The Masters: Impress Your Mates

As the world’s top golfers gather at Augusta National to do battle for the first major of the season, groups of friends around the world gather to watch the action from the Masters unfold together on their TVs.

This, of course, provides a perfect opportunity to impress your pals with your knowledge of the tournament and earn some serious respect amongst your buddies.

If this sounds like the sort of thing you’d like, read and memorise the statements below, then casually drop them into conversation as and when you see fit. Trust us, your standing amongst your mates will rise. You can thank us later.

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• Only three players have ever won the Masters on their debut in the event: Horton Smith in 1930; Gene Sarazen in 1935; and Fuzzy Zoeller in 1979.

• Three players have won the tournament back-to-back: Jack Nicklaus (1965/66); Nick Faldo (1989/90); Tiger Woods (2001/02).

• A total of 35 different American golfers have won the Masters a combined 57 times.

• Arnold Palmer, below, made the most consecutive starts in the Masters (50) but Gary Player played in the tournament a record 52 times.

• Jack Nicklaus played in the Masters 45 times – making the cut on 37 occasions.

• The Masters has been decided by a play-off on 16 occasions in total and five times since 2003.

• Jack Nicklaus has made the most eagles and birdies in the Masters: a whopping 24 eagles and 506 birdies over the course of his career.

• Anthony Kim holds the record for the most birdies made in one round of the Masters. He had 11 in a second round 65 in 2009.

• The lowest round ever recorded in the Masters is 63. Nick Price did it first in 1986; Greg Norman repeated the trick in 1996.

• Only four players have managed wire-to-wire wins at Augusta: Craig Wood (1941), Arnold Palmer (1960), Jack Nicklaus (1972) and Ray Floyd (1976).

The Masters 2014: Watch it live

Tune into Sky Sports 4 from 7pm this Thursday to see all of the action from The Masters as it happens.

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Michael McEwan is the Deputy Editor of bunkered and has been part of the team since 2004. In that time, he has interviewed almost every major figure within the sport, from Jack Nicklaus, to Rory McIlroy, to Donald Trump. The host of the multi award-winning bunkered Podcast and a member of Balfron Golfing Society, Michael is the author of three books and is the 2023 PPA Scotland 'Writer of the Year' and 'Columnist of the Year'. Dislikes white belts, yellow balls and iron headcovers. Likes being drawn out of the media ballot to play Augusta National.

Deputy Editor

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