Well, with my mind-set that day in 1967, I don't guess it mattered. When I walked into the locker room all of the contenders were sitting in there real quiet, not saying a thing. It was like a funeral. I asked, What's the gloom, boys? We're playing for the Masters today.

Then I thought about it and went out on the back lawn and just sat by myself, meditating, getting my mind focused on the game. I sat there for nearly an hour, and nobody bothered me. My wife said she'd never seen me do that before and rarely has since then.

I was in a state of close concentration all day. I gave myself a pep talk when I got the lead late and told myself not to do anything stupid.

My game was sharp, thanks in part to a driver that Ben Hogan gave me in 1966. I appreciated that coming from a man who was so great. The year I won was also the last year Hogan played there ­ and shot 66 in the third round ­ so it was doubly memorable.

In the final round, I was tied with Bobby Nichols at 5-under par going to the 13th hole. I hit a 4-wood to 20 feet there and two-putted for birdie to gain a one-stroke lead, while Bobby made par. We both birdied Nos. 14 and Nos. 15.

My key hole may have been No. 17. I caught Ike's Tree off the tee and had about 220 yards to the green. From there, I hit a 4-wood into the gap between the bunkers, chipped to 3 feet and made par. I made a routine par on No. 18 to beat Bobby by one stroke. That made me forget 1966, when all I needed was a par on 18 to win, but three-putted and then lost in a three-way playoff to Jack Nicklaus, who won, and Tommy Jacobs.

It's a goal of all pros to win one of the major championships. It's something I'll cherish the rest of my life. You get recognition all over the world. Plus, you get a lifetime exemption into the Masters.

I just turned 68 on March 19 and said I'd 'retire' the first of April. I've been playing 20 to 25 tournaments a year on the Senior Tour, but my wife passed away last year and I only played about 10 tournaments. This year, I'll probably play about 12 to 15 events. The rest of the time I'll spend at my Delray Beach, Fla., home, playing a little golf, bass fishing and just relaxing.

But, as long as I can still walk the course, I'll come back and play in the Masters. I've got bad knees ­ arthritis in both of them ­ and it kills me to walk the course, but it's an experience to walk Augusta National with some familiar faces looking out at you every year.

Masters bio Go to Gay Brewer's Masters bio   Leaderboard Final leaderboard from 1967   SI Flashback Chronicle flashback The word on Brewer "Gay Brewer, the man who left a green coat waiting on the 18th green of the Augusta National course last year, came back to pick it up on Sunday." -- Robert Eubanks in The Augusta Chronicle "The thing about a lot of touring pros is this: If you give one of them enough time for his putter to heat up, he can turn even the most classic of championships into another Pensacola Open. Gay Brewer Jr., a guy in his mid-30s developing a paunch, a man with a loopy swing who has been strolling along on the PGA Tour for 10 years achieving no more of an identity than, oh, Julius Finsteraaron, did exactly this in winning the 1967 Masters." -- Dan Jenkins in Sports Illustrated "When a boy handed me a cup of water on the 16th tee, I could hardly hold it. I didn't know whether I was holdin' the putter or it was holdin' me." - Gay Brewer Jr. about the last holes of the final round "They (Brewer and Bobby Nichols) had played together 'since we were kids.' There was a certain looseness only friends can have when they come head to head. But there was also a grimness in Brewer's determination to atone for something he likes to forget." -- Robert Eubanks in The Augusta Chronicle

Masters Record Year Place Score Round Money 1 2 3 4 1999 WD 122 80 42 0 0 $5,000 1998 CUT 158 72 86 0 0 $5,000 1997 CUT 163 84 79 0 0 $5,000 1996 CUT 152 75 77 0 0 $1,500 1995 CUT 149 79 70 0 0 $1,500 1994 CUT 163 84 79 0 0 $1,500 1993 CUT 163 80 83 0 0 $1,500 1992 CUT 158 81 77 0 0 $1,500 1991 CUT 152 78 74 0 0 $1,500 1990 CUT 153 76 77 0 0 $1,500 1989 WD 83 83 0 0 0 $1,500 1988 CUT 159 78 81 0 0 $1,500 1987 CUT 161 80 81 0 0 $1,500 1986 CUT 153 77 76 0 0 $1,500 1985 CUT 158 79 79 0 0 $1,500 1984 CUT 148 74 74 0 0 $1,500 1983 47 301 72 73 80 76 $1,920 1982 45 305 73 80 72 80 $1,500 1981 T-15 288 75 68 71 74 $5,500 1980 CUT 153 82 71 0 0 $1,500 1979 CUT 150 75 75 0 0 $1,500 1978 T-29 290 73 71 69 77 $1,975 1977 CUT 152 78 74 0 0 $1,500 1976 T-23 293 75 74 71 73 $2,225 1975 CUT 149 77 72 0 0 $1,250 1974 CUT 150 75 75 0 0 $1,200 1973 T-10 291 75 66 74 76 $3,425 1972 INVITED 0 0 0 0 0 INVITED 1971 CUT 154 79 75 0 0 $1,000 1970 T-31 294 78 70 72 74 $1,650 1969 CUT 149 75 74 0 0 $1,000 1968 T-35 291 72 74 71 74 $1,375 1967 WIN 280 73 68 72 67 $20,000 1966 3 288 74 72 72 70 $8,300 1965 CUT 155 77 78 0 0 $900 1964 T-25 291 75 72 73 71 $875 1963 CUT 154 82 72 0 0 $1,450 1962 T-11 290 74 71 70 75 $1,450