You know that feeling when the azaleas start blooming and the world suddenly cares about a green jacket? It’s basically the unofficial start of spring for anyone who owns a set of clubs—or just likes watching people crumble under pressure on the 12th hole. Looking back at the last ten masters winners, it’s wild to see how much the game has shifted. We've gone from the "Big Cat" completing the greatest comeback in sports history to a new era where guys like Scottie Scheffler make the hardest course in the world look like a local muni.
Honestly, the list is a mix of "finally!" moments and "where did that come from?" shockers. From 2016 to 2025, Augusta National hasn't just crowned champions; it’s basically written a decade-long soap opera.
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The Most Recent Glory: 2025 and 2024
Let’s talk about 2025 first because, man, it was a long time coming. Rory McIlroy finally did it. After 17 tries and years of "will he or won't he" chatter, he slipped on the Green Jacket in April 2025. It wasn't easy, though. He had to take Justin Rose to a playoff after finishing at 11-under. Seeing Rory crumble to his knees on the 18th after sinking that winning putt? That's the stuff that makes the Masters special. He’s now the sixth golfer ever to bag the career Grand Slam, joining the likes of Nicklaus and Woods.
Then you have Scottie Scheffler in 2024. The guy is a machine. He won his second jacket in three years with a cool 11-under 277. While everyone else was losing their minds on the back nine, Scottie just kept hitting fairways and greens. He finished four shots clear of Ludvig Åberg, who, let’s be real, had a heck of a debut. Scheffler’s dominance lately is sorta scary—he makes winning the hardest tournament in golf look like a Sunday stroll.
2023 to 2021: Global Dominance
In 2023, Jon Rahm proved why he’s one of the toughest players out there. It was a weird year with rain delays and trees literally falling over. Rahm had to play 30 holes on Sunday. Talk about a grind. He trailed Brooks Koepka by two entering the final round but stayed patient while Koepka faltered. Rahm’s 69 on Sunday secured a four-shot victory on what would have been Seve Ballesteros’ 66th birthday. The symmetry was perfect.
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Scottie Scheffler (yeah, him again) took his first title in 2022. He was the World No. 1 and played like it, even with a weird four-putt on the final hole when he already had the win locked up. It didn't matter. He was relentless.
And who could forget 2021? Hideki Matsuyama made history as Japan’s first male major champion. He carried the weight of an entire nation on his shoulders and held off a charging Will Zalatoris. Watching his caddie, Shota Hayafuji, bow to the course after the final hole remains one of the most respectful and iconic images in Masters history.
The Pandemic Era and the Greatest Comeback
2020 was... different. Because of the pandemic, the Masters moved to November. No fans. No roars. Just Dustin Johnson absolutely dismantling the course. He finished at 20-under par, a tournament record. It was weird seeing Augusta in autumn colors, but DJ’s golf was pure. He didn't just win; he dominated.
But 2019? That’s the one everyone talks about. Tiger Woods.
Most people thought he was done. His back was fused, he’d gone years without a major, and the young guns were supposedly too fast for him. But on that Sunday, as Francesco Molinari and others found the water at Rae's Creek, Tiger just... lurked. When he tapped in for bogey to win by one, the "Tiger Roar" returned. It was easily the most emotional win among the last ten masters winners.
2018 to 2016: Gritty Wins and Heartbreak
Patrick Reed (2018) isn't exactly the most popular guy on tour, but you’ve gotta respect the grit. He held off Rickie Fowler and a charging Jordan Spieth, who shot a ridiculous 64 on Sunday. Reed's par save on 18 to win by one was ice-cold.
In 2017, we finally saw Sergio Garcia get the monkey off his back. 74th major start. He beat Justin Rose in a playoff on the first extra hole. For a guy who once said he didn't have what it takes to win a major, that 12-foot birdie putt must have felt like a mile.
And then there’s 2016. The year Danny Willett won, but most people remember it as the year Jordan Spieth lost. Spieth had a five-shot lead going into the back nine. Then the 12th hole happened. Quadruple bogey. Two balls in the water. Willett played a flawless, bogey-free 67 to take advantage, but the image of Spieth putting the jacket on Willett was haunting.
The Full List of Winners (2016–2025)
- 2025: Rory McIlroy (-11, Playoff)
- 2024: Scottie Scheffler (-11)
- 2023: Jon Rahm (-12)
- 2022: Scottie Scheffler (-10)
- 2021: Hideki Matsuyama (-10)
- 2020: Dustin Johnson (-20)
- 2019: Tiger Woods (-13)
- 2018: Patrick Reed (-15)
- 2017: Sergio Garcia (-9, Playoff)
- 2016: Danny Willett (-5)
What We've Learned from the Last Decade
Augusta National is a beast that doesn't care about your resume. You can be the best in the world (Scheffler) or a guy waiting for his moment (Garcia), but you have to survive the back nine on Sunday. One bad swing at the 12th or a chunked chip at the 15th can end a career dream in seconds.
The shift toward power is obvious—look at DJ and Rahm—but touch still matters. If you can't putt on those lightning-fast greens, you’re toast. Also, experience is huge. It took Rory 17 tries. It took Sergio 74 majors.
If you're looking to improve your own game by watching these pros, focus on their decision-making. Scheffler won in 2024 specifically because he chose to play "away" from the water on 11 and 12 when he was under pressure. Sometimes, a smart bogey is better than a greedy double.
To really get the most out of watching the next Masters, pay attention to the pin placements on Sunday. They haven't changed much in decades. The "Sunday Pins" are designed to bait players into mistakes. If you want to play like a champion, learn when to aim for the middle of the green instead of the flag. That’s how the last ten masters winners survived the gauntlet.