While one impeccable round of golf at the Masters can catapult someone to the front of the pack, it takes four days of steady play to ultimately earn a place in PGA history.
The setting for the tradition unlike any other, Augusta National is one of the most challenging courses in golf … that, actually, has never been “officially rated.” (However, there are occasional whispers of 78-point-something.)
As the golfing world looks ahead at what will be a quiet second week in April this year—the 2020 Masters joining a long list of postponed events due to the coronavirus pandemic—let’s take a look back at the pros who overcame the nerves, “Amen Corner,” and the pressures of major championship golf to card the best four-day totals in Masters history.
And, as golf can oftentimes provide, pay attention to the touch of Lady Luck because not all of these scores ended with a green jacket.
Arnold Palmer, 1964: 276
Arnie came up two strokes short of tying the then-record total of 274 (held by Ben Hogan). But he did outlast his rival Jack Nicklaus while picking up his fourth Masters—which would be his last major win.
Jack Nicklaus, 1975: 276
The 1975 Masters was historical, beginning with Lee Elder, who became the first African-American to compete in the tournament, and ending with a showdown between three of the game’s greats. The Golden Bear totaled a 276 for the tournament, winning over Johnny Miller and Tom Weiskopf by one stroke. It was Jack’s record-setting fifth Masters title.
Tom Watson, 1977: 276
Two years later, Tom Watson joined the “276 Club” at the Masters, winning his first of two green jackets. Watson outlasted Jack Nicklaus; the two tied down the stretch until a costly bogey on the final hole ended a possible sixth title for Jack.
Nick Faldo, 1996: 276
Probably known more for Greg Norman’s epic collapse than for Fadlo’s four-day consistency, Sir Nick posted a 276 and won over his friend in one of the most memorable Masters in history. It was Faldo’s third green jacket (and final major title), a six-shot comeback for the ages.
Tiger Woods, 2002 and 2005: 276
It’s no surprise Tiger Woods makes this list more than once. Woods successfully defended his title in 2002, edging out Retief Goosen by three strokes with a 276 for the tourney. He would equal that four-day mark in 2005, earning his fourth green jacket with a first-hole playoff win over Chris DiMarco.
Chris DiMarco, 2005: 276
Just one more birdie—or a mistake by Tiger—and Chris DiMarco’s impressive 276 total would not come with an asterisk—*lost on first hole of sudden-death.
Angel Cabrera, 2009: 276
Cabrera outlasted Chad Campbell and Kenny Perry in a sudden-death playoff, becoming the first-ever Argentinian to win the Masters.
Chad Campbell and Kenny Perry, 2009: 276
While Cabrera was celebrating a sudden-death playoff victory, both Kenny Perry and Chad Campbell were left to wonder what could have been … one of the headaches typically associated with playoff golf in a major.
Anthony Kim, 2010: 276
Third place?! Kim’s Sunday surge during the 2010 Masters ended with a 65 and a 12-under … which was only good enough for third that year.
Adam Scott and Jason Day, 2011: 276
Day and Scott were on fire in the final round and headed into the clubhouse at 12-under, which put them in the lead. But a South African was about to have a four-hole finish of a lifetime, joining some elite company in Gary Player and Trevor Immelman.
Rory McIlroy, 2015: 276
He fired a 276 at the Masters, only to find himself in fourth place when the tourney ended. Rory McIlroy played great golf all four days, ending with a 66 on Sunday. But there were three other golfers who would have better tournaments.
Seve Ballesteros, 1980: 275
Ballesteros had a chance at beating the then-record of 271, which would have given the Spaniard a $500,000 cash bonus for Golf Magazine. Alas, he fell short, though the victory was the first-ever Masters title for a European golfer.
Fred Couples, 1992: 275
Freddy won his first and only major at the 1992 Masters, overcoming a full weekend field to secure a green jacket with a four-day total of 275. Couples was the top-ranked golfer heading into the tourney, and become the first American to win the Masters in five years (a record gap).
Davis Love III, 1995: 275
Davis Love III finished the 1995 Masters with a solid 275, but it wouldn’t be enough to overtake Ben Crenshaw’s lead. A bogey on the 16th left Davis on stroke behind for tourney.
Lee Westwood, 2010: 275
A different year, and maybe Westwood would have snagged his first green jacket. But his four-day total of 275 back in 2010 was not enough to beat a very popular left-hander named Phil.
Jordan Spieth, 2018: 275
Spieth’s charge in the final round of the 2018 Masters came up short on the 18th, when an errant tee shot set him up for the inevitable bogey. Still, the 275 is one of the best four-day totals posted in Augusta’s long history.
Tiger Woods, 2019: 275
It will go down as one of the more epic comeback tales in golf history: Woods became the second-oldest player ever to win a major (behind Jack), holding on to a one-stroke lead for his first major-championship celebration in 11 years.
Ben Hogan, 1953: 274
Two Palm Springs, California, boys took center stage during the 1953 Masters. It was Ben Hogan’s four-day, record-setting total of 274 that secured the victory over Ed Oliver. It was Hogan’s seventh major title and second Masters.
Ben Crenshaw, 1995: 274
Crenshaw overcame (or, more likely, managed) extreme grief during the 1995 Masters, with his mentor Harvey Penick passing before the tourney. Crenshaw’s 274 was tops that week, earning him a second Masters title.
David Duval, 2001: 274
Duval’s great four-day total is in the record books—but, thanks to a guy named Tiger, he would not have a green jacket to go with it.
Charl Schwartzel, 2011: 274
The 75th Masters was must-see TV. There were eight — eight! — players who had a share of the lead when the final round teed off on Sunday. Schwartzel outplayed them all when it counted most: He birdied the last four holes to secure the green jacket, his first major title.
Phil Mickelson and Justin Rose, 2015: 274
Timing — it’s always going to be part of sports history, not just golf. But Phil Mickelson and Justin Rose can undoubtedly attest to the golf world about such truths. Both golfers were top-tier in 2015, totaling 274 for the week. But it wasn’t good enough to win the green jacket.
Rickie Fowler, 2018: 274
Another 274 four-day total that wouldn’t be good enough to take the title, Fowler’s showing at the 2018 Masters was only the second-best showing of the week.
Patrick Reed, 2018: 273
Reed stands alone as the only Masters champ to post a four-day total of 273. He held off Rickie Fowler and a charge by Jordan Spieth to win by one stroke. Reed’s 22-footer for birdie on the 12th was the shot of the final round.
Tiger Woods, 2001: 272
Tiger Woods-mania was in full force back in 2001, when he won his second Master title after an impressive 272 four-day total. Woods would be the first man to pocket a seven-figure check for winning the tourney.
Phil Mickelson, 2010: 272
Mickelson’s wild heroics on the par-5 13th (pictured) were the highlight of an incredibly entertaining final round. The lefty shot a 67, winning by three over Lee Westwood. The 272 tied him with Tiger Woods’ total back in 2001; it was Mickelson’s third green jacket.
Jack Nicklaus, 1965: 271
Gary Player, Arnold Palmer and Nicklaus were all tied after 36 holes. But that quickly faded as Nicklaus took off during the weekend, stretching a lead that would end with a nine-stroke victory. It was the Golden Bear’s second Masters (of a career six), and at the time, a record four-day total — 271.
Raymond Floyd, 1976: 271
Nicklaus’ record four-day total of 271 was his for just over a decade until Raymond Floyd posted a 271 in the 1976 Masters. Floyd was unbeatable that year, taking the lead in the first round and never looking back. His 54-hole total of 201 was a record at the time.
Tiger Woods, 1997: 270
It’s the moment that many would call the beginning of modern-day golf entertainment. Woods, just 21 years old, shot a 40 on the front during his first round. From there, it was a history-making display of golf that captivated both the television crowd and those at Augusta National. He won by 12 strokes over Tom Kite, posting a four-day total of 270.
Jordan Spieth, 2015: 270
Woods’ record-setting total would last for nearly 20 years when Jordan Spieth, another 21-year-old shot-maker, turned in his own 270. Spieth held the lead in all four rounds, beginning with a nine-birdie 64 on Thursday. He rarely made a mistake, winning by four over Phil Mickelson and Justin Rose. Spieth’s 54-hole total of 200 broken Floyd’s record set in 1976.
