A focused Tom Watson opened the 1981 Masters with rounds of 71-68 to trail Jack Nicklaus — who shot 65 on Friday — by four strokes, but Watson held a one-stroke 54-hole lead at 7-under 209 after Nicklaus ballooned to 75 on Saturday.
In an interesting twist, the game’s two heavyweights weren’t paired together in the final round as the Masters opted to send off the first and third-leading scorers in a twosome, then the second and fourth, and so on down the line.
“You have to be kidding,” Nicklaus said when he heard that Watson would play the final round with Masters debutante Greg Norman, and he with John Mahaffey.
Now, a number of never-before-seen photos from The Augusta Chronicle archives capturing the scene 40 years ago at the 1981 Masters have been unearthed, many of which sit below. Some of these are being seen in color for the first time.
For more insight, including a longer video of Watson discussing the victory, click here to see the entire project, which was a collaboration between the Augusta Chronicle, Golfweek and USA Today.
1981 Masters Tournament
Tom Watson being congratulated after the green jacket presentation at Augusta National GC on Sunday, April…
Tom Watson being congratulated after the green jacket presentation at Augusta National GC on Sunday, April 12, 1981. Mandatory Credit: File Photo -The Augusta Chronicle via USA TODAY NETWORK
1981 Masters Tournament
Tom Watson being congratulated after the green jacket presentation at Augusta National GC on Sunday, April…
Tom Watson being congratulated after the green jacket presentation at Augusta National GC on Sunday, April 12, 1981. Mandatory Credit: File Photo -The Augusta Chronicle via USA TODAY NETWORK
1981 Masters Tournament
Tom Watson being congratulated after the green jacket presentation at Augusta National GC on Sunday, April…
Tom Watson being congratulated after the green jacket presentation at Augusta National GC on Sunday, April 12, 1981. Mandatory Credit: File Photo -The Augusta Chronicle via USA TODAY NETWORK
1981 Masters Tournament
Tom Watson after winning the 1981 Masters Tournament at Augusta National GC on Sunday, April 12,…
Tom Watson after winning the 1981 Masters Tournament at Augusta National GC on Sunday, April 12, 1981. Mandatory Credit: File Photo -The Augusta Chronicle via USA TODAY NETWORK
1981 Masters Tournament
Tom Watson during the green jacket presentation at Augusta National GC on Sunday, April 12, 1981.…
Tom Watson during the green jacket presentation at Augusta National GC on Sunday, April 12, 1981. Mandatory Credit: File Photo -The Augusta Chronicle via USA TODAY NETWORK
1981 Masters Tournament
Tom Watson being congratulated after the green jacket presentation at Augusta National GC on Sunday, April…
Tom Watson being congratulated after the green jacket presentation at Augusta National GC on Sunday, April 12, 1981. Mandatory Credit: File Photo -The Augusta Chronicle via USA TODAY NETWORK
1981 Masters Tournament
Tom Watson being congratulated after the green jacket presentation at Augusta National GC on Sunday, April…
Tom Watson being congratulated after the green jacket presentation at Augusta National GC on Sunday, April 12, 1981. Mandatory Credit: File Photo -The Augusta Chronicle via USA TODAY NETWORK
1981 Masters Tournament
Tom Watson speaks at the green jacket presentation at Augusta National GC on Sunday, April 12,…
Tom Watson speaks at the green jacket presentation at Augusta National GC on Sunday, April 12, 1981. Mandatory Credit: File Photo -The Augusta Chronicle via USA TODAY NETWORK
1981 Masters Tournament
Tom Watson watches the ball in play at Augusta National GC on Sunday, April 12, 1981.…
Tom Watson watches the ball in play at Augusta National GC on Sunday, April 12, 1981. Mandatory Credit: File Photo -The Augusta Chronicle via USA TODAY NETWORK
1981 Masters Tournament
Tom Watson reacts to his putt at Augusta National GC on Sunday, April 12, 1981. Mandatory…
Tom Watson reacts to his putt at Augusta National GC on Sunday, April 12, 1981. Mandatory Credit: File Photo -The Augusta Chronicle via USA TODAY NETWORK
1981 Masters Tournament
Spectators at Augusta National GC during the 1981 Masters. Mandatory Credit: File Photo -The Augusta Chronicle…
Spectators at Augusta National GC during the 1981 Masters. Mandatory Credit: File Photo -The Augusta Chronicle via USA TODAY NETWORK
1981 Masters Tournament
Tom Watson lining up a putt at Augusta National GC on Friday, April 10, 1981. Mandatory…
Tom Watson lining up a putt at Augusta National GC on Friday, April 10, 1981. Mandatory Credit: File Photo -The Augusta Chronicle via USA TODAY NETWORK
1981 Masters Tournament
Spectators at Augusta National GC during the 1981 Masters. Mandatory Credit: File Photo -The Augusta Chronicle…
Spectators at Augusta National GC during the 1981 Masters. Mandatory Credit: File Photo -The Augusta Chronicle via USA TODAY NETWORK
1981 Masters Tournament
Spectators at Augusta National GC during the 1981 Masters. Mandatory Credit: File Photo -The Augusta Chronicle…
Spectators at Augusta National GC during the 1981 Masters. Mandatory Credit: File Photo -The Augusta Chronicle via USA TODAY NETWORK
1981 Masters Tournament
Seve Ballesteros at the Augusta National GC during the 1981 Masters. Mandatory Credit: File Photo -The…
Seve Ballesteros at the Augusta National GC during the 1981 Masters. Mandatory Credit: File Photo -The Augusta Chronicle via USA TODAY NETWORK
1981 Masters Tournament
Andy North (left) and Sandy Lyle walk on the fairway during the 1981 Masters at the…
Andy North (left) and Sandy Lyle walk on the fairway during the 1981 Masters at the Augusta National GC. Mandatory Credit: File Photo -The Augusta Chronicle via USA TODAY NETWORK
1981 Masters Tournament
Dale Douglass (left) and David Graham talk during the 1981 Masters at the Augusta National GC.…
Dale Douglass (left) and David Graham talk during the 1981 Masters at the Augusta National GC. Mandatory Credit: File Photo -The Augusta Chronicle via USA TODAY NETWORK
1981 Masters Tournament
Arnold Palmer and Gary Player walk down the fairway at the Augusta National GC. Mandatory Credit:…
Arnold Palmer and Gary Player walk down the fairway at the Augusta National GC. Mandatory Credit: File Photo -The Augusta Chronicle via USA TODAY NETWORK
1981 Masters Tournament
Arnold Palmer at the Augusta National GC. Mandatory Credit: File Photo -The Augusta Chronicle via USA…
Arnold Palmer at the Augusta National GC. Mandatory Credit: File Photo -The Augusta Chronicle via USA TODAY NETWORK
1981 Masters Tournament
Lee Elder walks on the fairway during the 1981 Masters at the Augusta National GC. Mandatory…
Lee Elder walks on the fairway during the 1981 Masters at the Augusta National GC. Mandatory Credit: File Photo -The Augusta Chronicle via USA TODAY NETWORK
1981 Masters Tournament
Arnold Palmer at the Augusta National GC. Mandatory Credit: File Photo -The Augusta Chronicle via USA…
Arnold Palmer at the Augusta National GC. Mandatory Credit: File Photo -The Augusta Chronicle via USA TODAY NETWORK
1981 Masters Tournament
Greg Norman watches the ball after swinging at Augusta National GC. Mandatory Credit: File Photo -The…
Greg Norman watches the ball after swinging at Augusta National GC. Mandatory Credit: File Photo -The Augusta Chronicle via USA TODAY NETWORK
1981 Masters Tournament
From left, David Graham, Dale Douglass and Hale Irwin watch play during the 1981 Masters at…
From left, David Graham, Dale Douglass and Hale Irwin watch play during the 1981 Masters at the Augusta National GC. Mandatory Credit: File Photo -The Augusta Chronicle via USA TODAY NETWORK
1981 Masters Tournament
Spectators with umbrellas walk through a path in the rain at Augusta National GC. Mandatory Credit:…
Spectators with umbrellas walk through a path in the rain at Augusta National GC. Mandatory Credit: File Photo -The Augusta Chronicle via USA TODAY NETWORK
