Golf Masters Winners - Who Has the Most Masters Titles?

UK: 18+ USA: 21+ | Begambleaware.org | T&Cs apply | Play Responsibly

On April 9, the 87th Masters will crown a champion and hand them the Green Jacket. The victorious player could be a former winner adding another trophy to their cabinet or a first-time winner.

In this article, we will delve into past Masters winners by year, historic moments at Augusta National and tournament records.

Most Masters wins

Contents

1 Most Masters wins
2 Golf Masters winners – List of memorable moments
3 Has an Asian Ever won the Masters? – Golf Masters winners by Nationality

With six Masters victories at Augusta National, Jack Nicklaus owns the record for the most Masters titles of all time. Tiger Woods (five victories) and Arnold Palmer (four wins) are second and third, respectively.

Jack Nicklaus, 6 (1963, 1965, 1966, 1972, 1975, 1986)
Tiger Woods, 5 (1997, 2001, 2002, 2005, 2019)
Arnold Palmer, 4 (1958, 1960, 1962, 1964)

Sam Snead, Phil Mickelson, Gary Player, Nick Faldo and Jimmy Demaret each won three Green Jackets. Mickelson is still active and is listed in this week’s field.

Golfers who have tasted victory twice at Augusta National include Horton Smith, Byron Nelson, Ben Hogan, Tom Watson, Seve Ballesteros, Bernhard Langer, Ben Crenshaw, Jose Maria Olazabal and Bubba Watson.

Golf Masters winners – List of memorable moments

There have been many iconic moments since the tournament began in 1934. The following section will relive some of the best memories at Augusta National.

Jack Nicklaus wins at the age of 46

The “Golden Bear” played the 1986 Masters towards the twilight of his career at 46 years old and wasn’t expected to make much noise. It had been six years since his previous major win at the 1980 PGA Championship.

Nicklaus found himself on Sunday morning in a tie for ninth, four shots back of leader Greg Norman (-6) as well as behind Seve Ballesteros, Nick Price, Tom Kite, Bernhard Langer and Tom Watson.

The leaderboard shifted many times during the final round, and after nine holes, Nicklaus sat four strokes behind the Spaniard Ballesteros.

The Columbus, Ohio native recorded a 6-under par 30 on the back nine to finish at nine-under for the tournament. The field was unable to catch him as he collected his sixth Green Jacket. Greg Norman and Tom Kite finished in a tie for second at 8-under par.

It marked his 18th major title, the most of all time and the last of his career. With the victory, he became the oldest player ever to win the Masters.

Ben Crenshaw’s emotional win in 1995

The 1984 Masters champ suffered the loss of his close friend and coach, Harvey Penick, just before the tournament began.

Crenshaw flew with a few other players to Penick’s funeral in Texas just before the beginning of the competition.

The Texan found himself atop the leaderboard, tied at 10-under with Brian Henninger entering Sunday’s fourth round. A pack of stars, including Fred Couples, a young Phil Mickelson, Jay Haas and Steve Elkington, lurked a stroke behind.

On Sunday, Crenshaw fired a four-under 68 to win the tournament and edge out Davis Love III by a stroke at 14-under par. After his winning putt on the 72nd hole, Crenshaw bent over and put his hands on his face as he was overcome with tears and emotions.

Eight days until Monday at the Masters.
Nelford and Nantz detail Ben Crenshaw’s emotional tribute to his late mentor upon winning his second Green Jacket at the 1995 Masters Tournament. #cominginapril pic.twitter.com/9pD8G33TJc
— The Masters (@TheMasters) March 31, 2019

Crenshaw’s victory remains one of the most heart-warming moments at Augusta.

Tiger Woods’ comeback at the 2019 Masters

It had been 11 years since his last major victory (2008 U.S. Open) and 14 years since Woods’ 2005 Masters win when Woods participated in the 2019 edition.

The 43-year-old found himself three strokes behind leader Francesco Molinari on the sixth hole of the final round and had to battle with some of the world’s best in their primes, including Dustin Johnson, Brooks Koepka and Patrick Cantlay.

Woods birdied the par-5 15th hole to take a one-stroke lead and proceeded to nearly ace the 16th for back-to-back birdies and a two-shot lead with two holes to play. Johnson, Schauffele and Cantlay all entered the clubhouse posting 12-under.

Woods’ two-shot cushion was enough as he parred 17 and bogeyed 18 to finish with a two-under round of 70 at 13-under par.

On the 18th green, Woods clenched his fist, threw his arms into the air and let out a roar as his children rushed to hug him.

The win is considered by many to be the greatest comeback in golf history and arguably all sports. Woods had dealt with three back surgeries and other obstacles for the previous 11 years.

Masters winners

Woods’ first Green Jacket in 1997

The 1997 Masters was unforgettable not only because it was Woods’ first green jacket but also his first major win as well as how he won in dominating fashion.

Woods won the event by an astounding 12 strokes after rounds of 66, 65, 69 and 70 putting him at 18-under par. He became the youngest player at 21 years old to win the Masters, and it was his first time in the field as a professional.

Has an Asian Ever won the Masters? – Golf Masters winners by Nationality

Hideki Matsuyama became the first Japanese golfer and Asian-born player to win the Masters on April 11, 2021. The Sendai, Japan resident held the 54-hole lead and fired a final round 73 to finish a stroke above Will Zalatoris and three ahead of Schauffele and Jordan Spieth (T3).

The first international player to put on a Green Jacket was Gary Player in 1961, representing South Africa. At 25 years old, Player defeated defending champ Arnold Palmer and amateur Charles Coe by a single stroke. The World Golf Hall of Fame member went on to win twice more at Augusta National.