The Masters: Greatest Champions in Tournament History
By Tim Letcher
Tom Watson (winner in 1977 and 1981)
During his career, Tom Watson was overshadowed by Jack Nicklaus. It seemed that no matter what Watson did, Nicklaus would somehow one-up him. The only notable exception was that Watson won the Open Championship five times, while Nicklaus claimed just three Claret Jugs.
Watson did have his moments at Augusta National, claiming a pair of green jackets. His first came in 1977 when he, ironically, outdueled Nicklaus down the stretch. The two legends were tied with just four holes to play, but it was Watson who came up with a key birdie on the 17th hole, followed by a Nicklaus bogey on the 18th hole, giving Watson a two-stroke win.
In 1981, Watson found himself battling Nicklaus again. The Golden Bear shot a 65 on Saturday to lead by four shots with 36 holes to play. But Watson rallied on Saturday, firing a 2-under par 70, while Nicklaus struggled, shooting a 3-over par 75. Watson carried a one-shot lead into Sunday’s final round.
In that final round, Watson was able to hold off Nicklaus, Johnny Miller and a young Greg Norman to win his second green jacket.
Watson’s midwestern charm always made him a fan favorite at the Masters. And the fact that he was able to win eight major championships, all while battling Nicklaus, gave him a ton of credibility as a player. Overall, these things make Watson one of the great champions in Masters history.