1948 Masters Tournament

The 1948 Masters Tournament was the 12th Masters Tournament, held April 8–11 at Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, Georgia.

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 10,000 spectators, 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 age 46. 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
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)
 * 1. Masters 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)
 * 2. U.S. Open champions

Dick Chapman (8,9,a), Skee Riegel (8,11,a)
 * 3. U.S. Amateur champions

Denny Shute (6,9), Sam Snead (6,7,9,10)
 * 4. British Open champions


 * 5. British Amateur champions

Jim Ferrier (9,10,12), Vic Ghezzi (9,10,12), Bob Hamilton, Ben Hogan (7,9,10)
 * 6. PGA champions

Herman Barron (9), Dutch Harrison (10)
 * 7. Members of the U.S. 1947 Ryder Cup team


 * Ed Oliver (9,10) did not play.

George Hamer (a), Fred Kammer (a), Bud Ward (3,10,11,a)
 * 8. Members of the U.S. 1947 Walker Cup team


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

Johnny Bulla, Fred Haas, Chandler Harper, Jug McSpaden, Dick Metz (10), Johnny Palmer (10), Toney Penna, Ellsworth Vines
 * 9. Top 24 players and ties from the 1947 Masters Tournament

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


 * George Payton and Paul Runyan did not play.

Bob Rosburg (a), Jack Selby (a), Felice Torza, Harvie Ward (a)
 * 11. 1947 U.S. Amateur quarter-finalists


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

Art Bell, Ky Laffoon
 * 12. 1947 PGA Championship quarter-finalists


 * 13. One amateur, not already qualified, selected by a ballot of ex-U.S. Amateur champions
 * Chuck Kocsis (a) did not play

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

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


 * 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.

Ed Dudley
 * 17 Home club professional

Henry Cotton (4), Bobby Locke (9,10)
 * 18. Foreign invitations

First round
Thursday, April 8, 1948 Source:

Second round
Friday, April 9, 1948 Source:

Third round
Saturday, April 10, 1948 Source:

Final round
Sunday, April 11, 1948

Final leaderboard
Sources:

Scorecard
Cumulative tournament scores, relative to par