1970 Masters: Old Friends Meet In Playoff
The 1970 Masters was the 34th time the tournament was played. Billy Casper won in a playoff over his childhood friend Gene Littler.
Winner: Billy Casper, 279
Where it was played: Augusta National Golf Club, Augusta, Georgia
Tournament dates: April 9-13, 1970
Leader after first round: Tommy Aaron, 68
Leader after second round: Gene Littler and Bert Yancey, 139
Leader after third round: Billy Casper, 208
Notable Notes: Billy Casper defeated Gene Littler in an 18-hole playoff, shooting 69 to Littler's 74. The two old friends knew each other well - they grew up together in San Diego, California. The difference in the playoff was the front nine, which Casper opened with a birdie; Casper led by five strokes at the turn.
It was Casper's third and final win in a major, and his only victory at Augusta National.
Final Scores
| x-Billy Casper | 72-68-68-71—279 |
| Gene Littler | 69-70-70-70—279 |
| Gary Player | 74-68-68-70—280 |
| Bert Yancey | 69-70-72-70—281 |
| Tommy Aaron | 68-74-69-72—283 |
| Dave Hill | 73-70-70-70—283 |
| Dave Stockton | 72-72-69-70—283 |
| Jack Nicklaus | 71-75-69-69—284 |
| Frank Beard | 71-76-68-70—285 |
| Bob Lunn | 70-70-75-72—287 |
| Chi Chi Rodriguez | 70-76-73-68—287 |
| Charles Coody | 70-74-67-77—288 |
| Bert Greene | 75-71-70-72—288 |
| Tony Jacklin | 73-74-70-71—288 |
| Don January | 76-73-69-70—288 |
| Takaaki Kono | 75-68-71-74—288 |
| Bob Charles | 75-71-71-72—289 |
| Howie Johnson | 75-71-73-71—290 |
| Dick Lotz | 74-72-72-72—290 |
| Orville Moody | 73-72-71-74—290 |
| Miller Barber | 76-73-77-65—291 |
| Terry Wilcox | 79-70-70-72—291 |
| Deane Beman | 74-72-72-74—292 |
| Julius Boros | 75-71-74-72—292 |
| a-Charlie Coe | 74-71-72-75—292 |
| Bob Murphy | 78-70-73-71—292 |
| Sam Snead | 76-73-71-72—292 |
| Tom Weiskopf | 73-73-72-74—292 |
| Yung Yo Hsieh | 75-75-69-74—293 |
| Jimmy Wright | 75-72-71-75—293 |
| George Archer | 73-72-74-75—294 |
| Gay Brewer | 78-70-72-74—294 |
| Bruce Devlin | 72-74-78-70—294 |
| Larry Hinson | 72-72-71-79—294 |
| Ken Still | 74-73-74-73—294 |
| Arnold Palmer | 75-73-74-73—295 |
| Dan Sikes | 70-77-71-77—295 |
| Maurice Bembridge | 77-72-70-77—296 |
| Bruce Crampton | 75-71-75-75—296 |
| Dale Douglass | 76-74-72-74—296 |
| a-Vinny Giles | 78-72-72-74—296 |
| Grier Jones | 73-75-73-75—296 |
| a-Steve Melnyk | 73-76-71-77—297 |
| Bob Rosburg | 77-73-75-73—298 |
| Al Geiberger | 73-77-74-75—299 |
| George Knudson | 73-72-78-76—299 |
| R.H. Sikes | 70-75-77-78—300 |
| Dean Refram | 76-74-78-75—303 |