1951 Masters Tournament Winner and Scores

The 1951 Masters was the 15th time the tournament was played. The golfer nicknamed "the Hawk" swooped in for the win. Ben Hogan won his first Masters title on the strength of a final-round 68. It was the only round under 70 on the final day; many others struggled. For example, third-round co-leader Sam Snead skied to an 80.

Winner: Ben Hogan, 280

Where it was played: Augusta National Golf Club, Augusta, Georgia

Tournament dates: April 5-8, 1951

Leader after first round: George Fazio, 68

Leader after second round: Skee Riegel, 141

Leader after third round: Skee Riegel and Sam Snead, 211

What Happened at the 1951 Masters Tournament

Skee Riegel and Sam Snead began the final round of the 1951 Masters with 1-stroke leads over Ben Hogan. Riegel played well, but Hogan played better. And Snead? He blew up with an 80 that included an 8 after hitting into water twice on the 11th hole, and the Slammer finished 11 strokes off the lead.

Riegel, a first-year pro, was solid with a 71, but Hogan played bogey-free golf in the final round, firing a 68 and winning by two strokes. For Hogan, it was his first Masters victory, and his fifth major championship win.

Hogan, 38 years old, stood fourth after an opening-round 70. He was tied for second place, one stroke behind leader Riegel, after 36 holes following a 72 in the second. And Hogan's 70 in Round 3 put him in position behind co-leaders Riegel and Snead going into the final round.

Hogan had twice before finished as runner-up at Augusta National, in the 1942 Masters and 1946 Masters. He later won a second Masters title in 1953.

An interesting historical note: While the 11th, 12th and 13th holes at Augusta National are today known as Amen Corner, that name had not yet been bestowed at the time of the 1951 Masters. But the Associated Press article that appeared in newspapers the day after Hogan's victory pointed out that several of Hogan's pursuers ran into trouble on holes 10 through 12. The AP sportswriter noted that many golfers nicknamed that stretch of holes "Heartbreak Highway." That trouble included Snead's blow-up on the 11th and a double-bogey by Lloyd Mangrum, who finished in third place, on the 12th hole.

Future major championship winner Dow Finsterwald made his Masters debut here, finishing tied for 50th as an amateur. Another debut: the silver medal given to Masters runners-up was first awarded this year (joining the gold medal given to champions).

1951 Masters Final Scores

Ben Hogan	70-72-70-68—280
Skee Riegel	73-68-70-71—282
Lloyd Mangrum	69-74-70-73—286
Lew Worsham	71-71-72-72—286
Dave Douglas	74-69-72-73—288
Lawson Little	72-73-72-72—289
Jim Ferrier	74-70-74-72—290
Johnny Bulla	71-72-73-75—291
Byron Nelson	71-73-73-74—291
Sam Snead	69-74-68-80—291
Jack Burke Jr.	73-72-74-73—292
a-Charlie Coe	76-71-73-73—293
Cary Middlecoff	73-73-69-78—293
Gene Sarazen	75-73-74-71—293
Ed Furgol	80-71-72-71—294
Dutch Harrison	76-71-76-71—294
Julius Boros	76-72-74-73—295
George Fazio	68-74-74-80—296
Bob Toski	75-73-73-75—296
Al Besselink	76-73-71-77—297
a-Dick Chapman	72-76-72-77—297
Roberto De Vicenzo	75-74-74-74—297
Clayton Heafner	74-72-73-78—297
Joe Kirkwood Jr.	73-71-78-75—297
Ted Kroll	76-75-71-76—298
Dick Mayer	71-75-79-73—298
Bill Nary	76-73-73-76—298
Henry Ransom	74-74-74-76—298
a-Sam Urzetta	73-72-78-75—298
Jimmy Demaret	76-74-78-71—299
Johnny Palmer	73-74-77-75—299
Leland Gibson	74-74-75-78—301
Horton Smith	79-77-70-75—301
a-Frank Stranahan	74-74-74-79—301
Marty Furgol	77-76-73-76—302
Claude Harmon	75-77-74-76—302
a-Jimmy McHale	75-76-76-75—302
a-Harvie Ward Jr.	74-77-77-74—302
Fred Haas Jr.	79-76-73-75—303
Tony Holguin	78-72-75-78—303
Herman Keiser	77-73-79-74—303
a-William Goodloe	74-71-72-88—305
Johnny Revolta	74-75-75-81—305
Ray Gafford	77-73-76-80—306
Chick Harbert	76-73-77-80—306
Harold Williams	76-77-76-78—307
Denny Shute	79-76-79-74—308
Henry Williams	77-76-77-78—308
a-Harold Paddock	75-78-80-79—312
a-Dow Finsterwald	76-81-75-81—313
a-Bobby Knowles	78-79-75-81—313
a-Juan Segura	72-80-79-82—313
a-Bill Shields	82-76-76-79—313
George Von Elm	77-76-79-81—313
a-Bill Mawhinney	83-75-73-84—315
a-Bob Sweeny	80-79-78-78—315
Johnny Farrell	81-78-83-76—318
a-John Ward	78-75-81-84—318
a-Bill Campbell	79-82-74-86—321

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