Has the Masters ever finished on a Monday?

Has there ever been a Masters Monday finish? It’s the same question everyone asks every time Augusta’s officials roll out that infamous and unwanted “play suspended” sign and tee times get pushed back.

The short answer is ‘yes’. On an handful of occasions, to be precise. For the longer answer, keep reading…

The six times we had a Masters Monday finish

We have to go back to just the third renewal of the Masters for the first Monday finish.

1936

Still known as the Augusta National Invitation Tournament, the third edition of the Masters finished on the Monday after heavy rain washed out action on both the Thursday and Sunday, meaning the first round was played on Friday, the second round on Saturday, and both third and fourth rounds were on the Monday.

Horton Smith, who won the inaugural tournament two years before, earned his second Masters. They were to be his only two major victories.

1938

Two years later adverse weather once again caused delays. The first round wasn’t played until Saturday, with rounds two and three on Sunday, and the final round on Monday.

Henry Picard won his maiden major, and he would go on to add the PGA Championship the following year.

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1961

Heavy rain on the final day meant play was stopped at 4pm local time and all scores were erased – despite the fact 10 players had completed their rounds.

The entire fourth round was played on the Monday, when Gary Player defeated Arnold Palmer and amateur Charles Coe by a single shot to become the first non-American to win the Masters.

It was also the first of the South African’s nine majors.

1973

The next Monday finish was 12 years later when poor weather wiped out most of the Saturday. Again, Augusta officials decided to scrub any third-round scores already recorded and start afresh on Sunday, with the final round on Monday.

Tommy Aaron, who at the time was best known for a scorecard error at the Masters five years earlier when he cost Roberto De Vicenzo a spot in the play-off, won what would be his only major.

Ironically, he won after spotting a mistake on his own scorecard by Johnny Miller.

1983

Ten years later is what proved to be the most recent Monday finish at Augusta.

Friday’s play was postponed so each round was shunted back 24 hours. Seve Ballesteros, who began the final round one back of defending champion Craig Stadler and 1976 champion Ray Floyd, carded a 3-under 69 as his rivals crumbled around him.

He would win by four shots for his second Green Jacket and third of his five career majors.

Hear more of our thoughts in our Masters daily commute episodes of The bunkered Podcast from Augusta.