The Masters Tournament is a major championship in professional golf that is held at the same location every year- Augusta National Golf Club, Georgia. The Masters Tournament for 2024 has a small field with 7,555 yards. Getting an invitation to the Masters tournament is a reason for celebration for golfers. History remembers a few players who have cracked the tournament in their debut. The last time a golfer won the Masters tournament in his first go was in 1979, around 45 years back.

Has anyone won the Masters on their debut?

Horton Smith, Gene Sarazen, and Fuzzy Zoeller are the only 3 golfers who have won the Masters in their first appearance.

Horton Smith

American golfer Horton Smith was the winner of the first edition of the Masters, held in 1934. Horton Smith won the tournament with an overall score of -4 against Craig Wood of America. At that time, the winner's share was $1,500. Horton Smith won the Masters twice in his career. The second victory came in 1936 by defeating Harry Cooper of England with an overall score of -3. Smith had already won 17 pro tournaments before winning the Masters for the first time.

Gene Sarazen

American golfer Gene Sarazen was the second golfer to win the Masters in his first appearance. In the second edition of the Masters in 1934, Sarazen scored a double eagle during the third round and won the tournament. Sarazen scored an overall score of -6 and defeated American golfer Craig Wood. Craig Wood was the runner-up in the first edition as well. However, Sarazen won the Masters only once in his entire life but he won 48 tournaments throughout his career.

Fuzzy Zoeller

Fuzzy Zoeller of America is the most recent winner of the Masters in his first appearance. Zoeller won his first Masters in 1979 by defeating Ed Sneed and Tom Watson by finishing at -8. Fuzzy Zoeller turned professional in 1973 and won 19 professional tournaments in his life.

Who has won the maximum number of Masters tournaments?

Jack Nicklaus has won the most number of Masters with six victories to his name between 1963 and 1986. He won five PGA Championships and four US Opens in addition to the Masters. He began his professional career in 1961 and has won 117 events in total.

Tiger Woods won the Masters five times between 1997 and 2019, followed by Arnold Palmer, who has won 4 as of April 2024 Golfers like Jimmy Demaret, Gary Player, Sam Snead, Nick Faldo, and Phil Mickelson have won the championship three times.

The Masters’ winner list since inception

• 2023: Jon Rahm

• 2022: Scottie Scheffler

• 2021: Hideki Matsuyama

• 2020: Dustin Johnson

• 2019: Tiger Woods

• 2018: Patrick Reed

• 2017: Sergio García

• 2016: Danny Willett

• 2015: Jordan Spieth

• 2014: Bubba Watson

• 2013: Adam Scott

• 2012: Bubba Watson

• 2011: Charl Schwartzel

• 2010: Phil Mickelson

• 2009: Ángel 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

• 1999: José María Olazábal

• 1998: Mark O'Meara

• 1997: Tiger Woods

• 1996: Nick Faldo

• 1995: Ben Crenshaw

• 1994: José María Olazábal

• 1993: Bernhard Langer

• 1992: Fred Couples

• 1991: Ian Woosnam

• 1990: Nick Faldo

• 1989: Nick Faldo

• 1988: Sandy Lyle

• 1987: Larry Mize

• 1986: Jack Nicklaus

• 1985: Bernhard Langer

• 1984: Ben Crenshaw

• 1983: Seve Ballesteros

• 1982: Craig Stadler

• 1981: Tom Watson

• 1980: Seve Ballesteros

• 1979: Fuzzy Zoeller

• 1978: Gary Player

• 1977: Tom Watson

• 1976: Raymond Floyd

• 1975: Jack Nicklaus

• 1974: Gary Player

• 1973: Tommy Aaron

• 1972: Jack Nicklaus

• 1971: Charles Coody

• 1970: Billy Casper

• 1969: George Archer

• 1968: Bob Goalby

• 1967: Gay Brewer

• 1966: Jack Nicklaus

• 1965: Jack Nicklaus

• 1964: Arnold Palmer

• 1963: Jack Nicklaus

• 1962: Arnold Palmer

• 1961: Gary Player

• 1960: Arnold Palmer

• 1959: Art Wall Jr.

• 1958: Arnold Palmer

• 1957: Doug Ford

• 1956: Jack Burke Jr.

• 1955: Cary Middlecoff

• 1954: Sam Snead

• 1953: Ben Hogan

• 1952: Sam Snead

• 1951: Ben Hogan

• 1950: Jimmy Demaret

• 1949: Sam Snead

• 1948: Claude Harmon

• 1947: Jimmy Demaret

• 1946: Herman Keiser

• 1942: Byron Nelson

• 1941: Craig Wood

• 1940: Jimmy Demaret

• 1939: Ralph Guldahl

• 1938: Henry Picard

• 1937: Byron Nelson

• 1936: Horton Smith

• 1935: Gene Sarazen

• 1934: Horton Smith