The Masters: Greatest Champions in Tournament History

Arnold Palmer (winner in 1958, 1960, 1962 and 1964)

Arnold Palmer may be two titles short of Jack Nicklaus and one title short of Tiger Woods, but the four-time Masters winner has a couple of things that neither Jack nor Tiger has.

First, Palmer’s gallery, or patrons as they are called at Augusta National, has its own name. Arnie’s Army was known for its loud and strong support of Palmer. Arnie’s Army was always out in full force at the Masters. Palmer is one of the players who drew a different type of ovation from the patrons at the Masters. It’s one of those roars, those special sounds, that only happen for special players.

Palmer’s other feat, one that may never be matched, is that he won four Masters titles in seven years. Not Nicklaus, not Woods, no one has ever matched that feat. Perhaps more amazingly, Palmer did it without winning in consecutive years. He won in only the even numbered years of 1958, 1960, 1962 and 1964.

Palmer is, without a doubt, one of the most popular golfers in the history of the game. He won 62 tournaments all-time, including seven major titles.

Palmer’s go for broke style of play was something new when he first came on the professional golf scene in 1954. Until his arrival, most players had a buttoned-up style of play. But Palmer would take chances, ones that often paid off, and he eventually became known as the King. But on this list, the king can only be ranked as high as third.