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Posted March 22, 2012, 8:09 pm |

1954: Snead wins in legendary Masters battle with Hogan

  • Article Photos
    1954: Snead wins in legendary Masters battle with Hogan
    Photos description
    Snead
  • Article Photos
    1954: Snead wins in legendary Masters battle with Hogan
    Photos description
    Snead accepts congratulations from Ben Hogan
  • Article Photos
    1954: Snead wins in legendary Masters battle with Hogan
    Photos description
    Front Page of The Augusta Chronicle after the 1954 Masters Tournament

1953 set the stage for 1954, the most memorable duel between Sam Snead and Ben Hogan.

Amateur Billy Joe Patton dominated the early rounds, but most figured he would go away. He didn't, and in the final round he took the lead thanks to an ace on the sixth hole and solid play.

Patton jockeyed with Snead and Hogan for the lead but found the water on both par-5s on the second nine. Snead and Hogan wound up tied after 72 holes at 1-over-par 289, and Patton finished one shot behind them.

In the playoff the next day, the two men played even for nine holes. Snead holed a chip for birdie on the 10th but gave back the lead with a bogey on the 12th. That set up the 13th hole, which proved to be decisive as Hogan elected to lay up on the short par-5.

Snead went for the green in two and made it, setting up an easy birdie to give him a one-shot lead when Hogan made par.

Hogan had one final shot at catching Snead when he hit his tee shot close at No. 16, but instead he three-putted to give his foe a two-shot lead. Snead played the 18th cautiously and made a bogey to win.

It would be Snead's third and final win at Augusta National. Hogan, who also had lost an 18-hole Masters playoff to Byron Nelson in 1942, remains the only player to lose twice in a playoff at the Masters.

1954 Masters

 PlayerFR1R2R3R4 Earn.
1Sam Snead+174737072 $5,000
2Ben Hogan+172736975 $3,125
3William J Patton+270747571 -
4E.J. Harrison+370797468 $1,938
4Lloyd Mangrum+371757669 $1,938
6Jerry Barber+474767171 $1,042
6Jack Burke, Jr+471777371 $1,042
6Bob Rosberg+473737670 $1,042
9Al Besselink+674747472 $782
9Cary Middlecoff+673767075 $782