April 6, 2021
The Masters has come a long way since its inauguration in 1934. The attire, prize money, equipment, and layout have all changed over time. Nevertheless, one thing has remained consistent throughout the years – the top quality of golf on display. All the Masters’ champions over the years have some things in common. When you analyze the winners, they have several personal and performance statistics.
These players’ common attributes are their age, weight, driving distance, GIR percentage, and fairways hit percentage. So, what does one require to be a Masters Champion?
Youth and Athleticism
When you look at the champions of the past 25 years, you will discover that youth and athleticism have become advantageous. However, experience also remains critical. The statistics reveal that the majority of previous winners were aged between 25 and 39. The winners had also played professional golf for several years.
In the 25 years, only two players below 25 years have won at Augusta. Tiger Woods was the first to defy this statistic by winning in1997, and later in 2015, Jordan Spieth also won. The two both managed this achievement at the age of 21.
Experience
Despite many young golfers putting in excellent performances at the PGA tour, history suggests that the winner at Augusta will most likely be at least 25 years.
A lot of experience seems not to have a lot of weight. This claim is backed by the statistics which reveal that only two players aged 40 years and above have won the competition in the last 25 years. Mark O’Meara was the first in 1998 and later Woods in his latest victory in 2019.
Experience Playing At the Augusta
The Masters is the only major that is hosted at the same venue each year. Therefore, to be a Masters’ champion, you need some experience playing at the course. According to statistics, 18 of the previous 25 Masters Champions had previously played at the Augusta at least four times.
The course usually presents a unique test, and players need several attempts to get used to it before winning their first Green Jacket. However, just making an appearance at the Augusta is not enough. The player needs to have played well there to have a shot at the Masters. For example, 16 of the past 25 champions had already finished among the top five before finishing top.
Excellent Performance in the Previous Year’s Masters
According to history, players that performed well in the previous year’s masters usually have a better chance of winning. Since 1996, 19 out of the 25 players that triumphed at the Masters had made the cut at Augusta in the previous year. It is not critical that they were in contention as only six were coming off a top-five finish. However, they need to have made it through to the weekend.
World Ranking
History also suggests that a player’s world ranking plays a critical role. In the previous 25 years, 21 of the 25 winners were inside the top 30 in the world ranking when they won the Masters. As a matter of fact, the last seven winners were all inside the top 30 best players in the world. Therefore, it is clear that you have a better chance to be a Masters Champion if you are among the top 30.
Best Masters Finish
The historical statistics from previous Masters Champions suggest that to be a Masters champion, you must have recorded a top-five finish in that season. The numbers reveal that 21 out of the last 25 Masters champions had already recorded a top-five finish in the season they emerged winners.
Nationality
It is also interesting to note that since 1996, the Masters has been dominated by American players. The numbers reveal that 15 out of the 25 past winners were Americans. In the same period, no other nation has won the Masters more than twice.
The most challenging period for the Americans was between 2008 and 2017. During this time, only four American players won the Green Jacket. However, the Americans have taken back control of golf’s first major. They have won the last three Masters.
This shows that American players usually have a higher chance of winning the Masters than their contenders.
Final Thoughts
The factors discussed in this piece seem to be critical for a player to win the Green Jacket. It is also critical to highlight that there have been exceptions. For example, Zach Johnson (2007) and Angel Cabrera (2009) are exceptions to the criteria discussed here.
Nevertheless, there is a higher likelihood that future champions will fall into the categories mentioned in this meticulous article. After all, “numbers don’t lie,” they say!
