| Tournament information | |
|---|---|
| Dates | April 7–10, 1977 |
| Location | Augusta, Georgia 33°30′11″N 82°01′12″W / 33.503°N 82.020°W |
| Course(s) | Augusta National Golf Club |
| Organized by | Augusta National Golf Club |
| Tour(s) | PGA Tour |
| Statistics | |
| Par | 72 |
| Length | 7,030 yards (6,428 m)[1] |
| Field | 77 players, 50 after cut[2] |
| Cut | 149 (+5) |
| Winner's share | $40,000 |
| Champion | |
 Tom Watson | |
| 276 (−12) | |
| Location map | |
  Augusta National Location in the United States  Augusta National Location in Georgia | |
The 1977 Masters Tournament was the 41st Masters Tournament, held April 7–10 at Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, Georgia.
Tom Watson, age 27, won the first of his two green jackets, two strokes ahead of runner-up Jack Nicklaus.[3][4][5] The two were tied after 68 holes, then Watson birdied the par-4 17th. Needing a birdie to tie, Nicklaus bogeyed the final hole, one of 19 times in his career that he was the runner-up in a major championship.[6][7] It was the second of Watson's eight major championships, and he won a second Masters in 1981.[8]
The pair again dueled for a major title in the final round in July in Scotland, at the Open Championship at Turnberry, also won by Watson.
Although he had won a major in 1975 and led the PGA Tour in season earnings entering this Masters,[9] Watson had been labeled a "choker" early in his pro career, known for relinquishing leads in the final round of majors and regular events.[3][4][5] Notable among these was the U.S. Open in 1974 at Winged Foot;[10] his win here and in Scotland put that to rest.
- ^ "Funseth fires 67 for lead". Spokane Daily Chronicle. (Washington). Associated Press. April 9, 1977. p. 17.
- ^ "Will Watson choke on the Masters?". Eugene Register-Guard. (Oregon). wire reports. April 9, 1977. p. 1C.
- ^ a b Condon, David (April 11, 1977). "Watson doesn't wilt this time". Chicago Tribune. p. 1, sec. 6.
- ^ a b Parascenzo, Mario (April 11, 1977). "Watson Masters Augusta - self". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. p. 14.
- ^ a b "No choking for Watson". Spokane Daily Chronicle. (Washington). Associated Press. April 11, 1977. p. 19.
- ^ Jenkins, Dan (April 18, 1977). "What a beauty of a Masters". Sports Illustrated. p. 24.
- ^ "Watson Masters Nicklaus by 2". Milwaukee Sentinel. Associated Press. April 11, 1977. p. 1-part 2.
- ^ Jenkins, Dan (April 20, 1981). "True Grit at Augusta". Sports Illustrated. p. 34.
- ^ "PGA Top money winners". Chicago Tribune. April 5, 1977. p. 6, sec. 4.
- ^ Jenkins, Dan (June 24, 1974). "Hale Irwin, sole survivor". Sports Illustrated. p. 18.