1982: Craig Stadler wins shortest Masters playoff
Craig Stadler didn’t start well or finish strong, but he played extremely well in the middle rounds in 1982 to capture his only major.
He started with 75, the highest opening round by a champion, but followed with 69 and 67.
Holding a three-stroke lead going into Sunday, Stadler made the turn after 3-under 33 and held a six-stroke cushion. But instead of waltzing to his coronation, Stadler stumbled his way home with 4-over 40.
He wound up in a playoff with Dan Pohl. The long hitter had opened the tournament with a pair of 75s but was red hot after two 67s. Both men completed regulation at 4-under 284.
With a routine par on the first hole of sudden death, Stadler regained momentum.
Pohl pushed his approach to the right and found himself about 40 feet away. An indifferent third shot left him about six feet for par, and Pohl missed the putt.
It was the shortest playoff in Masters history.
1982 Masters
Player | F | R1 | R2 | R3 | R4 | Earn. | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Craig Stadler | -4 | 75 | 69 | 67 | 73 | $64,000 | |
2 | Dan Pohl | -4 | 75 | 75 | 67 | 67 | $39,000 | |
3 | Seve Ballesteros | -3 | 73 | 73 | 68 | 71 | $21,000 | |
3 | Jerry Pate | -3 | 74 | 73 | 67 | 71 | $21,000 | |
5 | Tom Kite | -1 | 76 | 69 | 73 | 69 | $13,500 | |
5 | Tom Watson | -1 | 77 | 69 | 70 | 71 | $13,500 | |
7 | Ray Floyd | +1 | 74 | 72 | 69 | 74 | $11,067 | |
7 | Larry Nelson | +1 | 79 | 71 | 70 | 69 | $11,067 | |
7 | Curtis Strange | +1 | 74 | 70 | 73 | 72 | $11,067 | |
10 | Andy Bean | +2 | 75 | 72 | 73 | 70 | $8,550 | |
10 | Mark Hayes | +2 | 74 | 73 | 73 | 70 | $8,550 | |
10 | Tom Weiskopf | +2 | 75 | 72 | 68 | 75 | $8,550 | |
10 | Fuzzy Zoeller | +2 | 72 | 76 | 70 | 72 | $8,550 |