The 2020 virtual Masters: A dozen potential surprises
By Bill Felber
Cary Middlecoff, 1955 (1947-1956), -1.03
As a former U.S. Open champion, Middlecoff’s reputation was established when he came to Augusta for the 1955 event. A former Army dentist, he had tied for seventh in 1950, and for ninth in 1954.
His even-par first round 72 was good for a share of fourth, although five strokes behind Jack Burke Jr. But Middlecoff surged to the front on Friday with a 65, and his Saturday 72 maintained a four-stroke edge over Ben Hogan.
That proved to be more than enough cushion for Middlecoff, who extended his lead to five strokes with a birdie at the second, then to seven with birdies at six and seven. The rest of the day Hogan could draw no closer than five strokes, Middlecoff eventually winning by seven at -9.
Middlecoff’s bid to become the first champion to successfully defend came up short in 1956, but not by much. Trailing amateur Ken Venturi by one stroke on Thursday and by four after Friday, he remained four strokes behind entering Sunday’s final round. When Venturi collapsed in a flurry of back-nine bogeys, Middlecoff found himself tied for the lead with two holes to play.
But when Venturi bogeyed the 17th, Middlecoff double-bogeyed, allowing Jack Burke Jr., to shoot past both of them with a birdie. Middlecoff finished third, two behind Burke and one behind Venturi.
Virtual Masters projection: T-13.