masters96.com: Record Time

The Augusta Chronicle

Sports Illustrated

Record Time
1976

This was the only major in which Jack Nicklaus made three eagles and was still beaten by 11 strokes. The man who left Nicklaus, and everybody else, in his wake was Ray Floyd, who set or tied more records (11) in his wire-to-wire romp than anyone in the tournament's history. Floyd's records included:

Low first round by a champion: 65.

Low 36-hole score: 131.

Low 54-hole score: 201.

Low 72-hole score: 271 (tie).

Consecutive holes making no more than 4: 52

(streak started in 1975).

Best performance on par-5s: 14 under (tie).

Holes under par: 23 (22 birdies, one eagle).

Floyd won by eight shots over Ben Crenshaw, but that was not a record, because someone had already won by nine. Can you guess who?

Hint: The same man who in '65 set the 271 total mark that Floyd tied.

Answer: Jack Nicklaus.

Floyd did a number on Nicklaus and the field.

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