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Posted April 1, 2011, 12:00 am |

75 memories of the Masters

  • Article Photos
    75 memories of the Masters
    Photos description
    Bobby Jones tees off during the 1941 Masters Tournament.
  • Article Photos
    75 memories of the Masters
    Photos description
    Jack Nicklaus and caddie Willie Peterson celebrate in 1966 after Nicklaus birdied the 15th hole during a playoff with Tommy Jacobs and Gay Brewer. The win made Nicklaus the first back-to-back Masters champion.
  • Article Photos
    75 memories of the Masters
    Photos description
    In his first Masters Tournament in 1979, Fuzzy Zoeller won in the tournament's first sudden-death playoff.
  • Article Photos
    75 memories of the Masters
    Photos description
    Clifford Roberts (from right) and Bobby Jones discuss Arnold Palmer's drop on the 12th hole in the final round of the 1958 Masters. Palmer's playing partner, Ken Venturi, looks on. The ruling and an eagle on No. 13 earned Palmer his first of four Masters Tournament titles.

The Masters is the youngest of golf's four major championships, but it is rich in moments that have defined golf history. From Gene Sarazen's double eagle in 1935 to Jack Nicklaus' charge to victory in 1986 and Tiger Woods' record-breaking win in 1997, the tournament has provided thrills for golf fans all over the world.

As Augusta National prepares for the 75th playing of the tournament, these are the 75 moments that made the Masters:

1931: Bobby Jones and Clifford Roberts complete purchase of Fruitland Nurseries, site for Augusta National Golf Club. Dr. Alister MacKenzie selected as course architect, and course construction begins.

1932: Augusta National Golf Club opens for play in December. Formal opening is held in January 1933.

1934: Club and tournament co-founder Bobby Jones makes first tournament appearance since winning the Grand Slam in 1930. He finishes 13th.

1934: Horton Smith wins first Augusta National Invitation Tournament with 284 total.

1935: Golf course nines reversed.

1935: Gene Sarazen makes double eagle on No. 15 to force playoff with Craig Wood. Sarazen prevails in 36-hole playoff by five strokes to win only Masters.

1937: Byron Nelson scores 2-3 on Nos. 12 and 13 to make up six strokes on Ralph Guldahl and win his first Masters.

1937: Inaugural PGA Senior Championship is held at Augusta National. Jock Hutchison wins event. Tournament is held for final time in Augusta in 1938 and Fred McLeod wins.

1939: Tournament name officially changed to Masters Tournament.

1940: Lloyd Mangrum shoots a course-record 64. It will stand for 25 years.

1942: Gallery control and roping used for first time.

1942: Byron Nelson defeats Ben Hogan in 18-hole playoff for second Masters victory. It is last Masters played before World War II interrupts tournament for three years.

1948: Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower, who would become president of the United States, joins Augusta National.

1949: Sam Snead wins Masters and is the first champion to receive a green jacket.

1952: Defending champion Ben Hogan begins tradition of Masters Club, a pretournament dinner for past champions.

1953: Ben Hogan smashes 72-hole scoring record with total of 274.

1954: Amateur Billy Joe Patton misses out on playoff after finding water on Nos. 13 and 15 in final round. Patton made ace on par-3 sixth hole earlier in final round.

1954: Sam Snead edges Ben Hogan in 18-hole playoff for third Masters win.

1955: Sarazen Bridge dedicated at 15th hole in remembrance of 20th anniversary of his double eagle.

1956: First television broadcast shows holes 15-18 of tournament.

1956: Amateur Ken Venturi's collapse on the final day paves the way for Jack Burke Jr.'s victory.

1958: Hogan Bridge at No. 12 green and Nelson Bridge at No. 13 tee dedicated on April 2.

1958: Arnold Palmer, after getting favorable ruling on No. 12 and making eagle on No. 13, wins first Masters. Writer Herbert Warren Wind comes up with the name Amen Corner to describe holes 11-13.

1959: Art Wall Jr. birdies five of final six holes to win tournament.

1960: Par-3 Contest is held for first time, and Sam Snead is inaugural winner.

1960: Over-par and under-par scoring method for leaderboards introduced.

1960: Arnold Palmer birdies Nos. 17 and 18 in final round to win by a shot.

1961: Gary Player becomes first international champion.

1962: First observation stand erected for improved spectator viewing.

1963: Jack Nicklaus becomes youngest champion and wins first of six Masters.

1965: Jack Nicklaus matches course record with 64 en route to setting 72-hole scoring record of 271.

1966: Jack Nicklaus becomes first back-to-back champion, winning three-way playoff against Gay Brewer and Tommy Jacobs.

1966: First golf broadcast in color.

1967: Bruce Devlin makes a double eagle on the par-5 8th, the first player to make double eagle since Gene Sarazen.

1968: Roberto De Vicenzo signs an incorrect scorecard, denying himself a chance at a playoff with Bob Goalby.

1972: Patron badge list closed and waiting list established.

1975: Jack Nicklaus sinks 40-foot putt on 16th hole en route to fifth win, a Masters record.

1975: Lee Elder becomes first black golfer to compete in Masters. He misses cut with rounds of 74 and 78.

1976: Ray Floyd matches 72-hole scoring record with total of 271.

1978: Gary Player wins for third time thanks to final-round 64.

1979: Masters rookie Fuzzy Zoeller wins the first sudden-death playoff in tournament history, defeating Ed Sneed and Tom Watson on second playoff hole (No. 11).

1980: Seve Ballesteros, 23, becomes youngest champion and second foreign winner.

1980: Hord Hardin elected chairman after William Lane dies.

1981: First Masters played on bentgrass greens.

1981: Gene Sarazen, Byron Nelson and Sam Snead become honorary starters.

1986: Nick Price sets a new course record with 63 in the third round.

1986: In his sixth victory, Jack Nicklaus, 46, fires a final-round 65 to become oldest champion.

1987: Augusta native Larry Mize holes miraculous chip shot to win in sudden-death playoff.

1988: Sandy Lyle makes a birdie on final hole of tournament to win.

1990: Nick Faldo becomes second player to successfully defend title as he defeats Raymond Floyd in sudden-death playoff.

1991: Jack Stephens elected chairman.

1992: Fred Couples gets a lucky break when his ball stays on the bank at the 12th hole as he wins his first major.

1994: Jeff Maggert scores a double eagle on the 13th hole. It is the third double eagle in tournament history.

1995: Practice round tickets limited and sold in advance for first time.

1996: Greg Norman matches the course record of 63 in the first round.

1996: Nick Faldo overcomes a six-shot deficit to win his third Masters. Norman's collapse is worst in tournament history.

1997: Tiger Woods establishes new 72-hole scoring record of 270 and becomes first minority golfer to win Masters.

1998: Mark O'Meara birdies final two holes to win.

1998: Hootie Johnson elected chairman.

1999: Second cut of fairway increased.

1999: Qualifications for invitation to Masters changed as emphasis placed on world rankings.

2000: Patron badge waiting list reopened, then closes.

2001: Tiger Woods wins Masters for his fourth major victory in a row.

2002: Significant changes to Augusta National lengthen course by almost 300 yards and nine holes are altered in effort to strengthen course.

2002: Tiger Woods becomes third golfer to successfully defend title.

2002: 18-hole television coverage for Sunday begins.

2002: Controversy over membership issue escalates and tournament sponsors released from their obligation.

2004: Phil Mickelson birdies final hole to win his first major.

2005: Tiger Woods holes memorable chip shot on 16th hole and goes on to win sudden-death playoff to become third player with four or more Masters victories.

2006: Six holes undergo changes on golf course and 155 yards are added.

2006: William Payne elected chairman.

2007: Arnold Palmer revives honorary starter tradition.

2008: Par-3 Contest televised and Junior Pass Program begin as part of Golf Goes Worldwide initiative.

2010: Jack Nicklaus joins Arnold Palmer as honorary starter.

2010: New tournament practice range opens.