Herman Keiser, who held off Ben Hogan to win the 1946 Masters Tournament in one of the game's most surprising upsets, died in December.

The 89-year-old Keiser died in Akron, Ohio, from complications from Alzheimer's disease.

Winning the Masters "was the greatest thing that ever happened to me," Keiser told The Augusta Chronicle in 1996. "I won some other tournaments, but nothing like this one."

The 1946 Masters was the first since 1942. World War II forced the event to be canceled for three years.

Keiser won five times in his PGA Tour career, but the Masters was his only major victory.

He led from the outset, but Hogan almost tracked him down. He had a five-shot advantage over Hogan going into the final round, but Keiser shot 74 and Hogan closed with 70.

Keiser three-putted from 30 feet for bogey on the final hole. Hogan, in a group behind Keiser, three-putted from 12 feet for bogey when he could have won outright or forced an 18-hole playoff.

Keiser still shares a Masters record for largest 36-hole lead (five shots) with three other winners.

He would go on to play in 26 Masters, but Keiser would post only one other top-10 finish at Augusta National. He quit competing in 1974, but returned each year for the Champions Dinner.