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Tiger Woods delivered the news that the golf world was waiting to hear on Tuesday, as he announced that he was planning to play in the 2022 Masters at Augusta National. A little over a year removed from his horrific car accident, it's nothing short of amazing that the 15-time major champion is gearing up to play competitive golf. After an impressive practice session, it's understandable that many are expecting a vintage-Woods performance. High expectations also follow the legendary golfer due to his track record of success, particularly at Augusta. Five of Woods' 15 majors have come at the Masters, with his first victory in 1997 and his most recent coming in 2019. Each win carries weight, given the legacy of the green jacket. That said, it's time to rank Woods' 5 wins at Augusta ahead of the 2022 Masters.
Ranking Tiger Woods' 5 Wins At Masters
2001 Masters
Woods won the Masters in 1997, then endured an eighth-place finish, 18th-place finish, and then a fifth-place finish in the following years leading up to 2001. Woods needed a strong performance at Augusta to quiet any doubters. A strong Woods performance is exactly what golf fans were treated to, as the star shot 16-under par while outdueling rivals Phil Mickelson and David Duval. Woods' 2001 Masters victory was special for another reason, as it allowed him to hold all four major titles at once, a feat now known as the ‘Tiger Slam.' Doubters were hard to find after this performance.
2002 Masters
This win was the opposite of his 2001 Masters victory. Coming off of a win, everyone was locked onto then-world no. 1 Woods as the favorite at Augusta. The tournament itself had a little bit of excitement, as play ended on Saturday with Woods and Retief Goosen tied. However, Woods put an end to any drama, taking control of play on Sunday, as he finished 12 under, with Goosen finishing a somewhat distant 9 under. In winning the 2002 Masters, Woods became the third man to defend his Masters title, joining Jack Nicklaus and Nick Faldo.
2005 Masters
In terms of drama, this victory ranks among the highest of Woods' Masters wins. With rain delaying play, Woods opened up with a subpar performance in the first round, as he ended two over par. From that point on, he put on a golf clinic, including four consecutive birdies on the back nine. Rival Chris DiMarco closed the gap and the two squared off on a classic 16th hole. Woods landed his tee shot off the green, but incredibly used the course to his advantage in sinking the 20-foot putt, now recognized as one of the greatest shots ever played at Augusta. The tournament eventually went to a playoff, with Woods emerging victorious on a birdie putt.
2019 Masters
In terms of drama, this victory is Woods' greatest at the Masters. Two years previously, Woods had began to wonder if his career was over. He battled back pain and an addiction to painkillers. There were many who doubted if he would ever slip on the green jacket again, especially 14 years after his most recent win. Woods shot a 65 at Augusta the week before the tournament, giving him confidence that he could not only compete, but win. Fast forward to the tournament. The final round featured plenty of drama, as six players shared the lead, including top rivals Dustin Johnson and Brooks Koepka. Woods fired a birdie on 15, then doubled his lead on the 16th hole. Needing a bogey to secure the green jacket, the star golfer finished strong. The 2019 Masters marked the first time that he had won a championship when trailing after 54 holes.
1997 Masters
In terms of overall performance, this is Woods' greatest win at the Masters. The legendary golfer finished with the largest margin of victory in tournament history, as he finished a whopping 12 strokes ahead of runner-up Tom Kite. Perhaps even more impressive is the fact that that Woods was 21 at the time, becoming the youngest player to secure a green jacket. Each of the previous Woods wins in this article are great for their own reasons. However, 1997 was when Woods announced his presence on the tour. 1997 was when Woods became Tiger.
