1948 Masters Tournament

The 1948 Masters Tournament was the 12thMasters Tournament, held April8–11 at Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, Georgia.

Tournament summary

Claude Harmon shot a record-tying 279(−9) and finished five strokes ahead of runner-up Cary Middlecoff, a future champion in 1955. The Sunday gallery in 1948 was estimated at 10,000spectators, and the tournament purse was $10,000. Harmon won $2,500 and his four-round score tied the record set by Ralph Guldahl in 1939. Primarily a club professional, it was Harmon's first tour victory.

This was the final appearance as a player in the Masters for host Bobby Jones, then age46. It was also the last Masters that did not immediately present the iconic green jacket to the winner. The nine winners of the first twelve tournaments received their green jackets in 1949.

The five-stroke victory margin was matched by Ben Hogan in 1953; the record was raised to seven in 1955 by Cary Middlecoff, nine in 1965 by Jack Nicklaus, and twelve by Tiger Woods in 1997.

Field

1. Masters champions

Jimmy Demaret (7,9), Ralph Guldahl (2), Herman Keiser (7,9), Byron Nelson (2,6,7,9), Henry Picard (6,9), Gene Sarazen (2,4,6), Horton Smith (9), Craig Wood (2)

2. U.S. Open champions

Billy Burke, Johnny Farrell, Bobby Jones (3,4,5), Lawson Little (3,5,9), Lloyd Mangrum (7,9,10,12), Lew Worsham (7,10,12)

3. U.S. Amateur champions

Dick Chapman (8,9,a), Skee Riegel (8,11,a)

4. British Open champions

Denny Shute (6,9), Sam Snead (6,7,9,10)

5. British Amateur champions

6. PGA champions

Jim Ferrier (9,10,12), Vic Ghezzi (9,10,12), Bob Hamilton, Ben Hogan (7,9,10)

7. Members of the U.S. 1947 Ryder Cup team

Herman Barron (9), Dutch Harrison (10)

• Ed Oliver (9,10) did not play.

8. Members of the U.S. 1947 Walker Cup team

George Hamer (a), Fred Kammer (a), Bud Ward (3,10,11,a)

• Ted Bishop (3,a), Smiley Quick (a), Frank Stranahan (9,10,a) and Willie Turnesa (3,5,a) did not play.

9. Top 24 players and ties from the 1947 Masters Tournament

Johnny Bulla, Fred Haas, Chandler Harper, Jug McSpaden, Dick Metz (10), Johnny Palmer (10), Toney Penna, Ellsworth Vines

10. Top 24 players and ties from the 1947 U.S. Open

Sammy Byrd, Ed Furgol, Leland Gibson (12), Chick Harbert (12), Claude Harmon, Joe Kirkwood Sr., Gene Kunes, Jim McHale Jr. (a), Bill Nary, Al Smith, Harry Todd

• George Payton and Paul Runyan did not play.

11. 1947 U.S. Amateur quarter-finalists

Bob Rosburg (a), Jack Selby (a), Felice Torza, Harvie Ward (a)

• Johnny Dawson (a) and Frank Strafaci (a) did not play.

12. 1947 PGA Championship quarter-finalists

Art Bell, Ky Laffoon

13. One amateur, not already qualified, selected by a ballot of ex-U.S. Amateur champions

• Chuck Kocsis (a) did not play

14. One professional, not already qualified, selected by a ballot of ex-U.S. Open champions

Skip Alexander

15. Two players, not already qualified, with the best scoring average in the winter part of the 1948 PGA Tour

Cary Middlecoff

• Clayton Heafner did not play.

16 Winner of the 1948 Inter-service Invitational tournament

• Played after the Masters, the winner receiving entry to the 1949 event.

17 Home club professional

Ed Dudley

18. Foreign invitations

Henry Cotton (4), Bobby Locke (9,10)

Round summaries

First round

Thursday, April 8, 1948

<small>Source:</small>

Second round

Friday, April 9, 1948

<small>Source:</small>

Third round

Saturday, April 10, 1948

<small>Source:</small>

Final round

Sunday, April 11, 1948

Final leaderboard

Sources:

Scorecard

Cumulative tournament scores, relative to par

References

External links

• Masters.com – past winners and results
• Augusta.com – 1948 Masters leaderboard and scorecards