GeneSarazen
By David Westin
Augusta Chronicle Staff Writer
Gene Sarazen, nicknamed "the Squire" because he was a prominent landowner, hit what is considered the most famous shot in Masters Tournament history, and perhaps all of golf. His double eagle on the par-5 15th hole in the final round of the 1935 Masters helped him tie for the lead after 72 holes. He went on the next day to win a 36-hole playoff by five shots.
Sarazen is famous for other reasons, not the least of which is his invention of the sand wedge.
Sarazen, who was 96 in February and is the oldest living Masters champion by seven years, won seven major championships in his career and was the first to achieve a career grand slam of the four majors. He won three PGA Championship titles, two U.S. Opens, one British Open and one Masters. The only other golfers achieving the career grand slam are Jack Nicklaus, Ben Hogan and Gary Player. The 1935 Masters victory marked the final leg of Sarazen's career grand slam.
Sarazen played in 34 Masters, starting in 1935 and ending in 1973. For various reasons, he didn't play in the Masters in 1946, 1952 or 1968. Sarazen has been an honorary starter at the Masters, teeing off in his trademark plus-fours, since 1981.
Illustration by Robert Steel /The Augusta Chronicle
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