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The 4 Best Golfers In Masters History

Originally posted on Stadium Rant | By Matthew Adams | Last updated Dec 5, 2025 1:27 PM ET

The US Masters is the finest golf championship in the game. Many of the sport’s great players have played in and won at the Augusta Masters golf course and championship. These are the greatest golfers in the history of the Major championship.

Jack Nicklaus

Nicklaus is regarded by many to be the finest golfer to have played at Augusta. Indeed, his record in the major championships is the best of any player, with 18 majors won. Many of his major titles were won in the US Masters, where Nicklaus won six titles.

That included a period of dominance in the 1960s where Nicklaus won three titles in four seasons, including back-to-back titles in 1965 and ’66. Nicklaus won the 1965 Masters by a very clear nine-stroke margin, which only Woods has eclipsed. In 1986, Nicklaus won his final major at Augusta in his mid-40s. Then, he became the oldest player to win.

Tiger Woods

Woods won his first golfing major at the US Masters with a triumphant display in 1997. Then, Woods won by setting new records in the championship, including a lowest winning score (at the time) and margin. That was one of the finest golfing performances ever seen, only eclipsed in scoring terms by Dustin Johnson in 2020.

Further victories in the US Masters followed that dominant display, including back-to-back titles in 2001 and 2002. Woods won his fourth title in 2005. After his 11-year major drought, Woods won it again in 2019 after coming from behind. He has won five green jackets to date, but it looks unlikely he will win any more as he is currently too far down the PGA rankings to play in the tournament.

Nick Faldo

Faldo is perhaps the best European player to have played in the US Masters. He won back-to-back titles in 1989 and 1990, the only European player to do so. Then, in 1996, Faldo won a third Masters title after completing a fine comeback from behind Greg Norman to win by a five-stroke margin.

Arnold Palmer

Another of the great players of the US Masters was Palmer. Palmer won several majors, four of which were at Augusta National. Palmer won most of his titles in the early 1960s, winning three in five seasons. Indeed, he may have won more had it not been for Nicklaus, who began winning his titles around the same time. Palmer has returned to Augusta as an honorary starter for the event.

End of My Best Golfers in Masters History Rant

So, those are the best golfers in Masters history. They include such great players as Nicklaus, Woods, Faldo, and Palmer, who set records in that tournament and won many titles between them. Those players lit up Augusta National with some dazzling golfing displays.

This article first appeared on Stadium Rant and was syndicated with permission.

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