NEWS

How do Masters champions fare the rest of the year?

By Dan McDonald
Published on
How do Masters champions fare the rest of the year?

On Sunday, Patrick Reed fought off a charging field to capture his first major championship.

But what happens to the winners of the Masters? We took a look at what the road to the Masters historically was like for the eventual champion, but does a green jacket lead to success the remainder of the year? We took a look at how Masters champions performed after their big win over the past 31 years to try and find out.

Immediately following the Masters, winners tend to do fairly well at their next event. Only six have missed the cut and the average finish was 18th. But unless your name is Tiger or Phil, don’t put much hope in a top 5 finish. Only Tiger Woods in 1997 won the next event after Augusta (he also finished third following 2001 and 2002’s wins) and Phil Mickelson finished second in 2004 and 2010.

MORE: Develop your skills in order to trust your ability like Patrick Reed

When it comes to just the basics of making the cut, Masters champions made the cut for 86 percent of tournaments the remainder of the year. Nick Faldo (1989, 1990), Vijay Singh (2000), Tiger Woods (2001, 2002), Mike Weir (2003) and Adam Scott (2013) made 100 percent of the cuts the remainder of their championship years.

As for piling on more wins, however, Masters champions tend to fall short. They have averaged 0.8 additional wins after winning in Augusta. Seventeen of the 30 winners did not win another event that year. Tiger Woods holds the mark for most wins post-Masters with four wins in 2001. He also had three wins following the 2002 and 2005 green jackets. Only Jordan Spieth has matched that mark with three wins following his 2015 Masters championship.

When the standard of success is broadened out to top 25 finishes, Masters champions have a bit more success. They finished in the top 25 in 62 percent of the tournaments they played. And just to highlight how dominant Tiger Woods was during the time he was the defending Masters champion, he finished in the top 25 more than 90 percent of the time in both 2001 and 2002.

But of course, the most eyes are on the majors and if the Masters winner can find success at the U.S. Open, the Open Championship and the PGA Championship. Only five of the past 30 Masters champions have gone on to win another major that same year (Jordan Spieth, Tiger Woods - twice, Mark O’Meara, and Nick Faldo).

Only Jordan Spieth has won the U.S. Open following a Masters win and all other wins were at the Open Championship, where Masters winners have to have the best success. On average, Masters champions finish in 17th place, while they average about 23rd place at both the U.S. Open and PGA Championship.

Take a look at the data below to take a deeper dive into how Masters champions have fared the remainder of their championship year and take your best guess at how Sergio Garcia might perform the rest of 2017.

 

Year Player Next event Cut Made % Wins Top 25 Percentage US Open Open Champ PGA
2017 Sergio Garcia T30 88.24% 1 58.82% T21 T37 CUT
2016 Danny Willett CUT 75.00% 0 31.25% 37 53 79
2015 Jordan Spieth 11 81.25% 3 75.00% WIN 4 2
2014 Bubba Watson 48 84.62% 1 38.46% CUT CUT 64
2013 Adam Scott 19 100.00% 1 63.64% 45 3 5
2012 Bubba Watson 18 75.00% 0 66.67% CUT 23 11
2011 Charl Schwartzel 11 93.33% 0 73.33% 9 16 12
2010 Phil Mickelson 2 80.00% 0 53.33% 4 48 12
2009 Angel Cabrera CUT 66.67% 0 46.67% 54 24 63
2008 Trevor Immelman CUT 69.23% 0 30.77% 65 19 CUT
2007 Zach Johnson 6 80.00% 1 46.67% 45 20 CUT
2006 Phil Mickelson 15 90.00% 0 60.00% 2 22 16
2005 Tiger Woods 11 84.62% 3 76.92% 2 WIN 4
2004 Phil Mickelson 2 78.57% 0 50.00% 2 3 6
2003 Mike Weir 18 100.00% 0 75.00% 3 28 7
2002 Tiger Woods 3 100.00% 4 90.91% 28 WIN 2
2001 Tiger Woods 3 100.00% 3 91.67% 12 25 29
2000 Vijay Singh 3 100.00% 0 64.29% 3 28 7
1999 Jose Maria Olazabal CUT 64.71% 0 29.41% WD CUT CUT
1998 Mark O'Meara 24 85.71% 1 64.29% 32 WIN 4
1997 Tiger Woods WIN 92.86% 2 57.14% 19 24 29
1996 Nick Faldo 29 92.31% 0 61.54% 16 4 65
1995 Ben Crenshaw 59 66.67% 0 25.00% 71 15 44
1994 Jose Maria Olazabal 34 89.47% 2 73.68% CUT 38 7
1993 Bernhard Langer 16 86.67% 2 80.00% CUT 3 CUT
1992 Fred Couples 59 80.00% 0 66.67% 17 CUT 21
1991 Ian Woosnam CUT 92.31% 1 76.92% 55 17 48
1990 Nick Faldo 16 100.00% 1 75.00% 3 WIN 19
1989 Nick Faldo 11 100.00% 0 88.89% 18 11 9
1988 Sandy Lyle 13 80.00% 0 60.00% 25 7 DNP
1987 Larry Mize CUT 81.25% 0 68.75% 4 26 CUT

​