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Masters Winners by Decade (1934–2025)

The Masters Tournament has been held at Augusta National Golf Club every April since 1934 — except for 1943–1945 when the course was used for wartime cattle and turkey farming. Nine decades of champions reflect the evolution of professional golf, from the Depression-era pioneers of the 1930s to the modern power game of the 2020s. Below is a complete decade-by-decade breakdown.

1930s Masters Champions (1934–1939)

The inaugural decade: Bobby Jones and Clifford Roberts launched the tournament in 1934. American players dominated, and scoring was significantly higher than modern standards due to equipment and course conditions.

Decade summary: 6 Masters played, 5 different champions (Smith won twice). All American winners. Gene Sarazen's 1935 double-eagle — the "shot heard 'round the world" — remains one of golf's most famous moments.

1940s Masters Champions (1940–1949)

The decade was interrupted by World War II. Only 7 tournaments were held (1943–1945 skipped). Post-war champions included Sam Snead beginning his Masters dominance.

Decade summary: 7 Masters played. Jimmy Demaret won twice. War years paused the tournament 1943–45. Claude Harmon's win as the club pro remains one of Augusta's most unique stories.

1950s Masters Champions (1950–1959)

Ben Hogan's peak years. Sam Snead won two more Masters. The decade ended with Arnold Palmer beginning his Augusta dominance.

Decade summary: 10 Masters played. Ben Hogan won twice; Sam Snead won twice more (total 3). Hogan's 1953 Masters was part of his legendary triple-major year — considered by historians as one of the greatest single seasons in golf history.

1960s Masters Champions (1960–1969)

The golden era of Palmer vs. Nicklaus. Jack Nicklaus won three Masters titles, Arnold Palmer two. Gary Player took the 1961 title, making it a decade defined by "The Big Three."

Decade summary: Nicklaus 3 wins, Palmer 3 wins, Player 1 win. The 1960s were defined by "The Big Three" era. The 1968 De Vicenzo scorecard scandal remains one of golf's most heartbreaking moments.

1970s Masters Champions (1970–1979)

Nicklaus won three more Masters. Gary Player claimed two more titles. International players began to emerge at Augusta alongside American dominance.

Decade summary: Nicklaus 3 wins, Player 2 wins, Watson 1 win. The '70s saw international players win 3 of 10 Masters. Fuzzy Zoeller's 1979 debut win remains one of Augusta's remarkable stories.

1980s Masters Champions (1980–1989)

The decade of Nicklaus's miraculous 1986 win and the emergence of European champions. Seve Ballesteros won twice; Nick Faldo won in 1989 to start his Augusta dominance.

Decade summary: The 1980s were Augusta's most dramatic decade. Nicklaus's 1986 miracle, Mize's chip, Sandy Lyle's bunker shot, Faldo's playoff mastery — 5 of the 10 winners came from outside the USA. Ballesteros (2), Langer, Lyle, and Faldo announced European golf had arrived at Augusta.

1990s Masters Champions (1990–1999)

Nick Faldo won twice more; Spanish players dominated mid-decade. The decade closed with Tiger Woods' historic 1997 debut and the start of a new era.

Decade summary: Faldo 3 wins, Olazábal 2 wins, Tiger's seismic 1997 debut. The 1990s saw 6 non-American champions in 10 editions. Ben Crenshaw's emotional 1995 win and Tiger's 1997 coronation bookend one of Augusta's most compelling decades.

2000s Masters Champions (2000–2009)

Tiger Woods dominated early, Phil Mickelson won twice, and the decade ended with a diverse array of international champions taking the green jacket.

Decade summary: Tiger 3 wins, Mickelson 2 wins. First Canadian (Weir, 2003) and first South American (Cabrera, 2009) champions. Tiger's 2005 chip-in on 16 is one of Augusta's most replayed moments.

2010s Masters Champions (2010–2019)

Phil Mickelson's third title, Bubba Watson's two exciting wins, Tiger's dramatic return in 2019. Diverse champions from across the globe.

Decade summary: Tiger 1 win, Watson 2 wins, Mickelson 1 win, Spieth 1 win. Tiger's 2019 comeback win is widely called one of sport's greatest moments. Sergio García's 2017 win ended golf's longest-running "will he ever win a major?" narrative.

2020s Masters Champions (2020–present)

A decade of records and milestones — DJ's scoring record, Japan's first major winner, Scottie Scheffler's dominance, and Rory McIlroy finally completing his Career Grand Slam.

Decade summary (so far): Scheffler 2 wins, multiple first-ever milestones. Matsuyama became Japan's first major champion. McIlroy completed golf's most-anticipated Career Grand Slam. 2026 Masters winner TBD.

Decade-by-Decade Summary

Frequently Asked Questions

Who dominated the Masters in the 1960s?

Jack Nicklaus (1963, 1965, 1966) and Arnold Palmer (1960, 1962, 1964) split the 1960s Masters between them — together accounting for 6 of the decade's 10 titles. Gary Player won in 1961, completing the "Big Three" sweep of the decade. The '60s Masters defined what became the most famous rivalry in golf history.

What decade had the most international winners at the Masters?

The 1980s saw the highest concentration of international Masters champions: Seve Ballesteros of Spain (1980, 1983), Bernhard Langer of Germany (1985), Sandy Lyle of Scotland (1988), and Nick Faldo of England (1989) — 5 of 10 Masters won by non-Americans. The European "class" of the 1980s fundamentally changed Augusta's character as an international event.

Who won the most Masters in a single decade?

Three players share the record of 3 Masters wins in a single decade: Jack Nicklaus in the 1960s (1963, 1965, 1966), Nick Faldo in the 1990s (1990, 1996, plus he also won in 1989), and Tiger Woods in the 2000s (2001, 2002, 2005). Nicklaus also won 3 in the 1970s (1972, 1975, plus 1986 spanned the mid-decade).

Related Pages

• All Masters Tournament Champions (Complete Table)
• Masters Tournament Records
• Masters Scoring Records
• Who Has Won the Most Masters Titles?
• Youngest Masters Winners
• Career Grand Slam in Golf
• Back-to-Back Masters Champions
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