Masters Back-To-Back Winners: There Are Only Three

Only three men in the history of The Masters have won back-to-back at the Augusta National Golf Club — Jack Nicklaus, Nick Faldo and Tiger Woods.

Dustin Johnson is trying to become the fourth but history stands firm against him.

Jack Nicklaus was the first man to win back-to-back.  Not even the greats like Ben Hogan, Sam Snead, Byron Nelson or Arnold Palmer were able to achieve that milestone.

Jack was tied after two rounds with the other members of then what was known as “The Big Three” –Arnold Palmer and Gary Player when he won in 1965.  Nicklaus tore it up on Saturday, shooting an eight-under 64 then polished it off with a three-under 69 on Sunday to finish at 17-under. At the time, both his score (271) and winning margin (eight strokes over both Palmer and Player) were tournament records.

In 1966, Nicklaus was tied at par with Tommy Jacobs and Gay Brewer after 72 holes but went on to dominate the 18-hole playoff, shooting two-under to beat Jacobs by two strokes and Brewer by eight.  It was Jack’s third Green Jacket in four years.

In 1989, Nick Faldo entered the final round five strokes behind leader Ben Crenshaw.  Sir Nick produced a final round with eight birdies — including ones on 16 and 17 – to shoot a 65 and force a playoff with Scott Hoch. In the sudden death format, he won the second playoff hole to capture his first Green Jacket and second major.

Faldo went to extra holes again in 1990.  This time he squared off against tough-guy Raymond Floyd.  Sir Nick won again in 1996, which remains the last time a European won at Augusta National.

Tiger Woods brought the non-golfing world to Masters television viewership in 1997 when he ran away from the rest of the field at the tender age of 21.

Tiger had to wait for his second Green Jacket until 2001 then he made it two-straight in 2002.  He beat David Duval by two shots in ’01, shooting 15-under then in ’02 he went 12-under to beat Retief Goosen by three shots.  28-under par in those years remains the lowest score ever for back-to-back Masters.  Tiger went on to win again in 2005 then collected his fifth Green Jacket in 2019, making him the second all-time winner behind Nicklaus.

So the challenge for Dustin Johnson to go back-to-back this week is a tough one.

It’s a small club — The back-to-back club.

Will Rain Be A Factor At 85th Masters?

One of the issues with April goes to the old rhyme:  “April Showers Bring May Flowers.”

The forecast for Augusta shows 24 percent chance of showers on Thursday, 38 percent on Friday, 45 percent on Saturday and 24 percent on Sunday.

As long as there’s no lightning, it’s “play-on.”

Rain could slow down the course a bit although the greens at Augusta National are equipped with those expensive “Sub-Air” systems that can suck moisture out of the greens.

Brooks Koepka Showing The Right Knee Is A Problem At Augusta National:

Maybe all really isn’t all the well with Brooks Koepka and his surgically repaired right knee.

After a practice session at Augusta National he was asked if he was “feeling good.”

“Good is relative,” he responded.  Walking downhill is a challenge for Koepka and he also said that when his golf ball is below his feet it puts him in an awkward position, so much so he plans to play a 3-wood off the tee at the par-5 13th hole to avoid leaving himself with a tough sidehill lie for his second shot.

Koepka also struggled Tuesday to read putts. On the eighth green, for example, he bent his left knee while his right leg remained fully extended and to his side to get low enough to see the break.

“I can’t bend down. My knee doesn’t (flex).  I mean, that’s the most stress you’re going to have on your patella. I don’t have that much motion in my knee.  When I’m prone I can get it to about 90 degrees and that’s about it. But getting down, I’m not. It’s going to look funny, I know that. But what are you going to do?”

Although he said the injury hasn’t changed his preparation, the rehabilitation has added to his workday. He estimated he needed about three  hours of therapy Tuesday morning in order to practice and play a limited practice round and he received treatment well past midnight on Wednesday.