The Masters: top 10 past champions who could win again in 2020
By Tim Letcher
Throughout the history of the Masters, there have been a number of players who have been able to repeat. Which past champion could win in 2020?
The Masters has been played 83 times and there have been 52 men, ever, to win the event. Out of the 52 champions, 17 have been able to win the event more than once. That means about one out of every three Masters champions has a chance to repeat.
And that’s what this list will examine – which former Masters champion has the best chance to win it again in 2020. There are 18 former champions in the field this week at Augusta National, although some of those probably don’t have much of a chance of winning. Older players like Larry Mize, Sandy Lyle, Jose Maria Olazabal and Fred Couples could make a run at making the cut, but they aren’t likely going to win.
But there are several notable champions in the field that will absolutely have a chance to be in the mix on the back nine on Sunday. Among the players on this list are three players who have won the Masters at least twice. These are players who know how to play the course at Augusta National, obviously, but they also know what it takes to win there.
Another common thread here is that, at least when they won the Masters, each of these players had a great week with their short games and their putters. It would take that same kind of short game for these players to compete this year.
Without further ado, here are the top 10 former Masters champions who have a chance to win another title at Augusta National this year.
No. 10 – Charl Schwartzel (champion in 2011)
The 2011 Masters is most remembered for Rory McIlroy’s collapse on the back nine on Sunday. He entered the back nine with a lead, only to shoot 43 on the back side.
What is quite often forgotten is the furious finish by Charl Schwartzel, who birdied the final four holes to claim a two-shot victory over Adam Scott and Jason Day. Schwartzel joined fellow South Africans Gary Player and Trevor Immelman as Masters champion.
At the time of his win, Schwartzel was just 26 years old and he appeared to have plenty of good golf ahead of him. But it hasn’t really happened for Schwartzel, who is now 36 years old. He has only one additional win on the PGA Tour, which came at the 2016 Valspar Championship.
Schwartzel actually hasn’t played that well in the Masters, other than his win. His only other top 20 finish came in 2017, when he was third. He has missed the cut four times in 10 appearances as well.
He has had a bit of a resurgence over the past year, including contending at the 3M Open early this calendar year. Perhaps he can keep that momentum going at Augusta National this week, although that might be a stretch.