The 1948 Masters Tournament was the 12th Masters Tournament, held April 8–11 at Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, Georgia.

Tournament summary

Claude Harmon shot a record-tying 279 (−9) and finished five strokes ahead of runner-up Cary Middlecoff, a future champion in 1955. The Sunday gallery in 1948 was estimated at 10,000 spectators, and the tournament purse was $10,000. Harmon won $2,500 and his four-round score tied the record set by Ralph Guldahl in 1939. Primarily a club professional, it was Harmon's first tour victory. This was the final appearance as a player in the Masters for host Bobby Jones, then age 46. It was also the last Masters that did not immediately present the iconic green jacket to the winner. The nine winners of the first twelve tournaments received their green jackets in 1949. The five-stroke victory margin was matched by Ben Hogan in 1953; the record was raised to seven in 1955 by Cary Middlecoff, nine in 1965 by Jack Nicklaus, and twelve by Tiger Woods in 1997.

Field

Jimmy Demaret (7,9), Ralph Guldahl (2), Herman Keiser (7,9), Byron Nelson (2,6,7,9), Henry Picard (6,9), Gene Sarazen (2,4,6), Horton Smith (9), Craig Wood (2) Billy Burke, Johnny Farrell, Bobby Jones (3,4,5), Lawson Little (3,5,9), Lloyd Mangrum (7,9,10,12), Lew Worsham (7,10,12) Dick Chapman (8,9,a), Skee Riegel (8,11,a) Denny Shute (6,9), Sam Snead (6,7,9,10) Jim Ferrier (9,10,12), Vic Ghezzi (9,10,12), Bob Hamilton, Ben Hogan (7,9,10) Herman Barron (9), Dutch Harrison (10) George Hamer (a), Fred Kammer (a), Bud Ward (3,10,11,a) Johnny Bulla, Fred Haas, Chandler Harper, Jug McSpaden, Dick Metz (10), Johnny Palmer (10), Toney Penna, Ellsworth Vines Sammy Byrd, Ed Furgol, Leland Gibson (12), Chick Harbert (12), Claude Harmon, Joe Kirkwood Sr., Gene Kunes, Jim McHale Jr. (a), Bill Nary, Al Smith, Harry Todd Bob Rosburg (a), Jack Selby (a), Felice Torza, Harvie Ward (a) Art Bell, Ky Laffoon Skip Alexander Cary Middlecoff Ed Dudley Henry Cotton (4), Bobby Locke (9,10)

Round summaries

First round

Thursday, April 8, 1948 Source:

Second round

Friday, April 9, 1948 Source:

Third round

Saturday, April 10, 1948 Source:

Final round

Sunday, April 11, 1948

Final leaderboard

Sources:

Scorecard

Cumulative tournament scores, relative to par