1973 Masters Tournament

1973 Masters Tournament
Front cover of the 1973 Masters Guide
Tournament information
DatesApril 5–9, 1973
LocationAugusta, Georgia
33°30′11″N 82°01′12″W / 33.503°N 82.020°W / 33.503; -82.020
Course(s)Augusta National Golf Club
Organized byAugusta National Golf Club
Tour(s)PGA Tour
Statistics
Par72
Length6,980 yards (6,383 m)[1]
Field82 players, 57 after cut
Cut151 (+7)
Winner's share$30,000
Champion
United States Tommy Aaron
283 (−5)
Location map
Augusta National is located in the United States
Augusta National
Augusta National
Location in the United States
Augusta National is located in Georgia
Augusta National
Augusta National
Location in Georgia
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The 1973 Masters Tournament was the 37th Masters Tournament, held April 5–9 at the Augusta National Golf Club. Due to weather delays, the final round was played on Monday for the first time since 1961.[2]

Tommy Aaron, age 36, won his only major title, one stroke ahead of runner-up J. C. Snead.[2][3] Before this win at Augusta, Aaron was best known as the player who kept Roberto De Vicenzo's incorrect scorecard at the Masters five years earlier in 1968. Ironically, Aaron's final round playing partner in 1973, Johnny Miller, recorded a higher score when keeping Aaron's card, and Aaron caught the mistake.[4] This was his third and last victory on the PGA Tour, and after this win, Aaron's best result in a major was a tie for 28th at the Masters in 1979.

Gary Player played in 52 Masters from 1957 through 2009;[5] and missed only this one, to recover from leg and abdominal surgery.[6][7][8] He returned in 1974 to win the second of his three green jackets.

Gay Brewer won the fourteenth Par 3 contest on Wednesday with a seven-under 20.[9] At the previous Masters, the 1967 champion was hospitalized in Augusta for ulcers on Wednesday night and missed the tournament.[10]

This Masters was the last as competitors for two former champions: Gene Sarazen (1935) and Ralph Guldahl (1939).

  1. ^ Grimsley, Will (April 6, 1973). "Aaron's 68 paces Masters". Youngstown Vindicator. (Ohio). Associated Press. p. 22.
  2. ^ a b Jenkins, Dan (April 16, 1973). "Jack fell down and lost his crown". Sports Illustrated. p. 24.
  3. ^ Gundelfinger, Phil (April 10, 1973). "Georgian Aaron wins Masters with a 283". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. p. 18.
  4. ^ "Aaron can count strokes, money". Ellensburg Daily Record. (Washington). UPI. April 10, 1973. p. 6.
  5. ^ "Who Played the Most Masters Tournaments?". Archived from the original on October 22, 2013. Retrieved April 14, 2013.
  6. ^ "Major surgery hinders Player from starting tour". Spartanburg Herald. (South Carolina). Associated Press. February 23, 1973. p. B4.
  7. ^ "Gary Player reached Masters on pass of hat". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Associated Press. April 5, 1973. p. 20.
  8. ^ "The Masters: Gary Player's 50th appearance". Retrieved April 14, 2013.
  9. ^ "Brewer takes Par Three test". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. April 5, 1973. p. 19.
  10. ^ "Golfer Brewer: ulcers, hernia". Montreal Gazette. UPI. April 11, 1972. p. 16.