Decade by decade, the best of the Masters
By Bill Felber
Masters: The modern game
Thirty-seven players whose names will be familiar to you qualified for consideration during the decade that concluded with the 2019 Masters. Three of those 37, Matt Kuchar, Rory McIlroy, and Adam Scott, made the cut in all 10.
But only Scott among those three actually won a championship during the decade, and only Bubba Watson won twice. And Watson’s decade record was compromised by four finishes outside the top 30. Despite those two wins, his -0.46 decade-long Masters average leaves him just outside the top 10.
Still, one Masters champion did rise above the pack during the decade. Here is the top 10.
Rk Player Avg. Std. Dev
1. Jordan Spieth -1.56
2. Justin Rose -1.03
3. Lee Westwood -0.93
4. Tiger Woods -0.88
5. Jason Day -0.84
6. Rory McIlroy -0.66
7. Angel Cabrera -0.64
8. Dustin Johnson -0.59
9. Adam Scott -0.57
10. Rickie Fowler -0.57
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Although Spieth’s record for the decade as a whole has been spotty, he’s been a consistent presence at Augusta National. He won in 2015, tied for second in 2014 and 2016, and was third in 2018. For the decade, his worst finish was a tie for 21st in 2019.
Next. The Masters: Ranking All 18 Holes at Augusta National. dark
That performance creates a wider separation between Spieth and Rose in second than there is between Rose and Rickie Fowler back in 10th position. Rose is the runner-up thanks largely to second-place finishes in 2015 and 2017, the latter a playoff loss to Sergio Garcia.
Woods stands third thanks largely to his 2019 comeback victory, although he was also fourth in 2010, 2011, and 2013. Injuries, of course, prevented Woods from playing three Masters during the decade, in 2014, 2016, and 2017.