The Masters Tournament is arguably the most coveted golf tournament in the world, with the green jacket on the line every year at Augusta National Golf Club in Georgia.
For some of the greats in golf history, winning at Augusta National came easily. Tiger Woods, Jack Nicklaus and Arnold Palmer won three Masters titles in their first eight appearances, respectively. Scottie Scheffler has two wins in his first six Masters starts.
For some Masters champions, though, their journey to a green jacket is one of pain and toil -- but it's all worth it in the end.
Sergio Garcia (2017) holds the record for the Masters champion who needed the most tournament starts before winning the green jacket, doing so in his 19th appearance. Rory McIlroy (2025) won in his 17th appearance, with the second-longest wait.
Interestingly enough, Justin Rose lost to both of these players in Masters sudden-death playoffs to determine the title. Rose is making his 21st Masters start in 2026.
Jack Nicklaus is the oldest Masters champion, winning at the age of 46 in 1986. That was his 28th appearance in the Masters. There are only three other Masters champions who won a green jacket after their 19th attempt: Gary Player in his 21st appearance in 1978, Ben Crenshaw in his 24th appearance in 1995, Tiger Woods in his 22nd appearance in 2019
