The Masters: Greatest Champions in Tournament History

Jack Nicklaus (winner in 1963, 1965, 1966, 1972, 1975 and 1986)

The only six-time winner of the Masters, Nicklaus is the most beloved winner in tournament history. Nicklaus won the tournament in three different decades and his surprise win in 1986 remains perhaps the greatest Masters in tournament history.

Nicklaus won his first Masters, in 1963, when he was just 23 years old. He won his sixth and final Masters, in 1986, when he was 46 years old. It’s hard to find someone who has won a major, then won it again when he was twice as old.

Nicklaus had one of the great streaks in Masters history in the 1960s. After winning the title in 1963, he tied for second in 1964 before winning again in 1965 and 1966. No other player in Masters history has ever won three out of four times at the event.

Another amazing Nicklaus stat is that he was runner up in the Masters on four occasions. That means he seriously contended for the title at Augusta National 10 times. Those are amazing numbers, especially considering where they rank among all players. Tiger Woods has five titles and two runner up finishes, but he’s the only one close to Nicklaus’ 10 top-two finishes in the Masters.

Nicklaus is the greatest champion in Masters history, and there would be very few people who would even beg to argue about that fact. The Golden Bear had an aura on the Augusta National course that may never be matched. Now an honorary starter, his presence still looms over the event every year. He is a legend, especially in this event, and will always be treated as such.