1978 Masters: Gary Player wins at Augusta National Golf Club

Gary Player won the 1978 Masters at Augusta National Golf Club with 277 (−11), by 1 stroke over Rod Funseth and Hubert Green and Tom Watson.

Updated October 23, 2026

See 1978 in the Masters room, or every year on the Masters winners list.

Dates: April 6, 1978 to April 9, 1978
Course: Augusta National Golf Club, Augusta, Georgia
Edition: 42nd Masters
Par: 72 · 7,040 yards
Made the cut: 53 (cut at 149)
Purse: $262,402 · winner's share $45,000
Champion: Gary Player · age 42 · South Africa · born Johannesburg, South Africa
Champion's title: 3rd Masters title
Winning score: 72-72-69-64 = 277 (−11) · won by 1 stroke
Runners-up: Rod Funseth (278, −10), Hubert Green (278, −10), Tom Watson (278, −10)
54-hole leader: Hubert Green (206, −10) · Gary Player was 7 strokes back (T10)
Caddie: Eddie 'E.B.' McCoy
Low amateur: Lindy Miller (286)

Winner and runners-up

Pos.	Player	R1	R2	R3	R4	Total	To par
1	Gary Player	72	72	69	64	277	−11
T2	Rod Funseth	73	66	70	69	278	−10
T2	Hubert Green	72	69	65	72	278	−10
T2	Tom Watson	73	68	68	69	278	−10

What happened at the 1978 Masters

Gary Player began the final round seven strokes behind Hubert Green, shot 64 with a back-nine 30, and won by one.

At 42, Player became the oldest Masters champion up to that time.

How this was built

Every value is shown as recorded in GNN's The Masters data. A value no source confirmed is left out; nothing is estimated. Where sources disagree, the organizer's own record is used.

Data: masters.json (the Masters room's data).

1978 Masters: Gary Player wins at Augusta National Golf Club

Winner and runners-up

What happened at the 1978 Masters

How this was built

Sources