The Masters: Past Winners, Prize Money, Records, and History at Augusta National
BetspertsGolf
2 months ago
The Masters is one of the most prestigious tournaments in the history of golf, and the first major played each year. The tournament is a PGA Tour event that is played at Augusta National Golf Course in Augusta, Georgia. Let’s look at the list of winners, prize money, and more for a tradition unlike any other.
Masters Quick Facts
The Masters is one of the four major tournaments in professional golf and the first major of the year. It is played in the first full week in April from Thursday until Sunday.
The History of the Masters
Amateur golf champion Bobby Jones and investment Banker Clifford Roberts founded the Masters, and the first was played in 1934 under the name “Augusta National Invitation Tournament.” Jones co-designed the course with architect Alister MacKenzie.
The Masters is an invitational event and has a smaller field than other majors. It sports a number of traditions, including giving the winner a green jacket. This started in 1949, and the previous winner returns to crown the new champion each year.
Since the course opened in 1933, it has seen its fair share of modifications, including greens being reshaped, bunkers being added, extending the water hazards, and even planting hundreds of trees.
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Tournament Course: More About Augusta National
The Masters has always been held at Augusta National Golf Club. The private course in Augusta, Georgia, has hosted the tournament since its inception in 1934. The course opened in 1933 and has 27 holes, including the 18-hole championship course and the 9-hole Par 3 Course. Check out more about the tournament.
| Category | Specification |
| Year Opened | 1933 |
| Architects | Alister MacKenzie & Bobby Jones |
| Total Holes | 27 (18-hole Championship; 9-hole Par 3) |
| Championship Par | 72 |
| Total Length | 7,510 yards (6,879 meters) |
| Course Rating | 78.1 (Unofficial) |
| Slope Rating | 137 (Unofficial) |
| Grass Types | Bentgrass (Greens); Ryegrass (Fairways) |
| Course Record | 63 (Nick Price, 1986; Greg Norman, 1996) |
| Elevation Change | 150 feet (highest to lowest point) |
Past Winners of the Masters
Rory McIlroy won his first green jacket in 2025 and is the reigning Masters champion. He shot 11 under par to take the major. In 2024, it was Scottie Scheffler who won a green jacket. It was the second Masters win of his career after winning the event in 2022. Take a look at the full history of winners at the Masters, dating back to 1934 when Horton Smith was the first ever winner.
| Year | Champion | Total Score | To Par |
| 2025 | Rory McIlroy | 277 | -11 |
| 2024 | Scottie Scheffler | 277 | -11 |
| 2023 | Jon Rahm | 276 | -12 |
| 2022 | Scottie Scheffler | 278 | -10 |
| 2021 | Hideki Matsuyama | 278 | -10 |
| 2020 | Dustin Johnson | 268 | -20 |
| 2019 | Tiger Woods | 275 | -13 |
| 2018 | Patrick Reed | 273 | -15 |
| 2017 | Sergio Garcia | 279 | -9 |
| 2016 | Danny Willett | 283 | -5 |
| 2015 | Jordan Spieth | 270 | -18 |
| 2014 | Bubba Watson | 280 | -8 |
| 2013 | Adam Scott | 279 | -9 |
| 2012 | Bubba Watson | 278 | -10 |
| 2011 | Charl Schwartzel | 274 | -14 |
| 2010 | Phil Mickelson | 272 | -16 |
| 2009 | Ángel Cabrera | 276 | -12 |
| 2008 | Trevor Immelman | 280 | -8 |
| 2007 | Zach Johnson | 289 | +1 |
| 2006 | Phil Mickelson | 281 | -7 |
| 2005 | Tiger Woods | 276 | -12 |
| 2004 | Phil Mickelson | 279 | -9 |
| 2003 | Mike Weir | 281 | -7 |
| 2002 | Tiger Woods | 276 | -12 |
| 2001 | Tiger Woods | 272 | -16 |
| 2000 | Vijay Singh | 278 | -10 |
| 1999 | José María Olazábal | 280 | -8 |
| 1998 | Mark O’Meara | 279 | -9 |
| 1997 | Tiger Woods | 270 | -18 |
| 1996 | Nick Faldo | 276 | -12 |
| 1995 | Ben Crenshaw | 274 | -14 |
| 1994 | José María Olazábal | 279 | -9 |
| 1993 | Bernhard Langer | 277 | -11 |
| 1992 | Fred Couples | 275 | -13 |
| 1991 | Ian Woosnam | 277 | -11 |
| 1990 | Nick Faldo | 278 | -10 |
| 1989 | Nick Faldo | 283 | -5 |
| 1988 | Sandy Lyle | 281 | -7 |
| 1987 | Larry Mize | 285 | -3 |
| 1986 | Jack Nicklaus | 279 | -9 |
| 1985 | Bernhard Langer | 282 | -6 |
| 1984 | Ben Crenshaw | 277 | -11 |
| 1983 | Seve Ballesteros | 280 | -8 |
| 1982 | Craig Stadler | 284 | -4 |
| 1981 | Tom Watson | 280 | -8 |
| 1980 | Seve Ballesteros | 275 | -13 |
| 1979 | Fuzzy Zoeller | 280 | -8 |
| 1978 | Gary Player | 277 | -11 |
| 1977 | Tom Watson | 276 | -12 |
| 1976 | Raymond Floyd | 271 | -17 |
| 1975 | Jack Nicklaus | 276 | -12 |
| 1974 | Gary Player | 278 | -10 |
| 1973 | Tommy Aaron | 283 | -5 |
| 1972 | Jack Nicklaus | 286 | -2 |
| 1971 | Charles Coody | 279 | -9 |
| 1970 | Billy Casper | 279 | -9 |
| 1969 | George Archer | 281 | -7 |
| 1968 | Bob Goalby | 277 | -11 |
| 1967 | Gay Brewer | 280 | -8 |
| 1966 | Jack Nicklaus | 288 | E |
| 1965 | Jack Nicklaus | 271 | -17 |
| 1964 | Arnold Palmer | 276 | -12 |
| 1963 | Jack Nicklaus | 286 | -2 |
| 1962 | Arnold Palmer | 280 | -8 |
| 1961 | Gary Player | 280 | -8 |
| 1960 | Arnold Palmer | 282 | -6 |
| 1959 | Art Wall Jr. | 284 | -4 |
| 1958 | Arnold Palmer | 284 | -4 |
| 1957 | Doug Ford | 283 | -5 |
| 1956 | Jack Burke Jr. | 289 | +1 |
| 1955 | Cary Middlecoff | 279 | -9 |
| 1954 | Sam Snead | 289 | +1 |
| 1953 | Ben Hogan | 274 | -14 |
| 1952 | Sam Snead | 286 | -2 |
| 1951 | Ben Hogan | 280 | -8 |
| 1950 | Jimmy Demaret | 283 | -5 |
| 1949 | Sam Snead | 282 | -6 |
| 1948 | Claude Harmon | 279 | -9 |
| 1947 | Jimmy Demaret | 281 | -7 |
| 1946 | Herman Keiser | 282 | -6 |
| 1942 | Byron Nelson | 280 | -8 |
| 1941 | Craig Wood | 280 | -8 |
| 1940 | Jimmy Demaret | 280 | -8 |
| 1939 | Ralph Guldahl | 279 | -9 |
| 1938 | Henry Picard | 285 | -3 |
| 1937 | Byron Nelson | 283 | -5 |
| 1936 | Horton Smith | 285 | -3 |
| 1935 | Gene Sarazen | 282 | -6 |
| 1934 | Horton Smith | 284 | -4 |
*There wasn’t a Masters Tournament from 1943-45.
Prize Money for the Tournament
The total prize money for the tournament has increased significantly over the years. In 2025, the purse was $21,000,000, and the winner, Rory McIlroy, received $4.2 million. Back in 1934, Horton Smith won $1,500 of the $5,000 purse.
| Year | Champion | Purse | Winner |
| 2025 | Rory McIlroy | $21,000,000 | $4,200,000 |
| 2024 | Scottie Scheffler | $20,000,000 | $3,600,000 |
| 2023 | Jon Rahm | $18,000,000 | $3,240,000 |
| 2022 | Scottie Scheffler | $15,000,000 | $2,700,000 |
| 2021 | Hideki Matsuyama | $11,500,000 | $2,070,000 |
| 2020 | Dustin Johnson | $11,500,000 | $2,070,000 |
| 2019 | Tiger Woods | $11,500,000 | $2,070,000 |
| 2018 | Patrick Reed | $11,000,000 | $1,980,000 |
| 2017 | Sergio Garcia | $11,000,000 | $1,980,000 |
| 2016 | Danny Willett | $10,000,000 | $1,800,000 |
| 2015 | Jordan Spieth | $10,000,000 | $1,800,000 |
| 2014 | Bubba Watson | $9,000,000 | $1,620,000 |
| 2013 | Adam Scott | $8,000,000 | $1,440,000 |
| 2012 | Bubba Watson | $8,000,000 | $1,440,000 |
| 2011 | Charl Schwartzel | $8,000,000 | $1,440,000 |
| 2010 | Phil Mickelson | $7,500,000 | $1,350,000 |
| 2009 | Angel Cabrera | $7,500,000 | $1,350,000 |
| 2008 | Trevor Immelman | $7,500,000 | $1,350,000 |
| 2007 | Zach Johnson | $7,418,464 | $1,305,000 |
| 2006 | Phil Mickelson | $7,000,000 | $1,260,000 |
| 2005 | Tiger Woods | $7,000,000 | $1,260,000 |
| 2004 | Phil Mickelson | $6,000,000 | $1,117,000 |
| 2003 | Mike Weir | $6,000,000 | $1,080,000 |
| 2002 | Tiger Woods | $5,600,000 | $1,008,000 |
| 2001 | Tiger Woods | $5,600,000 | $1,008,000 |
| 2000 | Vijay Singh | $4,600,000 | $828,000 |
| 1999 | Jose Maria Olazabal | $4,000,000 | $720,000 |
| 1998 | Mark O’Meara | $3,200,000 | $576,000 |
| 1997 | Tiger Woods | $2,700,000 | $486,000 |
| 1996 | Nick Faldo | $2,500,000 | $450,000 |
| 1995 | Ben Crenshaw | $2,200,000 | $396,000 |
| 1994 | Jose Maria Olazabal | $2,000,000 | $360,000 |
| 1993 | Bernhard Langer | $1,700,000 | $306,000 |
| 1992 | Fred Couples | $1,500,000 | $270,000 |
| 1991 | Ian Woosnam | $1,350,000 | $243,000 |
| 1990 | Nick Faldo | $1,250,000 | $225,000 |
| 1989 | Nick Faldo | $1,000,000 | $200,000 |
| 1988 | Sandy Lyle | $1,000,000 | $183,800 |
| 1987 | Larry Mize | $867,100 | $162,000 |
| 1986 | Jack Nicklaus | $785,000 | $144,000 |
| 1985 | Bernhard Langer | $700,793 | $126,000 |
| 1984 | Ben Crenshaw | $612,900 | $108,000 |
| 1983 | Seve Ballesteros | $500,000 | $90,000 |
| 1982 | Craig Stadler | $367,152 | $64,000 |
| 1981 | Tom Watson | $362,587 | $60,000 |
| 1980 | Seve Ballesteros | $359,949 | $55,000 |
| 1979 | Fuzzy Zoeller | $299,625 | $50,000 |
| 1978 | Gary Player | $262,402 | $45,000 |
| 1977 | Tom Watson | $280,477 | $40,000 |
| 1976 | Raymond Floyd | $200,000 | $40,000 |
| 1975 | Jack Nicklaus | $242,750 | $40,000 |
| 1974 | Gary Player | $229,549 | $35,000 |
| 1973 | Tommy Aaron | $224,825 | $30,000 |
| 1972 | Jack Nicklaus | $204,649 | $25,000 |
| 1971 | Charles Coody | $125,000 | $25,000 |
| 1970 | Billy Casper | $125,000 | $25,000 |
| 1969 | George Archer | $100,000 | $20,000 |
| 1968 | Bob Goalby | $100,000 | $20,000 |
| 1967 | Gay Brewer | $165,000 | $20,000 |
| 1966 | Jack Nicklaus | $100,000 | $20,000 |
| 1965 | Jack Nicklaus | $100,000 | $20,000 |
| 1964 | Arnold Palmer | $130,000 | $20,000 |
| 1963 | Jack Nicklaus | $112,500 | $20,000 |
| 1962 | Arnold Palmer | $110,000 | $20,000 |
| 1961 | Gary Player | $110,000 | $20,000 |
| 1960 | Arnold Palmer | $87,000 | $17,500 |
| 1959 | Art Wall Jr. | $75,000 | $15,000 |
| 1958 | Arnold Palmer | $60,000 | $11,250 |
| 1957 | Doug Ford | $45,000 | $8,750 |
| 1956 | Jack Burke Jr. | $30,000 | $6,000 |
| 1955 | Carry Middlecoff | $25,000 | $5,000 |
| 1954 | Sam Snead | $25,000 | $5,000 |
| 1953 | Ben Hogan | $20,000 | $4,000 |
| 1952 | Sam Snead | $20,000 | $4,000 |
| 1951 | Ben Hogan | $15,000 | $3,000 |
| 1950 | Jimmy Demaret | $12,000 | $2,400 |
| 1949 | Sam Snead | $11,000 | $2,750 |
| 1948 | Claude Harmon | $10,000 | $2,500 |
| 1947 | Jimmy Demaret | $10,000 | $2,500 |
| 1946 | Herman Keiser | $10,000 | $2,500 |
| 1942 | Byron Nelson | $5,000 | $1,500 |
| 1941 | Craig Wood | $5,000 | $1,500 |
| 1940 | Jimmy Demaret | $5,000 | $1,500 |
| 1939 | Ralph Guldahl | $5,000 | $1,500 |
| 1938 | Henry Picard | $5,000 | $1,500 |
| 1937 | Byron Nelson | $5,000 | $1,500 |
| 1936 | Horton Smith | $5,000 | $1,500 |
| 1935 | Gene Sarazen | $5,000 | $1,500 |
| 1934 | Horton Smith | $5,000 | $1,500 |
Golfers With Multiple Masters Wins
Several golfers have been lucky enough to win multiple green jackets over the years. Jack Nicklaus holds the record with 6 wins at the Masters, and he is followed by Tiger Woods, who has won the event 5 times. Check out the golfers who have won the Masters multiple times in their careers. Green Jackets started being awarded in 1949.
| Golfer | Wins | Years |
| Jack Nicklaus | 6 | 1963, 1965, 1966, 1972, 1975, 1986 |
| Tiger Woods | 5 | 1997, 2001, 2002, 2005, 2019 |
| Arnold Palmer | 4 | 1958, 1960, 1962, 1964 |
| Jimmy Demaret | 3 | 1940, 1947, 1950 |
| Sam Snead | 3 | 1949, 1952, 1954 |
| Gary Player | 3 | 1961, 1974, 1978 |
| Nick Faldo | 3 | 1989, 1990, 1996 |
| Phil Mickelson | 3 | 2004, 2006, 2010 |
| Horton Smith | 2 | 1934, 1936 |
| Byron Nelson | 2 | 1937, 1942 |
| Ben Hogan | 2 | 1951, 1953 |
| Tom Watson | 2 | 1977, 1981 |
| Seve Ballesteros | 2 | 1980, 1983 |
| Bernhard Langer | 2 | 1985, 1993 |
| Ben Crenshaw | 2 | 1984, 1995 |
| José Maria Olazábal | 2 | 1994, 1999 |
| Bubba Watson | 2 | 2012, 2014 |
| Scottie Scheffler | 2 | 2022, 2024 |
Notable Stats and Records
In a tournament with such a rich history, there are tons of fantastic and interesting records. Take a look at some notable records and stats from the Masters over the years.
- The USA has the most winners (39), followed by Spain (4).
- Jack Nicklaus won a record 6 green jackets.
- Tiger Woods is the youngest champion ever (21 years old).
- Jack Nicklaus is the oldest winner (46 years old).
- Tiger Woods won the 1997 Masters by a record 12 strokes.
- Jack Burke (1956) has the record for the biggest comeback. He was down 8 strokes in the final round.
The Masters FAQs
Here are some of the most common questions asked about the Masters.
Where is the Masters Played?
The Masters is played at Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, Georgia. It has been played at that course since 1934.
When is the Masters usually played?
The Masters Tournament is in the first full week of April each year. It’s the first major on the PGA Tour and takes place from Thursday to Sunday.
Who has won the most Masters Tournaments?
Jack Nicklaus has won a record 6 Masters Tournaments.
How many Green Jackets has Tiger Woods won?
Tiger Woods is second in Masters history with 5 green jackets. His last win was in 2019.
What’s the lowest winning score at the Masters?
Dustin Johnson holds the record for the lowest score in the Masters. In 2020, he shot -20 and finished with a score of 268.
How does a playoff work at the Masters?
Golfers who are tied after 72 holes at the Masters play in a sudden-death playoff starting on the 18th hole. If no winner emerges, they play the 10th hole and bounce back and forth until there is a winner.