What’s the lowest round ever at Augusta National?
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This piece originally ran in 2019 but has been updated.
When Jordan Spieth poured in a lengthy birdie putt on No. 16 at the 2018 Masters, it got him right into the thick of contention. But it also gave him a chance at something else: the Augusta National course record. Spieth arrived at the 17th tee at nine under par but made a par at No. 17 and a bogey at 18 to fall just shy of the course record.
Had Spieth made a birdie at 18, he would have tied Patrick Reed’s eventual winning score of 15 under. But a birdie would also have broken the course record, which has stood for 33 years, when it was set by Nick Price in 1986.
On Saturday, April 12, 1986, Price teed off early — he had barely made the cut after rounds of 79-69 to start the Masters. Things didn’t start well, either: he found a fairway bunker at No. 1 and made a bogey. But his round turned in a hurry. He birdied Nos. 2, 5, 6 and 8 to make the turn at three-under 33.
It turned out that Price was just getting started. He birdied the difficult 10th, then birdied his way right ’round Amen Corner, going 3-2-4 on 11-12-13. After a pedestrian par at 14, he birdied 15 and 16, his 10th birdie of the day and fifth in six holes. Playing partner Bruce Lietzke signed the card, which you can see below.
Nick Price shot 63 in 1986. Greg Norman matched the record in 1996.
Price’s 63 set a new course record and broke the 46-year-old record set by Lloyd Mangrum. In 1940, Mangrum opened up the tournament with an eight-under 64 to take a three-shot lead over Jimmy DeMaret, who went on to win the event.
While many have threatened Augusta’s record in recent years, only one man has equaled Price’s 1986 effort. In 1996, Greg Norman came out hot on Thursday, making nine birdies in the last 12 holes to fire a 63 in the opening round and take a two-shot lead over a young Phil Mickelson. But things didn’t end all that well for Norman in ’96: Despite carrying a six-shot lead to Sunday, he shot 78 against Nick Faldo’s 67 and lost by five.
Spieth has shot 64. Rory McIlroy shot 64 in 2022. Tiger Woods has won five Masters, but his best round is 65. Phil Mickelson’s best round is 65, which he recorded in 1996 and in the final round in 2023. In 2018, there were plenty of final-round fireworks: Paul Casey shot 65, and Webb Simpson was seven-under through 16 holes before finishing with bogeys.
At the U.S. Open, Rickie Fowler and Xander Schauffele are tied for the low round after both shot 62 during the opening round of the 2023 U.S. Open at Los Angeles Country Club. Six players have shot 63, although only one — Justin Thomas — fired his on a par 72. Tommy Fleetwood has shot 63 twice at the U.S. Open.
Schauffele and Shane Lowry share the record for the low round at the PGA Championship after both carded rounds of 62 at Valhalla in 2024. Branden Grace holds the Open Championship record for the lowest round at 62.
