There are myriad ways to look at who has played Augusta National and the Masters well recently. I wanted to look at three distinct barometers: Cuts made, total score and round average.
The data I looked at goes back to 2005, the last time Tiger Woods won this tournament. In that time, Woods has, by most measures, been the most consistent golfer at this tournament, but he also hasn’t played as much as his generational counterpart, Phil Mickelson.
Let’s look at cuts made first.
Most cuts made (min. 5 tournaments)
- Tiger Woods: 100 percent (10 played)
- Justin Rose: 100 percent (9)
- Bubba Watson: 100 percent (8)
- Geoff Ogilvy: 100 percent (8)
- Matt Kuchar: 100 percent (7)
- Nick Watney: 100 percent (7)
- Bill Haas: 100 percent (7)
- Stephen Ames: 100 percent (5)
Adam Scott and Ian Poulter have both only missed one in 12 and 11 tournaments played. Rory McIlroy is seven for eight. Miguel Angel Jimenez is nine for 10. Dustin Johnson is six for seven. So that’s an impressive list. Phil Mickelson, Lee Westwood and Angel Cabrera are all 10 for 12.
Best average score (min. 10 rounds)
- Jordan Spieth: 69.9
- Tiger Woods: 70.7
- Anthony Kim: 70.8
- Phil Mickelson: 71.4
- Kenny Perry: 71.4
- Justin Rose: 71.7
Kim! Perry! I know what I’ve seen from Jordan Spieth the past three years, but it’s still stunning to see in print that the man is averaging a sub-70 round at this event. Even more stunning? That Woods and Mickelson have played a combined 84 rounds here and are both within striking distance of Spieth.
Most under par (min. 10 rounds)
- Tiger Woods: 52 under
- Phil Mickelson: 28 under
- Jordan Spieth: 25 under
- Anthony Kim: 12 under
- Justin Rose: 10 under
This is essentially the same list as above. I just wanted everyone to see Woods’ absurdity.
Most Top 10s
- Tiger Woods: 8
- Phil Mickelson: 7
- Lee Westwood: 5
- Angel Cabrera: 4
- Justin Rose: 4
There are about 15 guys with three including Jordan Spieth, Rory McIlroy and Jason Day.
Best average finish (min. three cuts made)
- Jordan Spieth: 1.7
- Tiger Woods: 8.3
- Jerry Kelly: 12.3
- Jason Day: 12.6
- Retief Goosen: 12.6
- Phil Mickelson: 13.2
- Justin Rose: 14.6
- Paul Casey: 14.8
This average finish only includes the years where golfers made the cut. How about Kelly!
Rose and Casey are two of my favorites for this season, and the data seems to confirm that those are wise choices. Anything can happen, of course, but this paints a better picture of who has been great on this course over the last decade plus.