1946 Masters Tournament
The 1946 Masters Tournament was the tenth Masters Tournament, held April 4–7 at Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, Georgia. It was the first in four years, because of World War II. The purse was $10,000, double that of the previous Masters in 1942, with a winner's share of $2,500.
Herman Keiser won his only major golf championships|major] title, one stroke ahead of runner-up Ben Hogan, the tour's money leader. Keiser and Hogan both three-putted the slick 18th green on Sunday; Keiser from, and a half-hour later Hogan from.
Hogan won the PGA Championship|PGA Championship] four months later in August for his first major title at age 34. He later won the Masters in 1951 and 1953 and finished his career with nine wins in majors.
Field
With only one major championship played in 1945, the invitation criteria were modified. Eight amateurs and eight professionals were selected by a committee in February and four further professionals were invited just before the event.;1. Masters champions
Jimmy Demaret, Ralph Guldahl, Byron Nelson, Henry Picard, Horton Smith, Craig Wood
- Gene Sarazen did not play.
Billy Burke, Bobby Jones, Lawson Little
;3. U.S. Amateur champions
Dick Chapman
;4. British Open champions
Denny Shute
;5. British Amateur champions
Charlie Yates
;6. PGA champions
Vic Ghezzi, Bob Hamilton, Sam Snead
;7. Top 30 players and ties from the 1942 Masters Tournament
Sammy Byrd, Jim Ferrier, Jim Foulis, Chick Harbert, Chandler Harper, Dutch Harrison, Ben Hogan, Herman Keiser, Gene Kunes, Jug McSpaden, Johnny Palmer, Toney Penna, Felix Serafin, Jimmy Thomson
- Tommy Armour, Harry Cooper, Bobby Cruickshank, Willie Goggin, Paul Runyan and Bud Ward did not play.
Claude Harmon, Ralph Hutchison, Ky Laffoon
- Clarence Doser did not play.
Bob Cochran, Fred Haas, Cary Middlecoff, Frank Stranahan
- Ray Billows, Harry Givan, Chuck Kocsis, Jim McHale Jr. did not play. Haas turned professional before the event.
Herman Barron, Johnny Bulla, Ed Dudley, Jimmy Hines, Lloyd Mangrum, Dick Metz, Ed Oliver, Jim Turnesa
;11. One amateur, not already qualified, selected by a ballot of ex-U.S. Amateur champions
- Tommy Suffern Tailer did not play
Al Watrous
;13. Two players, not already qualified, with the best scoring average in the winter part of the 1946 PGA Tour
Leland Gibson, George Schneiter
;14. Additional invitations
Clayton Heafner, Rod Munday, Buck White, Al Zimmerman
Round summaries
First round
Thursday, April 4, 1946| Place | Player | Score | To par | |||||||||||||||||
| T1 |  |1912Second roundFriday, April 5, 1946
|