Youngest Masters winners: Where Scottie Scheffler would rank behind Tiger Woods, Jordan Spieth
Scottie Scheffler is looking to complete his first major win at the 2022 Masters, and he’s well-positioned to do so.
Scheffler, the No. 1-ranked golfer in the world, has held a commanding lead over the field since closing Friday’s round with a five-stroke advantage. His lead entering Sunday’s final round is three strokes.
Scheffler has a good chance to take home a green jacket. If he does, he will become one of the youngest to ever win at Augusta.
Just how old is Scottie Scheffler, and how does he compare to the youngest Masters winners? Here’s what to know about the tournament’s youngest victors, a list headlined by Tiger Woods and Jordan Spieth.
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Youngest golfers to win the Masters
Tiger Woods is the youngest player to win the Masters. He won in 1997 at 21 years, 3 months, 14 days in his first appearance as a professional at Augusta. Woods finished at 18 under par, which was a record at the time. His victory came after his lone missed cut at the event in 1996, when he competed as an amateur.
Jordan Spieth is the only other golfer to win the tournament at 21. He did it in 2015 when he matched Woods’ then-record score of 18 under. He was 21 years, 8 months old at the time of his victory.
Three golfers — Woods, Jack Nicklaus and Seve Ballesteros — account for six of the youngest Masters champions. Woods and Nicklaus each won twice before turning 26 while Ballesteros won his second Masters two days after turning 26.
The 10 youngest Masters champions prior to the 2022 tournament:
Golfer | Year | Age |
Tiger Woods | 1997 | 21 years, 3 months, 14 days |
Jordan Spieth | 2015 | 21 years, 8 months |
Seve Ballesteros | 1980 | 23 years, 4 days |
Jack Nicklaus | 1963 | 23 years, 2 months, 17 days |
Byron Nelson | 1937 | 25 years, 2 months |
Jack Nicklaus | 1965 | 25 years, 2 months, 21 days |
Tiger Woods | 2001 | 25 years, 3 months, 9 days |
Gary Player | 1961 | 25 years, 5 months, 9 days |
Horton Smith | 1934 | 25 years, 10 months, 3 days |
Seve Ballesteros | 1983 | 26 years, 2 days |
Scheffler would become one of the 10 youngest to win the Masters.
MORE: How Scottie Scheffler became the No. 1 golfer in the world
How old is Scottie Scheffler?
Scottie Scheffler will be 25 years, 9 months, 20 days old when the 2022 Masters Tournament concludes Sunday.
If Scheffler holds on and wins it, he will become the ninth-youngest winner of the event. It will mark the 10th time a golfer has won it before turning 26.
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How many majors has Scottie Scheffler won?
Scottie Scheffler came into the 2022 Masters having never won a major championship. He has been on the PGA Tour since 2018.
Scheffler had logged a top-10 finish in every major but the Masters prior to the 2022 event. His highest finish at the Masters was a tie for 18th in 2021. His best finish at a major was a tie for fourth at the 2020 PGA Championship.
A look at Scheffler’s best result at each major:
Tournament | Place | Year |
Masters Tournament | T-18th | 2021 |
PGA Championship | T-4th | 2020 |
U.S. Open | T-7th | 2021 |
British Open | T-8th | 2021 |