Why is the Masters great? Beneath the pageantry, the golf course, the green jackets and the pimento cheese lies something that defines golf at its core: history.
Masters history and golf history are synonymous. From Jones to Snead and Nicklaus to Woods, the names that ingratiate themselves with green jackets are the same that color golf’s rich historical tapestry. From a 365-acre fruit farm to the world’s most alluring golf club, the soil of Augusta, Ga. is fertile for greatness, for champions, for history.
Just ask Danny Willett, Charl Schwartzel or Bubba Watson — a Masters triumph is a life-changing moment. Multiple Masters triumphs? Now that’s history-changing.
As we look back at those etched into recent Masters memory, it’s tempting to view each name in its own prism. In 2019, Tiger reminded us that even for those fortunate enough to repeat at Augusta, each win carries its own story. But in fact, the victories speak to a commonality. The Masters story would be incomplete without each of the names on the list below, and so too would the story of golf.
The last 20 Masters winners
2020: Dustin Johnson
2019: Tiger Woods
2018: Patrick Reed
2017: Sergio Garcia
2016: Danny Willett
2015: Jordan Spieth
2014: Bubba Watson
2013: Adam Scott
2012: Bubba Watson
2011: Charl Schwartzel
2010: Phil Mickelson
2009: Angel Cabrera
2008: Trevor Immelman
2007: Zach Johnson
2006: Phil Mickelson
2005: Tiger Woods
2004: Phil Mickelson
2003: Mike Weir
2002: Tiger Woods
2001: Tiger Woods
2000: Vijay Singh
James Colgan
Golf.com Editor
James Colgan is a news and features editor at GOLF, writing stories for the website and magazine. He manages the Hot Mic, GOLF’s media vertical, and utilizes his on-camera experience across the brand’s platforms. Prior to joining GOLF, James graduated from Syracuse University, during which time he was a caddie scholarship recipient (and astute looper) on Long Island, where he is from. He can be reached at james.colgan@golf.com.
