The most exclusive club in American golf consists of 14 men whose carte d'entrée was winning the Masters, that vernal homecoming of champions past and present. On the occasion of the 1957 Masters, 11 of them put on their emblematic green blazers and gathered for this portrait. Top row, and in the usual order, are Sam Snead, winner in '49, '52 and '54 and runner-up this year; Horton Smith who won the maiden Masters in '34 and repeated in '36; Byron Nelson, the incredible Texan ('37, '42); Herman Keiser, the only dark horse winner in '46 and smooth-swinging Henry Picard ('38). In center row: Gene Sarazen, whose celebrated double eagle led to victory in 1935; Cliff Roberts, the Masters' imaginative tournament director; Ben Hogan ('51, '53) and the great Bob Jones, father of the Masters and its course. Bottom row are Claude Harmon, the Winged Foot pro ('48); Jimmy Demaret, the only other three-time winner ('40, '47, '50); young Jack Burke, winner of both the Masters and the PGA in '56, and Craig Wood who in '41 combined the Masters with the U.S. Open. Missing are Ralph Guldahl, winner in '39, Cary Middlecoff, who joined the club in '55 and insouciant Doug Ford (SI, April 15), who had yet to pass his entrance requisite.
PHOTO
JOHN G. ZIMMERMAN
