1980
For the first time in five years, 40-year-old Jack Nicklaus and 50-year-old Arnold Palmer were paired together on Sunday. Despite being so far back in the field, the pairing brought a large gallery. Oh, and some 23-year-old Spaniard by the name of Seve Ballesteros was the first European champion.
1981
In the first Masters with bentgrass greens – formerly Bermuda and ryegrass – Tom Watson won his second green jacket by two strokes over Jack Nicklaus and Johnny Miller.
1982
Inclement weather in the opening two rounds led to a 10-over par cut, the highest-ever weekend cutline at the Masters.
1983
This was the first year that players were allowed to use their own caddies and weren’t required to use Augusta National club caddies.
1984
For the second time in a row as the defending champion Seve Ballesteros missed the cut at the Masters. Ballesteros received a two-stroke penalty on Friday for grounding his club in a water hazard, ultimately missing the cut by one stroke.
1985
Bernhard Langer caught fire in his Sunday red (yes, well before Tiger Woods), birdieing four of his last seven holes to win the first of his two Masters titles.
1986
Jack Nicklaus claimed his record 18th major title (sixth Masters) at 46 years old to become Augusta’s oldest winner. Compared to 23 years prior, his winning take was $144,000, or seven times what he won for his first title.
1987
Greg Norman missed a birdie putt on the final hole for the win and entered a playoff with Seve Ballesteros and Augusta native Larry Mize. After Ballesteros was eliminated on the first playoff hole, Mize chipped in for birdie, stunning Norman in what was one of many bad breaks for the Australian.
1988
Scotland’s Sandy Lyle became the first Masters champion from the United Kingdom.
1989
Nick Faldo won the first of three Masters titles, and continued a trend of UK Masters champions. Faldo was the first Englishman.
(Click next for 1990-1999)
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