For some, victory 'means more' when Easter Sunday coincides with Masters Sunday

Most won’t name a favorite child.

Does Ben Crenshaw favor 1984 or 1995? Impossible. Hogan, 1951 or 1953? Yeah, right.

Then there’s two-time Masters Tournament winner Bernhard Langer, who leaves no doubt when pinpointing his jacket of choice.

“I said it in Butler Cabin after I won in 1993, and I feel the same way now,” Langer said. “Ninety-three means more because it was on Easter. I wasn’t a believer when I won in 1985.”

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For the first time since 2012, Easter Sunday coincides with Masters Sunday. The 11-year hiatus marks the second longest gap in tournament history, short of only the inaugural Masters in 1934 to its first Easter finale in 1947, when Jimmy Demaret honored the occasion by dressing in full canary yellow.

Augusta’s second date with Easter came three Aprils later in 1950; Demaret won again. Nobody has won twice on Easter since.

When Demaret died in 1983, Father Larry Connelly said at his Houston memorial service, “Was Jimmy a man of faith? Did he practice religion? Yes, most certainly. Oh, he never went to church but he lived the essence of Christianity. He loved his neighbor.”

Arnold won on Easter in 1958. Jack tied on Easter in 1966; he won a day later. Bob Goalby earned his basket of eggs in 1968 after the Easter bunny abandoned Roberto De Vicenzo.

Charles Coody went to church on Sunday morning in 1969 when he tied for fifth. 1969 didn’t fall on Easter. Coody visited an Augusta chapel in 1970 and placed 12th. Again, it wasn’t Easter. Then came Easter Sunday in 1971 when Coody skipped church in favor of sweet-potato biscuits at his rental home on Johns Road.

“It’s one of the few times I missed church in Augusta,” Coody said. “Probably the only time I’ve ever missed church on Easter Sunday.”

Coody fended off Nicklaus to win by two.

Speaking of two: Two LIV golfers have won on Easter Sunday. Phil in 2004; Bubba Watson in 2012.

A dentist won on Easter Sunday in 1955. A walrus on Easter in 1982.

In his first Masters appearance, Fuzzy Zoeller won on Easter in 1979.

“Every year Augusta National should hold the Masters on Easter Sunday,” Fuzzy said. “How special would that be? They always fall near each other, so why not make it a tradition? I think I might push for that.”

Best of luck, Fuz.

Tiger Woods has the most jackets (five) without winning on Easter. Nicklaus stands alone with multiple Easter runner-ups in 1971 and 1977.

Fast-forward to 2023. The 18th overlap in 87 renditions. Of those currently ranked in the world top 10, only Rory McIlroy has ever competed in the Masters on Easter.

Scottie Scheffler, the world No. 1 and reigning champ, was a sophomore in high school the last time Easter fell on Masters Sunday. Coincidentally, that Sunday in 2012 was Scottie’s first visit to Augusta National, where he attended with a group of classmates.

For Scottie, would an Easter triumph elevate 2023 over 2022? A favorite child, perhaps?

“Winning the Masters is always special,” said Scottie, before pausing. “Would it mean more? I think it would feel about the same.”

Masters Champions on Easter Sunday

1947 Jimmy Demaret

1950 Jimmy Demaret

1955 Cary Middlecoff

1958 Arnold Palmer

1966 Jack Nicklaus*

1968 Bob Goalby

1971 Charles Coody

1974 Gary Player

1977 Tom Watson

1979 Fuzzy Zoeller

1982 Craig Stadler

1993 Bernhard Langer

1998 Mark O’Meara

2004 Phil Mickelson

2007 Zach Johnson

2009 Angel Cabrera

2012 Bubba Watson

* – Nicklaus tied on Easter Sunday before winning an 18-hole Monday playoff over Gay Brewer and Tom Jacobs.

This article originally appeared on Augusta Chronicle: Who has won the Masters on Easter Sunday?