The curious case of Charles Coody, Augusta’s remarkable one-hit wonder | Ewan Murray

Charles Coody held off Jack Nicklaus to claim a stunning Masters win in 1971 ... but never won on the PGA Tour again

Charles Coody speaks with such charm that it feels impossible to depict him as a cold-blooded assassin. Yet 50 years ago this very week, that is precisely what he was. The 35th edition of the Masters saw Coody, then 33, prevail by two.

There are two remarkable elements to Coody's success. The first is that he held Jack Nicklaus at bay on day four at Augusta National. Nicklaus, who already had eight major titles to his name, was a supposedly irrepressible major force. Even more interesting is that Coody, known as an outstanding iron player, was never to win on the PGA Tour again.