| 1963 Masters | |
The first professional victory for Jack Nicklaus was a major, the 1962 U.S. Open, where Nicklaus defeated Arnold Palmer in an 18-hole playoff. After that playoff Palmer said, "Now that the big guy's out of the cage, everybody better run for cover."
Nicklaus entered the final round of the 1963 Masters with a 1-stroke lead, and he ended it with a 1-stroke victory over "Champagne" Tony Lema.
Nicklaus held off a sterling group of challengers: Lema, Julius Boros, Sam Snead, Dow Finsterwald, Ed Furgol, Don January, Palmer, Billy Casper ... all of whom were, or would become, major champions. Snead finished tied for third, the last of his nine career Top 5 finishes at The Masters (which is tied for second most Top 5 finishes behind - of course - Nicklaus).
Gene Sarazen, winner of the second Masters played (1935), made the cut at the 1963 Masters, his final cut made in this tournament. Sarazen later became one of the Masters honorary starters, a tradition that began right here at the 1963 Masters with Jock Hutchison and Fred McLeod hitting ceremonial opening tee balls.
The 1963 Masters was also the final playing appearance by Horton Smith, the very first Masters champion. Smith won the inaugural tournament in 1934.
1963 Masters Scores
Results from the 1963 Masters golf tournament played at the par-72 Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, Ga. (a-amateur):
| Jack Nicklaus | 74-66-74-72--286 | $20,000 |
| Tony Lema | 74-69-74-70--287 | $12,000 |
| Julius Boros | 76-69-71-72--288 | $7,000 |
| Sam Snead | 70-73-74-71--288 | $7,000 |
| Dow Finsterwald | 74-73-73-69--289 | $4,000 |
| Ed Furgol | 70-71-74-74--289 | $4,000 |
| Gary Player | 71-74-74-70--289 | $4,000 |
| Bo Wininger | 69-72-77-72--290 | $2,400 |
| Don January | 73-75-72-71--291 | $1,800 |
| Arnold Palmer | 74-73-73-71--291 | $1,800 |
| Billy Casper | 79-72-71-70--292 | $1,350 |
| Bruce Crampton | 74-74-72-72--292 | $1,350 |
| Doug Ford | 75-73-75-69--292 | $1,350 |
| Mike Souchak | 69-70-79-74--292 | $1,350 |
| Bob Charles | 74-72-76-71--293 | $1,100 |
| Chen Ching-Po | 76-71-71-75--293 | $1,100 |
| Billy Maxwell | 72-75-76-70--293 | $1,100 |
| Dick Mayer | 73-70-80-70--293 | $1,100 |
| Mason Rudolph | 75-72-72-74--293 | $1,100 |
| Dan Sikes | 74-76-72-71--293 | $1,100 |
| Stan Leonard | 74-72-73-75--294 | $1,000 |
| Johnny Pott | 75-76-74-69--294 | $1,000 |
| Art Wall Jr. | 75-74-73-72--294 | $1,000 |
| Wes Ellis | 74-72-79-70--295 | $1,000 |
| Gene Littler | 77-72-78-68--295 | $1,000 |
| Bobby Nichols | 76-74-73-72--295 | $1,000 |
| Jay Hebert | 70-70-81-75--296 | $750 |
| George Bayer | 71-75-84-67--297 | $750 |
| Tommy Jacobs | 78-74-73-72--297 | $750 |
| Doug Sanders | 73-74-77-73--297 | $750 |
| Alvie Thompson | 79-72-75-71--297 | $750 |
| a-Labron Harris Jr. | 79-71-73-75--298 | |
| Dave Ragan | 74-75-76-73--298 | $750 |
| Ken Venturi | 77-74-77-71--299 | $750 |
| a-Bill Hyndman | 74-72-80-74--300 | |
| Kel Nagle | 75-74-76-75--300 | $750 |
| Tommy Bolt | 75-76-76-74--301 | $750 |
| a-Charlie Coe | 72-75-79-75--301 | |
| a-Homero Blancas | 75-77-76-74--302 | |
| Antonio Cerda | 75-71-78-78--302 | $750 |
| Lionel Hebert | 75-74-77-76--302 | $750 |
| Jack Fleck | 74-77-77-75--303 | $750 |
| Walter Burkemo | 75-77-78-74--304 | $750 |
| Jimmy Demaret | 75-75-81-73--304 | $750 |
| Herman Keiser | 75-77-79-74--305 | $750 |
| a-Downing Gray | 73-76-81-76--306 | |
| a-R.H. Sikes | 76-76-77-77--306 | |
| a-Billy Joe Patton | 80-72-74-81--307 | |
| Gene Sarazen | 74-73-81-80--308 | $750 |
1962 Masters | 1964 Masters
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