 to build a five-shot lead and maintained that margin over Ben Hogan going into the final round. Keiser struggled to a 74, and it looked as though he might have thrown away the Masters with a three-putt bogey on the 18th. That dropped him into a tie with Hogan, who was in the final group. Hogan had a birdie putt from 15 feet for the win, ran it 3 feet by and missed the par putt. Keiser finished at 6-under 282 and won $2,500 for his only major. Hogan closed with a 70. He won his first major later that year at the PGA Championship.

50 years ago (1971)

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Jack Nicklaus was coming off his first major of the year at the PGA Championship, held in February in 1971 in Florida. He was tied for the 54-hole lead with Charles Coody, who in 1969 bogeyed his last three holes at Augusta National to lose by two shots. The charge came from 23-year-old Johnny Miller, who was 6 under through 14 holes to take the lead. Miller bogeyed two of the last three holes for a 68. Coody turned his game around with birdies on the 15th and 16th to build a two-shot lead, and Nicklaus had a cold putter that kept him from catching up. Coody closed with a 70 for a two-shot victory over Nicklaus (72) and Miller for his only major.

25 years ago (1996)

The stories were practically written before the final round began. Greg Norman, who tied the course record with a 63 in the opening round, built a six-shot lead over Nick Faldo going into Sunday. Finally, it was time to given Norman his due after so many Masters heartache. Instead, he suffered the

20 years ago (2001)

Tiger Woods finished the previous year by winning the U.S. Open, British Open and PGA Championship. He had to wait nearly seven months for his shot at becoming the only player to hold all

10 years ago (2011)

Rory McIlroy took a four-shot lead into the final round. Few could have imagined a Sunday with so many possibilities, with eight players having at least a share of the lead at some point on the back nine. Charl Schwartzel finally gave this Masters

5 years ago (2016)

Jordan Spieth was in Butler Cabin, just like everyone expected, except he was there to present the green jacket to Danny Willett in one of the biggest shockers at the Masters. Spieth took a one-shot lead into the final round in his bid to become the only player to go wire-to-wire in winning consecutive Masters titles. He led by five at the turn, and the back nine figured to be a coronation. Instead, it was a collapse as stunning as any. Spieth began the back nine with two straight bogeys, and then put

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