As Augusta National comes alive once again for the 2025 Masters, golf fans around the world are glued to every swing, every birdie, every stumble. The usual suspects are atop the betting boards—Scheffler, McIlroy, Rahm—but in the heart of Kentucky, some fans are thinking about a different name. One from long ago.
Gay Brewer.
He was the last University of Kentucky Wildcat to win the Masters. And he did it in unforgettable fashion—58 years ago.
From Lexington to the Top of the Golf World
Born in Middletown, Ohio, and raised in Lexington, Brewer didn’t just represent Kentucky; he was Kentucky. Charismatic, unorthodox, and fiercely competitive, he built his game on the hills of the Bluegrass before joining the Wildcats golf team. By the time he turned pro in 1956, he had already captured three straight Kentucky State Boys titles and a Southern Amateur.
His swing? Not what you'd call textbook. A childhood injury to his elbow led to a motion that was quirky and unmistakable. But that didn’t matter. Brewer could bomb it, and when his putter was hot, he could beat anyone.
And in April 1967, that’s exactly what he did.
Redemption at Augusta
Brewer's Masters win wasn't just a victory. It was redemption.
The year before, in 1966, he stood on the 18th tee with a chance to win the tournament outright—only to bogey and fall into a three-way tie. He would lose the playoff to Jack Nicklaus. That kind of heartbreak might’ve broken some players.
Not Gay Brewer.
In 1967, he returned to Augusta with a quiet confidence and a mission. Across four days, he played steady, fearless golf—carding a score of 280, 8-under-par. It was just enough to edge his close friend Bobby Nichols by one shot.
The win was broadcast live across Europe, the first time an American golf tournament was aired overseas. The timing was fitting. Brewer’s swing may have been unconventional, but on that Sunday, he was the smoothest thing on television.
After the final putt dropped, Brewer called it “the biggest thrill I’ve had in golf.”
A Career of Grit and Charm
That Masters win was just one chapter in Brewer’s remarkable career. He claimed 10 PGA Tour victories, played on two Ryder Cup teams, and became known for his long drives, affable personality, and a swing Charles Barkley would shake his head at.
He wasn't just a golfer. He was a storyteller, a showman, and one of the sport’s true characters. Here is an audio only interview from the 1940's courtesy of Explore UK.
A Legacy That Still Matters
Today, as Mark Pope reshapes Kentucky basketball and Big Blue Nation dreams of championships, it’s worth remembering that UK once produced a Masters champion too. Brewer remains the only University of Kentucky alum to don the green jacket, and that history matters—especially during Masters week.
He passed away in 2007, still living in Lexington, the city he never left behind.
So as you tune in to this year’s Masters, and the azaleas bloom and the roars echo through Amen Corner, take a moment for Gay Brewer. The last Wildcat to conquer Augusta. The man with the looping swing and the heart of a champion.
And maybe—just maybe—raise a glass of sweet tea and whisper, “Go Big Blue.”