Player recorded a remarkable last day charge

He began the final round trailing Hubert Green by seven strokes, then, from somewhere, the man dressed in customary black carded a last round 64 to win his third Green Jacket.

"I shot 30 on the back-nine and I rimmed the hole three times," Player said.

"I thought to myself it was a good thing those putts didn't go in because if you shoot 27 round Augusta they'll never invite you back."

1986 - Jack Nicklaus

Nicklaus arrived at Augusta not having won a Major for six years.

He had been hitting the ball like the 46-year-old he was and the Atlanta Journal reported Nicklaus as being "all washed up".

Nicklaus read the article and it hurt.

In one of the most memorable Masters, the "Golden Bear" scored a final round 65 to win his sixth Green Jacket, 23 years after he'd donned his first.

Nicklaus became the oldest ever champion to the delight of the gallery

Starting the last round four shots behind, Nicklaus, roared on by a large, devoted following, came home in 30 - just like Player - to beat the field by one.

"I've never been at any sporting event when the spectators were so noisy," his son, and caddy for the week, Jackie reflected.

1995 - Ben Crenshaw

Emotions were also strained to breaking point when Crenshaw won his second Masters in 1995.

The victory came 11 years after his only other Major victory at Augusta, and five days after he had served as pall bearer at the funeral of his long-serving mentor Harvey Penick.

When his final putt dropped, Crenshaw buried his head in his hands and dissolved into tears.

1996 - Nick Faldo

Norman congratulates Faldo after an amazing day of golf

Who would have expected Faldo to win in the year following Crenshaw, having started the final round six shots behind Greg Norman.

However, a masterful closing 67, compared to Norman's disastrous 78, gave the Englishman his third Masters title.

Emotions that day were mixed to say the least.

After a stunning performance, there was joy for the victor for his stubborn refusal to believe he was playing only for second place.

But there was also boundless sympathy for Norman, whose extraordinary capitulation lived with him long after.

1997 - Tiger Woods

For sheer, uninhibited brilliance and total destruction of the field, the virtuoso performance by Woods in 1997 takes some beating.

At the age of 21, he became the youngest Masters champion and set a new tournament best of 271 to win by a record 12 shots.

There was no stopping Woods in 1997

It is no surprise to those fortunate to have witnessed such wondrous golf that the same young man should still be breaking records four years on.

This had never been seen before... so much power, accuracy and maturity, all enveloped in one so young.

Woods is now poised to take his rightful place in history as the only player ever to hold all four Majors at the same time.

Appropriately, Augusta National is set to provide the stage.