# 1955 Masters Tournament

The 1955 Masters Tournament was the 19th Masters Tournament, held April 7–10 at Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, Georgia. It was the last one before CBS began televising the tournament the following year.
Cary Middlecoff shot a 65 in the second round, including a then-record 31 on the first nine, to win his only Masters, seven strokes ahead of runner-up Ben Hogan, and the second of his three major championships.
After a third round at even-par 72, Middlecoff entered the final round with a four shot lead over Hogan, the champion in 1951 and 1953. The victory margin of seven strokes was a tournament record for ten years, until Jack Nicklaus won by nine strokes over Arnold Palmer and Gary Player in 1965, later increased to twelve in 1997 by Tiger Woods. The previous record was five strokes, set in 1948 by Claude Harmon and tied by Hogan in 1953. The runner-up finish was Hogan's fourth at the Masters.
Arnold Palmer, a professional for less than a year, finished tied for tenth in his first Masters.
The Sarazen Bridge, approaching the left side of the 15th green, was dedicated on Wednesday to commemorate the 20th anniversary of Gene Sarazen's double eagle in 1935. Included was a contest to duplicate the 232-yard (212 m) shot, with the closest by Fred Haas at 4 feet 1 inch (1.24 m) away.

## Course

| Hole | Name | Yards | Par | | Hole | Name | Yards | Par |
| 1 | White Pine | 400 | 4 | | 10 | Camellia | 470 | 4 |
| 2 | Woodbine | 555 | 5 | | 11 | Dogwood | 445 | 4 |
| 3 | Flowering Peach | 355 | 4 | | 12 | Golden Bell | 155 | 3 |
| 4 | Palm | 220 | 3 | | 13 | Azalea | 470 | 5 |
| 5 | Magnolia | 450 | 4 | | 14 | Spanish Dagger | 420 | 4 |
| 6 | Juniper | 190 | 3 | | 15 | Firethorn | 505 | 5 |
| 7 | Pampas | 365 | 4 | | 16 | Redbud | 190 | 3 |
| 8 | Yellow Jasmine | 520 | 5 | | 17 | Nandina | 400 | 4 |
| 9 | Carolina Cherry | 420 | 4 | | 18 | Holly | 420 | 4 |
| Out | Out | 3,475 | 36 | | In | In | 3,475 | 36 |
| Source: | Source: | Source: | Source: | Source: | Total | Total | 6,950 | 72 |
^ Holes 1, 2, 4, 11, and 14 were later renamed.

## Field
### 1. Masters champions

Claude Harmon (10), Ben Hogan (2,4,6,9,10), Herman Keiser, Byron Nelson (2,6,9), Henry Picard (6), Gene Sarazen (2,4,6), Horton Smith, Sam Snead (4,6,9,10,12), Craig Wood (2)
* Jimmy Demaret and Ralph Guldahl (2) did not play.

### 2. U.S. Open champions

Julius Boros (9,10), Billy Burke, Johnny Farrell, Ed Furgol (10), Lawson Little (3,5), Tony Manero, Lloyd Mangrum (9,10), Fred McLeod, Cary Middlecoff (9,10,12), Sam Parks Jr., Lew Worsham (9,10)

### 3. U.S. Amateur champions

Ted Bishop (a), Dick Chapman (5,9,10,a), Charles Coe (9,a), Gene Littler (9,10), Billy Maxwell, Arnold Palmer (11), Skee Riegel (9), Jess Sweetser (5,a), Bud Ward

### 4. British Open champions

Jock Hutchison (6), Denny Shute (6)

### 5. British Amateur champions

Frank Stranahan, Robert Sweeny Jr. (11,a), Harvie Ward (8,9,a)

### 6. PGA champions

Walter Burkemo (9,12), Vic Ghezzi, Chick Harbert (9,12), Chandler Harper, Johnny Revolta, Jim Turnesa

### 7. Members of the U.S. 1955 Ryder Cup team

* Team not selected in time for inclusion

### 8. Members of the U.S. 1955 Walker Cup team

Rex Baxter (a), William C. Campbell (10,a), Don Cherry (11,a), Joe Conrad (a), Bruce Cudd (a), Jimmy Jackson (a), Ed Meister (11,a), Dale Morey (11,a), Billy Joe Patton (9,10,a), Hillman Robbins (a)
* Dick Yost (a) did not play. Baxter, Meister and Robbins were reserves for the team.

### 9. Top 24 players and ties from the 1954 Masters Tournament

Jerry Barber (12), Al Besselink, Tommy Bolt (10,12), Jack Burke Jr. (10), Pete Cooper, Marty Furgol (10), Jay Hebert (10), Ed Oliver, Bob Rosburg, Earl Stewart, Bob Toski (10)
* Dutch Harrison and Ken Venturi (a) did not play.

### 10. Top 24 players and ties from the 1954 U.S. Open

Max Evans, Leland Gibson, Fred Haas, Dick Mayer, Shelley Mayfield (12), Al Mengert, Johnny Weitzel

### 11. 1954 U.S. Amateur quarter-finalists

Ted Lenczyk (a), Davis Love Jr. (a)
* Ed Martin (a) did not play.

### 13. One amateur, not already qualified, selected by a ballot of ex-U.S. Amateur champions

Bill Goodloe (a)

### 14. One professional, not already qualified, selected by a ballot of ex-U.S. Open champions

Johnny Palmer

### 15. Two players, not already qualified, from a points list based on finishes in the winter part of the 1955 PGA Tour

Mike Souchak, Bo Wininger

### 16. Foreign invitations

Pat Fletcher, Rudy Horvath (10), Stan Leonard, Peter Thomson (4,9)
* Numbers in brackets indicate categories that the player would have qualified under had they been American.

## Round summaries
### First round

Thursday, April 7, 1955
| Place | Player | Score | To par |
| 1 | Jack Burke Jr. | 67 | −5 |
| T2 | Julius Boros | 71 | −1 |
| T2 | Mike Souchak | 71 | −1 |
| T4 | Cary Middlecoff | 72 | E |
| T4 | Byron Nelson | 72 | E |
| T4 | Bob Rosburg | 72 | E |
| T4 | Sam Snead | 72 | E |
| T8 | Walter Burkemo | 73 | +1 |
| T8 | Pete Cooper | 73 | +1 |
| T8 | Ben Hogan | 73 | +1 |
| T8 | Skee Riegel | 73 | +1 |
Source:

### Second round

Friday, April 8, 1955
| Place | Player | Score | To par |
| 1 | Cary Middlecoff | 72-65=137 | −7 |
| 2 | Ben Hogan | 73-68=141 | −3 |
| T3 | Jack Burke Jr. | 67-76=143 | −1 |
| T3 | Sam Snead | 72-71=143 | −1 |
| 5 | Bob Rosburg | 72-72=144 | E |
| 6 | Mike Souchak | 71-74=145 | +1 |
| T7 | Tommy Bolt | 76-70=146 | +2 |
| T7 | Julius Boros | 71-75=146 | +2 |
| T7 | Walter Burkemo | 73-73=146 | +2 |
| T7 | Pete Cooper | 73-73=146 | +2 |
| T7 | Ed Furgol | 74-72=146 | +2 |
| T7 | Skee Riegel | 73-73=146 | +2 |
| T7 | Harvie Ward (a) | 77-69=146 | +2 |
Source:

### Third round

Saturday, April 9, 1955
| Place | Player | Score | To par |
| 1 | Cary Middlecoff | 72-65-72=209 | −7 |
| 2 | Ben Hogan | 73-68-72=213 | −3 |
| 3 | Jack Burke Jr. | 67-76-71=214 | −2 |
| 4 | Bob Rosburg | 72-72-72=216 | E |
| T5 | Sam Snead | 72-71-74=217 | +1 |
| T5 | Mike Souchak | 71-74-72=217 | +1 |
| T7 | Julius Boros | 71-75-72=218 | +2 |
| T7 | Walter Burkemo | 73-73-72=218 | +2 |
| T7 | Stan Leonard | 77-73-68=218 | +2 |
| T10 | Lloyd Mangrum | 74-73-72=219 | +3 |
| T10 | Skee Riegel | 73-73-73=219 | +3 |
Source:

### Final round

Sunday, April 10, 1955

#### Final leaderboard

* Champion
* Silver Cup winner (low amateur)
* (a) = amateur
* (c) = past champion
Top 10 :
| Place | Player | Score | To par | Money (US$) |
| 1 | Cary Middlecoff | 72-65-72-70=279 | −9 | 5,000 |
| 2 | Ben Hogan (c) | 73-68-72-73=286 | −2 | 3,125 |
| 3 | Sam Snead (c) | 72-71-74-70=287 | −1 | 2,125 |
| T4 | Julius Boros | 71-75-72-71=289 | +1 | 1,333 |
| T4 | Bob Rosburg | 72-72-72-73=289 | +1 | 1,333 |
| T4 | Mike Souchak | 71-74-72-72=289 | +1 | 1,333 |
| 7 | Lloyd Mangrum | 74-73-72-72=291 | +3 | 875 |
| T8 | Stan Leonard | 77-73-68-74=292 | +4 | 813 |
| T8 | Harvie Ward (a) | 77-69-75-71=292 | +4 | 0 |
| T10 | Dick Mayer | 78-72-72-71=293 | +5 | 696 |
| T10 | Byron Nelson (c) | 72-75-74-72=293 | +5 | 696 |
| T10 | Arnold Palmer | 76-76-72-69=293 | +5 | 696 |
Leaderboard below the top 10 :
| Place | Player | Score | To par | Money ($) |
| T13 | Jack Burke Jr. | 67-76-71-80=294 | +6 | 594 |
| T13 | Skee Riegel | 73-73-73-75=294 | +6 | 594 |
| T15 | Walter Burkemo | 73-73-72-77=295 | +7 | 563 |
| T15 | Jay Hebert | 75-74-74-72=295 | +7 | 563 |
| T15 | Frank Stranahan | 77-76-71-71=295 | +7 | 563 |
| T18 | Joe Conrad (a) | 77-71-74-75=297 | +9 | 0 |
| T18 | Billy Maxwell | 77-72-77-71=297 | +9 | 525 |
| T18 | Johnny Palmer | 77-73-72-75=297 | +9 | 525 |
| T18 | Peter Thomson | 74-73-74-76=297 | +9 | 525 |
| T22 | Tommy Bolt | 76-70-77-75=298 | +10 | 513 |
| T22 | Gene Littler | 75-72-76-75=298 | +10 | 513 |
| T24 | Pete Cooper | 73-73-78-75=299 | +11 | 500 |
| T24 | Ed Furgol | 74-72-78-75=299 | +11 | 500 |
| T24 | Hillman Robbins (a) | 77-76-74-72=299 | +11 | 0 |
| 27 | Max Evans | 76-75-75-76=302 | +14 | 500 |
| T28 | Bill Goodloe (a) | 74-73-81-75=303 | +15 | 0 |
| T28 | Claude Harmon (c) | 77-75-78-73=303 | +15 | 250 |
| T30 | Don Cherry (a) | 79-75-78-72=304 | +16 | 0 |
| T30 | Bud Ward | 77-73-77-77=304 | +16 | 250 |
| T32 | Charles Coe (a) | 74-77-76-78=305 | +17 | 0 |
| T32 | Pat Fletcher | 76-75-77-77=305 | +17 | 250 |
| T32 | Chick Harbert | 76-80-73-76=305 | +17 | 250 |
| T32 | Al Mengert | 79-71-78-77=305 | +17 | 250 |
| T36 | Billy Burke | 75-78-77-76=306 | +18 | 250 |
| T36 | William C. Campbell (a) | 77-73-80-76=306 | +18 | 0 |
| T36 | Bruce Cudd (a) | 75-74-79-78=306 | +18 | 0 |
| T36 | Shelley Mayfield | 77-73-80-76=306 | +18 | 250 |
| T36 | Denny Shute | 78-71-77-80=306 | +18 | 250 |
| T41 | Henry Picard (c) | 78-79-75-75=307 | +19 | 250 |
| T41 | Bob Toski | 78-71-79-79=307 | +19 | 250 |
| T43 | Marty Furgol | 79-74-79-76=308 | +20 | 250 |
| T43 | Leland Gibson | 81-75-75-77=308 | +20 | 250 |
| T43 | Rudy Horvath | 79-77-76-76=308 | +20 | 250 |
| T43 | Jimmy Jackson (a) | 79-75-77-77=308 | +20 | 0 |
| T43 | Earl Stewart | 78-80-72-78=308 | +20 | 250 |
| 48 | Jim Turnesa | 77-75-79-78=309 | +21 | 250 |
| T49 | Billy Joe Patton (a) | 79-76-77-78=310 | +22 | 0 |
| T49 | Johnny Revolta | 75-78-79-78=310 | +22 | 250 |
| T49 | Johnny Weitzel | 78-80-78-74=310 | +22 | 250 |
| T49 | Lew Worsham | 80-75-79-76=310 | +22 | 250 |
| T53 | Dick Chapman (a) | 74-79-73-85=311 | +23 | 0 |
| T53 | Vic Ghezzi | 78-79-77-77=311 | +23 | 250 |
| T53 | Ed Oliver | 77-76-81-77=311 | +23 | 250 |
| T56 | Jerry Barber | 75-77-77-83=312 | +24 | 250 |
| T56 | Herman Keiser (c) | 82-79-75-76=312 | +24 | 250 |
| 58 | Rex Baxter (a) | 74-76-80-83=313 | +25 | 0 |
| T59 | Ted Lenczyk (a) | 77-80-77-81=315 | +27 | 0 |
| T59 | Horton Smith (c) | 81-81-79-74=315 | +27 | 250 |
| 61 | Sam Parks Jr. | 80-80-78-78=316 | +28 | 250 |
| 62 | Craig Wood (c) | 81-81-79-76=317 | +29 | 250 |
| T63 | Al Besselink | 80-75-80-83=318 | +30 | 250 |
| T63 | Dale Morey (a) | 82-77-81-78=318 | +30 | 0 |
| 65 | Lawson Little | 81-77-77-84=319 | +31 | 250 |
| 66 | Bo Wininger | 81-74-81-84=320 | +32 | 250 |
| 67 | Ed Meister (a) | 86-87-74-77=324 | +36 | 0 |
| 68 | Davis Love Jr. (a) | 82-85-83-77=327 | +39 | 0 |
| WD | Ted Bishop (a) | 79-76-80=235 | +19 | |
| WD | Fred Haas | 75-77=152 | +8 | |
| WD | Chandler Harper | 77-79=156 | +12 | |
| WD | Gene Sarazen (c) | 83-80=163 | +19 | |
| WD | Johnny Farrell | 81-84=165 | +21 | |
| WD | Jess Sweetser (a) | 79 | +7 | |
| WD | Jock Hutchison | 83 | +11 | |
| WD | Tony Manero | 87 | +15 | |
| WD | Fred McLeod | 91 | +19 | |
| WD | Robert Sweeny Jr. (a) | | | |
Sources:

#### Scorecard

| Hole | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 |
| Par | 4 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 5 | 4 | 5 | 3 | 4 | 4 |
| Middlecoff | −7 | −8 | −8 | −8 | −7 | −8 | −9 | −9 | −9 | −7 | −7 | −8 | −8 | −8 | −9 | −9 | −8 | −9 |
| Hogan | −3 | −3 | −3 | −3 | −2 | −2 | −2 | −3 | −3 | −2 | −1 | −1 | −2 | −2 | −2 | −2 | −2 | −2 |
| Snead | E | E | E | E | E | +1 | +1 | +1 | +1 | +1 | +1 | +1 | E | E | −1 | −1 | −1 | −1 |
| Boros | +2 | +2 | +2 | +2 | +3 | +3 | +4 | +4 | +4 | +4 | +4 | +4 | +3 | +3 | +2 | +1 | +1 | +1 |
| Rosburg | +1 | +1 | +1 | +2 | +3 | +3 | +3 | +3 | +3 | +3 | +3 | +3 | +2 | +3 | +1 | +1 | +1 | +1 |
| Souchak | +1 | E | E | E | E | E | E | −1 | E | E | E | E | +1 | +1 | E | +1 | +1 | +1 |
| Burke | −1 | −1 | −1 | −1 | −1 | −1 | −1 | −1 | −1 | E | E | +1 | +5 | +5 | +5 | +5 | +6 | +6 |
Cumulative tournament scores, relative to par
    Eagle Birdie Bogey Double bogey Triple bogey +