Who Are the Past Masters Champions: A Look Back at Masters Winners From 21st Century
After two years of firsts and broken records, what's in store for the 2022 Masters? In 2020, Dustin Johnson broke the course record, and in 2021, Hideki Matsuyama became the first Japanese - and Asian - winner at this major. With Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson's noticeable absences from Augusta National this year, all eyes will be on The Players' champion, Cameron Smith.
As we look to past Masters champions, we want to reminisce about other standout moments from Augusta National Golf Club. Join us as we relive some of our favorite Masters memories throughout the years.
Most Masters wins in the 21st century:
1. Tiger Woods (4)
2. Phil Mickelson (3)
3. Bubba Watson (2)
The past Masters champions list (and a few fun memories):
2022 Masters Champion: TBD
Major moment: TBD
2021 Masters Champion: Hideki Matsuyama
Hideki Matsuyama shot 10 under to beat Will Zalatoris by one stroke.
Major moment: Hideki Matsuyama jumped into the lead after play resumed during the third round after a weather delay, going 6 under in eight holes to finish Saturday's round 5 strokes ahead of the former leader, Justin Rose. Matsuyama is the first Japanese and first Asian player to win the Masters.
2020 Masters Champion: Dustin Johnson
Dustin Johnson shot a tournament-record 20 under to beat Cameron Smith and Sungjae Im by 5 strokes.
Major moment: Dustin Johnson dominated Augusta National in November 2020. Not only did he shoot 31 on the front nine, including an eagle on the second hole, in the third round, he also broke the tournament scoring record (268) and became the third golfer to win the Masters with a family member on his bag — his brother Austin Johnson.
2019 Masters Champion: Tiger Woods
Tiger Woods finished 13 under to beat Xander Schauffele, Brooks Koepka and Dustin Johnson by one stroke.
Major moment: Tiger Woods’ epic win in the early afternoon on Sunday (tee times were moved up to beat an incoming storm) was hailed as a comeback for the ages. Winning the green jacket in 2019 was his first major title in 11 years and first Masters win in 14 years.
2018 Masters Champion: Patrick Reed
Patrick Reed shot 15 under to beat Rickie Fowler by one stroke.
Major moment: While Patrick Reed’s win was quite impressive, many golfers remember Tony Finau’s hole-in-one fiasco during the Masters Par 3 Contest when he dislocated his left ankle while celebrating (backpedaling) down the fairway. Not only did he pop his ankle back in on the spot, but he managed to hobble to the first tee the next day and finish T-10. No big deal.
2017 Masters Champion: Sergio Garcia
Sergio Garcia shot 9 under and beat Justin Rose in a sudden-death playoff.
Major moment: Garcia won his first major at age 37 and was the third Spaniard to claim the green jacket. A calm mind helped Garcia conquer Augusta National, especially after he forced a tense playoff with Justin Rose.
2016 Masters Champion: Danny Willett
Danny Willett shot 5 under to beat Jordan Spieth and Lee Westwood by three strokes.
Major moment: Willett’s win was overshadowed by a series of unfortunate events. Jordan Spieth experienced what history remembers as a major meltdown in Amen Corner, costing him the lead and the green jacket. Also, the 2016 Masters is the last one Arnold Palmer attended before his death later that year.
2015 Masters Champion: Jordan Spieth
Jordan Spieth shot 18 under to beat Phil Mickelson and Justin Rose by four strokes.
Major moment: At age 21, Jordan Spieth tied Tiger Woods’ scoring record. Meanwhile, Woods cracked the top 10.
2014 Masters Champion: Bubba Watson
Bubba Watson shot 8 under to beat Jordan Spieth and Jonas Blixt by three strokes.
Major moment: Jordan Spieth had a chance to become the youngest Masters champion at age 20 (in his Augusta debut!), but Bubba Watson never wavered while pulling away from Spieth as they played together in the final grouping.
2013 Masters champion: Adam Scott
Adam Scott shot 9 under and beat Angel Cabrera in a sudden-death playoff.
Major moment: Adam Scott and Angel Cabrera played brilliantly down the stretch, and their sudden-death playoff lasted two holes before Scott dropped a birdie putt to win it. When Scott won this tournament, he became not only the first Australian to slip into a green jacket, but also the first golfer to win at Augusta with a long putter. Scott attributed his win in part to Greg Norman.
2012 Masters Champion: Bubba Watson
Bubba Watson shot 10 under and beat Louis Oosthuizen in a sudden-death playoff.
Major moment: Both contenders put on a show. Louis Oosthuizen became the fourth PGA Tour player in history to score a double eagle at Augusta (hole 2, 253 yards). However, that unforgettable moment wasn’t enough to stop Bubba Watson, who hit an equally impressive hook shot from the pine straw on No. 10 in sudden death that lives in history.
2011 Masters Champion: Charl Schwartzel
Charl Schwartzel shot 14 under to beat Jason Day and Adam Scott by two strokes.
Major moment: Charl Schwartzel became the third South African to win at Augusta National after a thrilling final round during which eight players held at least a share of the lead. Fun fact: Hideki Matsuyama was the only amateur to make the cut this year, foreshadowing his successful career on the PGA Tour and his Masters win in 2022.
2010 Masters Champion: Phil Mickelson
Phil Mickelson shot 16 under to beat Lee Westwood by three strokes.
Major moment: Mickelson went on a Sunday run to win his third green jacket. With his impeccable short game, and a fantastic shot from the pine straw between the trees on No. 13 that stopped about 3 feet from the hole, Mickelson shot a bogey-free final round.
2009 Masters Champion: Angel Cabrera
Angel Cabrera shot 12 under and beat Chad Campbell and Kenny Perry in a sudden-death playoff.
Major moment: This tournament was an emotional rollercoaster. Big names (Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson) failed to contend, and some fans felt this Masters was “anti-climactic." Winning a sudden-death playoff with par-par may seem subpar on the PGA Tour, but there’s no shame for battling with whatever game you have that day, and Angel Cabrera did just that.
2008 Masters Champion: Trevor Immelman
Trevor Immelman shot 8 under to beat Tiger Woods by three strokes.
Major moment: Trevor Immelman took the golf world by storm. Literally. Crazy winds created tough playing conditions, and Tiger Woods was breathing down his neck most of the weekend. Immelman held his own and became the second South African to win the Masters, joining three-time champion Gary Player.
2007 Masters Champion: Zach Johnson
Zach Johnson shot 1 over to defeat Retief Goosen, Rory Sabbatini and Tiger Woods by two strokes.
Major moment: While golf fans today are used to seeing scoring records threatened, including Woods and Spieth’s 18-under totals at Augusta National, fans are especially flabbergasted to see an over-par score win a major that isn’t the U.S. Open. For the second time in Masters history, 1 over won the tournament. This also was the last year Seve Ballesteros competed at Augusta National.
2006 Masters Champion: Phil Mickelson
Phil Mickelson shot 7 under to beat Tim Clark by two.
Major moment: Though Phil Mickelson won his second green jacket in 2006, most golf media sites were discussing his archrival’s unraveling. Tiger Woods, in an attempt to win one last major before his father passed away, played too aggressively and later called this 2006 major “the one that hurt the most.”
2005 Masters Champion: Tiger Woods
Tiger Woods shot 12 under and beat Chris DiMarco in a sudden-death playoff. They finished seven strokes ahead of third place.
Major moment: One of Tiger Woods’ most iconic shots played out on the 16th hole: the chip-in. Though triumphant, Tiger Woods and other legendary golfers found the 2005 Masters to be the end of an era. Woods wouldn’t win another Masters until 2019. And Jack Nicklaus, Billy Casper and Tommy Aaron, all former Masters champions, made their final appearances as competitors at Augusta National.
2004 Masters Champion: Phil Mickelson
Phil Mickelson shot 8 under to beat Ernie Els by one stroke.
Major moment: This year was not only Phil Mickelson’s first Masters win, but also his first major victory. Mickelson sank a birdie putt on No. 18 to defeat Ernie Els by one, and his legendary status grew.
2003 Masters Champion: Mike Weir
Mike Weir shot 7 under and beat Len Mattiace in a sudden-death playoff.
Major moment: Mike Weir accomplished many firsts with his Masters win: Not only was this his first and only major title, but he was the first (and only) Canadian to win the Masters. To top it off, Weir also was the first left-handed golfer to win the Masters, one year before Phil Mickelson.
2002 Masters Champion: Tiger Woods
Tiger Woods shot 12 under to beat Retief Goosen by three strokes.
Major moment: Tiger Woods was the third golfer to win the Masters tournament back-to-back. While Jack Nicklaus slid the green jacket on himself, Nick Faldo and Tiger Woods were assisted by the chairman of Augusta National.
2001 Masters Champion: Tiger Woods
Tiger Woods shot 16 under to beat David Duval by two strokes.
Major moment: The 2001 Masters was the crown jewel in what became known as the Tiger Slam. Tiger Woods won the U.S. Open, the British Open and then the PGA Championship in 2000. Because he won at Augusta National in 2001, a different calendar year, he did not officially join Bobby Jones as a golf Grand Slam honoree. However, winning four majors in a row (and within 365 days) is still an impressive feat, hence the new term “Tiger Slam.”
2000 Masters Champion: Vijay Singh
Vijay Singh shot 10 under to beat Ernie Els by three strokes.
Major moment: Did you know that Vijay is Hindu for “victory"? Once Vijay Singh gained the lead on the 12th hole on Saturday, he never lost it, though he came close early Sunday. His winning score was impressive, considering the harsh weather conditions (only seven players shot under par on Saturday).