It’s been nearly 50 years since Bob Goalby won the most controversial Masters Tournament ever played.

Champions Diary: Bob Goalby

Goalby, who celebrates his 87th birthday Monday, won the 1968 Masters after Roberto De Vicenzo signed an incorrect scorecard.

De Vicenzo, who had won the British Open the year before, was celebrating his 45th birthday that Sunday at Augusta. The galleries had serenaded him with “Happy Birthday” as he made his way around the course.

Goalby shot 66 and finish at 11-under 277.

De Vicenzo made a bogey on the 18th that left him with an apparent 65 and 11-under total.

While De Vicenzo was waiting for Goalby to finish, playing partner Tommy Aaron noticed De Vicenzo’s scorecard total was 66. He pointed out the error to a Masters official, and a meeting was held in Bobby Jones’ cottage off the 10th tee.

Aaron had marked De Vicenzo for 4 instead of 3 on the 17th hole.

Under the rules of golf, a player is responsible for the score on each hole of his card. Once a player has signed for his score, it must stand.

“I play golf all over the world for 30 years, and now all I can think of is what a stupid I am to be wrong in this wonderful tournament,” De Vicenzo said afterward. “Never have I ever done such a thing.”

The Masters instituted new procedures for players to check their cards in privacy.

“The best thing is we now have a little building to go into,” Goalby said years later. “At the time, all we had was a little picnic table where press could get to you early. Now they can’t do that.”

Lost in the controversy is how well Goalby played in that final round. He made two birdies and an eagle on Nos. 13-15 in his round of 66, one of the finest closing scores by a Masters champion.