The Masters: Greatest Champions in Tournament History
By Tim Letcher
Tiger Woods (winner in 1997, 2001, 2002, 2005 and 2019)
In most tournaments, and in most lifetimes, Woods would be first on this list. It’s hard to imagine a player being more dominant in one event than Woods has been at the Masters. He’s won it five times and been runner up twice.
And it’s not just that he’s won it, it’s how he’s won it. In his first win, in 1997, Woods set the record for lowest score relative to par (18-under par) and largest margin of victory (a whopping 12 shots over Tom Kite). Jordan Spieth matched Woods’ 18-under par score, in 2015, but no one has come close to winning at Augusta National by 12 shots.
Woods was 16-under par in winning the 2001 Masters and was 12-under par the following year when he won in 2002. In 2005, he was 12-under par and last year, he was 13-under par in his triumphant return to the top of the leaderboard at Augusta National.
A player who has set records ever since he set foot on tour, Woods accomplished another one last year. His 14 years between Masters titles is the most ever, eclipsing the 13 years that Gary Player had between his first and second wins in the Masters.
Without a doubt, Woods is one of, if not the greatest, player in golf history. Yet he finds himself just second on the list of greatest Masters champions, which says more about Nicklaus than it does about Tiger. The good news for Woods is, he could still have a Masters title (or two, or more) to go. He’s just 44 years old and still near the top of his game. If his body will cooperate, he could overtake Nicklaus on this list. He’s just not there yet.