Who was the first non-American winner of the Masters?

Gary Player was the first non-American winner of the Masters, claiming the 1961 tournament at Augusta National.

The South African entered the final round tied with defending champion Arnold Palmer and amateur Charles Coe. Heavy rain interrupted play on Sunday, forcing the entire final round to be replayed on Monday. Player shot a final-round 74 and finished at 8-under-par 280, one stroke ahead of Palmer and Coe.

Player was 25 years old and made a crucial recovery from a bunker on the 18th hole. Palmer, playing in the final pairing, had a chance to force a playoff but struggled from a greenside bunker and missed a bogey putt. The victory earned Player his first green jacket and made him the first international champion in Masters history.

The wording sometimes causes confusion because “non-American” means a golfer from outside the United States, not necessarily a non-English-speaking golfer. Bernhard Langer, Nick Faldo, and Seve Ballesteros all became Masters champions later. Player ultimately won the Masters three times, in 1961, 1974, and 1978.