Posted 4/14/03 9:57 am ET

Masters Playoffs - 1960s

Big Three hoard Masters victories

Arnold Palmer used his aggressive style of play to win the 1962 Masters in the tournament's first three-way playoff. Palmer's 31 on the back nine gave him the victory over Gary Player and Dow Finsterwald. File/The Augusta Chronicle

By John Boyette
The Augusta Chronicle

Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus and Gary Player dominated golf in the 1960s.

And the Big Three almost made the Masters Tournament a private affair during the decade. Combined, they won seven of the 10 Masters played, plus a slew of other major tournaments.

It should come as no surprise that, in the two playoffs contested at Augusta National Golf Club in the '60s, all three men played key parts.

Palmer, Player and Dow Finsterwald locked horns in an 18-hole playoff to decide the 1962 Masters. It was the first time in tournament history that three men had been tied after 72 holes.

Uncharacteristically, Palmer staggered home in the final round with a 75 to enable Player, the defending champion, and Finsterwald, a tour veteran, to catch up. Palmer had birdied two of the final three holes to get in the playoff.

In the next day's playoff, Player held the upper hand early. He shot a 2-under 34 on the front nine to open a three-shot advantage over Palmer and a six-shot margin over the struggling Finsterwald.

Arnie's Army, however, wouldn't let its hero give up. Neither would Palmer.

``It was an angry Palmer that stepped to the 10th tee and lashed a screaming drive down the picturesque fairway of this 470-yard hole,'' wrote Johnny Hendrix in The Augusta Chronicle.

Palmer sank a 30-foot birdie putt on the 10th, and the charge was on. Birdies at Nos. 12, 13, 14 and 16 were all part of the back-nine blitz. When the smoke had cleared, Palmer had a 5-under 31 and a total of 68. Player, who lost his lead with a three-putt at the 12th, finished with a 71. Finsterwald, a longshot against two of the game's premier players, limped home with a 77.

With the win, Palmer joined Jimmy Demaret and Sam Snead as the tournament's only three-time winners.

Four years later, Nicklaus used a Masters playoff to make some history of his own.

A year after establishing a tournament record with a 271 total, the Golden Bear and the world's best golfers struggled at Augusta National. Scores were considerably higher and, after 72 holes, Nicklaus found himself in a three-way playoff with Gay Brewer Jr. and Tommy Jacobs. All had completed four trips around the course in even-par 288.

Jack Nicklaus became the first player to successfully defend his Masters title by defeating Tommy Jacobs and Gay Brewer in a playoff in 1966. File/The Augusta Chronicle

Jacobs stayed with Nicklaus on the front nine as both carded 1-under 35s. Nicklaus opened up a two-shot lead with a par on the 10th and a birdie at the 11th, which proved to be the difference against Jacobs. Brewer, who had three-putted the 72nd hole to open the door for the other players, never was in serious contention in the playoff and finished with a 78.

Nicklaus added a birdie at the 15th to remove any doubt and finished with a 2-under 70. Jacobs shot an even-par 72.

With the win, Nicklaus joined Palmer, Snead and Demaret as three-time Masters champions. Palmer, after his playoff win in 1962, added a fourth green jacket to his closet with a victory in 1964.

Nicklaus' unprecedented back-to-back victories in 1965 and '66 presented a slight dilemma.

``Jack had to put his green coat on by himself,'' Jim Martin wrote in The Chronicle. ``He didn't seem to mind it a bit.''

1962 Masters
Player	Score	Earnings
*Arnold Palmer	70-66-69-75-280	$20,000
Gary Player	67-71-71-71-280	$12,000
Dow Finsterwald	74-68-65-73-280	$8,000
Gene Littler	71-68-71-72-282	$6,000
Jerry Barber	72-72-69-74-287	$3,600
Jimmy Demaret	73-73-71-70-287	$3,600
Billy Maxwell	71-73-72-71-287	$3,600
Mike Souchak	70-72-74-71-287	$3,600
Charles Coe	72-74-71-71-288	amateur
Ken Venturi	75-70-71-72-288	$2,000
* Palmer won playoff with 68 over Player (71) and Finsterwald (77)

1966 Masters
Player	Score	Earnings
*Jack Nicklaus	68-76-72-72-288	$20,000
Tommy Jacobs	75-71-70-72-288	$12,300
Gay Brewer Jr.	74-72--72-70-288	$8,300
Arnold Palmer	74-70-74-72-290	$5,700
Doug Sanders	74-70-75-71-290	$5,700
Don January	71-73-73-75-292	$3,900
George Knudson	73-76-72-71-292	$3,900
Ray Floyd	72-73-74-74-293	$2,500
Paul Harney	75-68-76-74-293	$2,500
Billy Casper	71-75-76-72-294	$1,770
Jay Hebert	72-74-73-75-294	$1,770
Bob Rosburg	73-71-76-74-294	$1,770
* Nicklaus won playoff with 70 followed by Jacobs (72) and Brewer (78)

 

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