By Andy Johnston
Staff Writer
Augusta Chronicle

Herman Keiser's spring ritual has remained relatively unchanged for the past 50 years.

No matter what he's doing or how busy he is, Keiser always finds time to work in a three-day trip to Augusta.

It's a long journey - about a 10-hour drive from his home near Akron, Ohio - but Keiser wouldn't miss Tuesday night's Champions Dinner. Especially this year, the 50th anniversary of his shocking victory at Augusta National in 1946.

``That was the greatest thing that ever happened to me,'' said Keiser, now 81. ``I won some other tournaments, but nothing like this one. This was by far the best of all of them. There wasn't much money in winning, though ($2,500).''

On Monday, Keiser and two of his three sons and his daughter loaded up his 1977 Cadillac and began the trek to Augusta.

He doesn't stay very long, however. Today, he's on the road back to Ohio, where he owns a driving range. He'll be home before old rivals Byron Nelson, Sam Snead and Gene Sarazen tee off Thursday morning as honorary starters.

``I just like coming for the dinner,'' Keiser said.

When chatting with Keiser, it's easy to spot the importance he places on winning his only Masters. He led that tournament wire-to-wire and held off a late charge from favored Ben Hogan. Keiser's memories of the victory remain lucid and his steel blue eyes shine brightly against weathered brown skin as he recounts anecdotes with clarity, throwing in little incidents, including a few he wishes to remain unprinted.

``Now I'm going to tell you this, but don't use it,'' he said.

Keiser doesn't even mind talking about the time a few years ago when his green jacket, the very one he was wearing Tuesday evening, disappeared.

``They thought I had it, but they lost it. Nobody knew where it was,'' he said. ``It was missing for about three years until they found it behind some stuff in a corner of the basement (of the clubhouse).

``Every year I would come back and say, `How about my coat?' until they finally found it,'' Keiser added. ``I knew I didn't have it, but nobody could find it. I thought somebody had stolen it and sold it.''

Keiser was unknown before that magical spring, having spent the previous three years serving on the USS Cincinnati.

It was supposed to be Hogan's year. Keiser had different thoughts.

``I played pretty good golf,'' said Keiser, who won by one stroke. ``A lot of things were against me that week and a lot of people didn't want me win, but I did.''

Keiser won twice more in 1946 and finished fifth on the money list. He was, however, what most consider a one-year wonder. His last tour victory came in the 1947 Esmeralda Open, but he led the 1949 Masters for two rounds before fading.

At the end of the year, with his wife pregnant, Keiser left the tour for good.

``I never made any money at it,'' he said. ``but it's always been a part of my life. I've always enjoyed coming back here.''

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