Three times a charm for Jimmy Demaret at the Masters

As rain pummeled Augusta National Golf Club, Houston’s Jimmy Demaret declared his favorite part of becoming 1940 Masters champion wasn’t the $1,500 check. Instead, it’s when Masters Chairman Clifford Roberts guaranteed the Texan that his win was accompanied with a lifelong tournament invitation.

Over the ensuing decade, Demaret conquered Augusta National twice more, becoming its first three-time winner. In 1940, he overcame a Thursday onslaught from Lloyd Mangrum and a Saturday abdominal ailment. In 1947, he survived Byron Nelson, while his 1950 triumph was gift wrapped by the tournament’s inaugural Australian meltdown.

“I wanted to win this one more than anything I know,” Demaret said after his 1947 win. “I kept thinking about what Walter Hagen used to say. He said if you win once you are lucky, but if you win twice you’re just plain good.”

Demaret’s three Masters wins top all Texans, edging out the pair of jackets owned by Byron Nelson, Ben Hogan and Ben Crenshaw. For Associated Press writer William T. Rives, Demaret’s success in Augusta could be traced to the early 1930s, when he was a golf instructor at Galveston Municipal Golf Course. Nestled between the Gulf of Mexico and a bayou, Demaret would face changing wind patterns and routinely hit shots with gusts in excess of 20 miles per hour.

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“Three factors, besides his native ability, stand out in any exposition of Demaret’s skill,” Rives wrote in 1940. “His love of baseball, Ben Bernie and the Galveston Municipal Golf Course. He is recognized as probably the finest weather player in the United States.”

Eighty years ago, Demaret first won at Augusta National. Entering the seventh annual Masters Tournament, the Houston Hurricane was on a torrid pace, having won four tournaments during the winter swing, including the Western Open. He arrived in Augusta second on the Tour money list, but quickly found himself gazing up the leaderboard at Lloyd Mangrum. Mangrum, a fellow Texan, fired an opening round 64 — a Masters record that held for 46 years — to better Demaret by three strokes. A day later, Demaret evened the score with 72 to Mangrum’s 75.

After surviving Mangrum’s jumpstart, Demaret awoke Saturday with severe stomach pain and was unable to eat. The Atlanta Journal’s O.B. Keller said, “Jimmy was playing against two formidable adversaries: Old Man Par, pretty tough since the rearrangement of the pins, and a very sad stomach, which went back on him suddenly and with such emphasis that Saturday morning there was grave doubt if the amiable Texan would be able to start at all.”

After contemplating withdrawal, Demaret took bromide, an over-the-counter remedy in the 1940s, and salvaged 14 pars, three birdies and a bogey for a third-round 70 — good enough for the outright lead.

By Sunday, Demaret’s stomachache vanished, but his consistency remained. Despite the reputation of lacking a killer instinct, Demaret carded 17 pars in the final round for a four-stroke win. Sportswriters praised Demaret’s poise under pressure, and Atlanta Journal columnist Ed Danforth went as far as comparing him to War Admiral — winner of the 1937 Triple Crown.

“Jimmy Demaret, the man in green, won the seventh annual Augusta Masters’ Invitational tournament just like War Admiral used to do on the turf. The chart of the 72-hole medal play golf derby shows that the red-cheeked Texan who grins so engagingly from under the rakish sweep of his olive hat brim, collared the pace maker — Lloyd Mangrum — at the half, pushed into the lead at the three quarters and cantered home under wraps to win by a comfortable margin of daylight.”

Following Demaret’s triumph, club president Bobby Jones presented awards for the first time in tournament history. During six previous Masters, the trophy presenters included Jones’ father, Col. Robert Purmedus Jones, Grantland Rice and Fielding Wallace. However, after Jones withdrew on Friday due to a shoulder ailment, the tournament co-founder elected to personally hand Demaret a check for $1,500.

“You’ll not get any more of my money,” Jones told Demaret, as thousands of patrons roared with laughter.

Entering 1947, Ben Hogan had finished runner-up in the previous two Masters. In 1942, Bantam Ben lost an 18-hole playoff to childhood rival Byron Nelson. Then, after World War II canceled tournaments from 1943-1945, Hogan again finished second in 1946.

Interestingly, Hogan — who had one major championship (1946 PGA) on his resume — agreed to write a guest column for the 1947 Masters Tournament. For four days Hogan garnered bylines, while his articles contained insight and quotes from numerous players. Who did Hogan interview most? His closest friend on tour: Demaret.

Similar to 1940, Demaret was playing well prior to the 1947 Masters. He was the season’s early money winner and had won three times in 11 starts. On Thursday, Demaret was paired with Nelson and both shared the lead with 69s. Hogan’s Thursday article centered on Demaret.

“Jimmy, my old four-ball partner, was laughing about a shot he made on the par five 15th hole. ‘I wound up in the water there,’ Jimmy was saying as I caught up with him, ‘but I took my shoes and stockings off, waded in, played the ball and birdied the hole.’ ”

Hogan concluded his first article by praising Bobby Jones for carding a 75. “That’s excellent golf for a man who has been retired from competition for 17 years and only plays in this one event. I had a 75, too, but I didn't play well at all. I hope you will excuse me if I don’t say anything more about my round than just that.”

Demaret carded 71 on Friday to pull a stroke ahead of Nelson, and then padded his lead with a Saturday 70. After each round, however, Demaret expressed disappointment when speaking to Hogan-the-journalist. Despite having a three-shot cushion over Lord Byron, the witty Demaret vented to Hogan on Saturday about his driving accuracy.

“That’s usually my strong point,” Demaret told Hogan. “I’m usually straight down the middle but I was in the rough so much today I thought I’d have to get a tetanus shot when I came in.”

In spite of his poor tee shots, Demaret salvaged his round with his putter. The Houstonian had 26 total putts, including 10 one-putts.

“Jimmy’s favorite nickname for any of the pros who happen to be putting well is ‘One Putt,’ ” Hogan wrote. “After looking over his scorecard I am convinced that nickname fits Jimmy better than anybody else.”

Demaret capped his second Masters victory in style — literally. It was Easter Sunday, and the Texan dressed in full canary yellow, while carding a final-round 71. Demaret finished two strokes better than amateur Frank Stranahan and Nelson, who a year earlier, at 34, had retired from professional golf to become a rancher. Still, in spite of retirement, Nelson would leave his Roanoke, Texas, ranch and return to Augusta to compete. Nelson, who won the tournament in 1937 and ’42, recalled the 1947 Masters in his memoirs, stating, “I didn't care anymore.” He praised the 1947 Masters for proving that he was “definitely through with the tour.”

As for Hogan, who quietly finished in a tie for fourth, his week as a journalist ended the way it began — by praising Demaret.

“Well, my old four-ball partner and fellow Texan, Jimmy Demaret, is the Masters champion for the second time, winning with a score of 281. As long as I couldn't win it myself, I don't know of anybody I would rather see win the Masters than Old One Putt Demaret.”

Demaret never forgot Hagen’s quote.Winning once was luck. Twice meant you’re plain good. Hagen never addressed what a third win would mean.

After his third Masters title in 1950, Demaret stood on the 18th green during the trophy presentation. By now, his attire and impromptu vocals had become nearly as famous as his golf game. Demaret loved to sing. After a few drinks, he would joyfully serenade anyone willing to listen. He sang at clubs and bars, or with famous pals Bob Hope and Bing Crosby. On occasion, most notably during the 1940 Masters, Demaret was even heard humming on the course.

As his third green jacket was being slipped on, Demaret’s baritone echoed through the Georgia pines.

“How lucky you are!” Demaret sang to patrons.

When Demaret finished Sunday’s round to post 283, leader Jim Ferrier was teeing off on No. 13. The Australian had a five-stroke advantage as he began the final nine, before Demaret closed with birdies on Nos. 15 and 16 to slice it to three.

“I’m going to adopt that thirteenth hole and take it home with me,” Demaret said.

For the week, Demaret went six-under on 13 — carding two eagles and two birdies. It’s also where Ferrier’s demise began.

Vying to become Augusta’s first foreign-born winner, Ferrier’s tee shot found the brook to the left of No. 13. Following a one-stroke penalty, he made bogey. He three-putted 14; another bogey. Suddenly, Ferrier needed to par his remaining four holes to become champion. Despite hitting into the crowd behind No. 15, Ferrier salvaged par to maintain a one-stroke lead over Demaret, waiting patiently in the clubhouse.

Ferrier missed an eight-foot putt on 16 for his third bogey in four holes. Compounding his miscues, the Aussie landed in a front bunker on No. 17 and was unable to salvage par. Demaret now led as Ferrier played his second shot to 35 feet above the hole on No. 18. Needing a birdie to force a Monday playoff, Ferrier instead three-putted for his fifth bogey over the final six holes.

Charles Bartlett, of the Chicago Tribune, stated, “(Ferrier) had the championship wrapped up like no man ever did with six holes to go. Then the ceiling fell on Ferrier’s huge frame in one of the most tragic finishes ever.”

Following his 1950 triumph, Demaret recorded two additional top-five finishes (1957 and ’62) before he quit playing the Masters in 1967. In the years that followed, Demaret occasionally returned to the Champions Dinner until he died of a heart attack in 1983.

During the final round of the 1950 Masters, Demaret dressed in bright green slacks, a white and green shirt, green shoes and a green cap. He eventually earned the nickname, “The Wardrobe.” When speaking with reporters after Ferrier’s shocking collapse, Demaret smiled and said, “Walter Hagen once said if you win once you are lucky. If you win twice you’re plain good. What am I now?”