The Masters Tournament began in 1934, with Horton Smith becoming the first champion. Rory McIlroy joined the club last year, defeating Justin Rose in a playoff at Augusta National and, in the process, becoming the sixth man to win the modern Grand Slam.
Here’s a look at the players who have won the season’s first major (multiple wins marked in parenthesis; no tournament held from 1943-45 because of World War II):
YEAR
CHAMPION
SCORE
TOTAL
2025
Rory McIlroy
−11
277
2024
Scottie Scheffler (2)
−11
277
2023
Jon Rahm
−12
276
2022
Scottie Scheffler
−10
278
2021
Hideki Matsuyama
−10
278
2020
Dustin Johnson
−20
268
2019
Tiger Woods (5)
−13
275
2018
Patrick Reed
−15
273
2017
Sergio GarcÃa
−9
279
2016
Danny Willett
−5
283
2015
Jordan Spieth
−18
270
2014
Bubba Watson (2)
−8
280
2013
Adam Scott
−9
279
2012
Bubba Watson
−10
278
2011
Charl Schwartzel
−14
274
2010
Phil Mickelson (3)
−16
272
2009
Angel Cabrera
−12
276
2008
Trevor Immelman
−8
280
2007
Zach Johnson
+1
289
2006
Phil Mickelson (2)
−7
281
2005
Tiger Woods (4)
−12
276
2004
Phil Mickelson
−9
279
2003
Mike Weir
−7
281
2002
Tiger Woods (3)
−12
276
2001
Tiger Woods (2)
−16
272
2000
Vijay Singh
−10
278
1999
Jose Maria Olazabal (2)
−8
280
1998
Mark O’Meara
−9
279
1997
Tiger Woods
−18
270
1996
Nick Faldo (3)
−12
276
1995
Ben Crenshaw (2)
−14
274
1994
Jose Maria Olazabal
−9
279
1993
Bernhard Langer (2)
−11
277
1992
Fred Couples
−13
275
1991
Ian Woosnam
−11
277
1990
Nick Faldo (2)
−10
278
1989
Nick Faldo
−5
283
1988
Sandy Lyle
−7
281
1987
Larry Mize
−3
285
1986
Jack Nicklaus (6)
−9
279
1985
Bernhard Langer
−6
282
1984
Ben Crenshaw
−11
277
1983
Seve Ballesteros (2)
−8
280
1982
Craig Stadler
−4
284
1981
Tom Watson (2)
−8
280
1980
Seve Ballesteros
−13
275
1979
Fuzzy Zoeller
−8
280
1978
Gary Player (3)
−11
277
1977
Tom Watson
−12
276
1976
Raymond Floyd
−17
271
1975
Jack Nicklaus (5)
−12
276
1974
Gary Player (2)
−10
278
1973
Tommy Aaron
−5
283
1972
Jack Nicklaus (4)
−2
286
1971
Charles Coody
−9
279
1970
Billy Casper
−9
279
1969
George Archer
−7
281
1968
Bob Goalby
−11
277
1967
Gay Brewer
−8
280
1966
Jack Nicklaus (3)
E
288
1965
Jack Nicklaus (2)
−17
271
1964
Arnold Palmer (4)
−12
276
1963
Jack Nicklaus
−2
286
1962
Arnold Palmer (3)
−8
280
1961
Gary Player
−8
280
1960
Arnold Palmer (2)
−6
282
1959
Art Wall Jr.
−4
284
1958
Arnold Palmer
−4
284
1957
Doug Ford
−5
283
1956
Jack Burke Jr.
+1
289
1955
Cary Middlecoff
−9
279
1954
Sam Snead (3)
+1
289
1953
Ben Hogan (2)
−14
274
1952
Sam Snead (2)
−2
286
1951
Ben Hogan
−8
280
1950
Jimmy Demaret (3)
−5
283
1949
Sam Snead
−6
282
1948
Claude Harmon
−9
279
1947
Jimmy Demaret (2)
−7
281
1946
Herman Keiser
−6
282
1942
Byron Nelson (2)
−8
280
1941
Craig Wood
−8
280
1940
Jimmy Demaret
−8
280
1939
Ralph Guldahl
−9
279
1938
Henry Picard
−3
285
1937
Byron Nelson
−5
283
1936
Horton Smith (2)
−3
285
1935
Gene Sarazen
−6
282
1934
Horton Smith
−4
284
Who has won the most Masters titles?
Jack Nicklaus – 6 (1963, 1965, 1966, 1972, 1975, 1986)Tiger Woods – 5 (1997, 2001, 2002, 2005, 2019)Arnold Palmer – 4 (1958, 1960, 1962, 1964)Jimmy Demaret – 3 (1940, 1947, 1950)Sam Snead – 3 (1949, 1952, 1954)Gary Player – 3 (1961, 1974, 1978)Nick Faldo – 3 (1989, 1990, 1996)Phil Mickelson – 3 (2004, 2006, 2010)
Ten others have twice won the Masters Tournament.
Who is the youngest Masters winner?
Tiger Woods became the youngest Masters champion when he won in 1997 at age 21.
Who is the oldest Masters winner?
Jack Nicklaus became the oldest Masters champion when he won in 1986 at age 46.
Who holds the 72-hole scoring record at the Masters?
The record is 20-under 268, set by Dustin Johnson at the 2020 Masters, which was postponed until November because of the coronavirus pandemic.
Who holds the 18-hole scoring record at the Masters?
The record, 9-under 63, is shared by Greg Norman (first round in 1996) and Nick Price (third round in 1986).
Has an amateur ever won the Masters?
No amateur has ever won the Masters, but a few have come close. In 1947, Frank Stranahan finished T-2, two shots behind winner Jimmy Demaret. In 1954, Billy Joe Patton finished one stroke out of the Sam Snead-Ben Hogan playoff. In 1956, Ken Venturi lead after 18, 36 and 54 holes, but he shot 80 on the final day and finished one shot behind Jack Burke Jr.
Has anyone ever won the Masters on their first try?
Technically, three players have. Horton Smith won the first Masters in 1934 and then Gene Sarazen won in his first start, in ’35. Since the tournament really got going, however, only one player has done so: Fuzzy Zoeller in 1979.