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.