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Augusta keeps denying world number ones a green jacket

Tiger Woods on the course. (Keith Allison/Flickr - CC BY-SA 2.0)
Expert
8th April, 2015
5

In the 28 years since the first official world rankings were released on April 26, 1986, Tiger Woods is the only incumbent world number one to win the US Masters.

But since he won it back-to-back in 2001 and 2002, the Augusta National has token its toll.

So apart from taking on a world-class field, Rory McIlroy has that extra mountain to climb starting early tomorrow morning AEST if he is to win his first green jacket and complete his career Grand Slam of majors to join his 2011 US Open, the 2014 British Open and the USPGA in 2012 and 2014.

Only five in the history of the sport have achieved the feat.

Gene Sarazen (born 1902) was first cab off the rank. He was 33 when he secured his full house.

Ben Hogan (born 1912) was 41, Gary Player (born 1935) was 33, Jack Nicklaus (born 1940) was 26, and Woods (born 1975) was 25.

McIlroy, at 25, will equal Woods if he can win this week.

But this list shows just how hard it will be for McIlroy to win.

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1987 – Larry Mize, ranked 35 in the world, won by holing a miracle 140 foot chip in a play-off with Greg Norman and Seve Ballesteros. Norman was the reigning world number one.

1988 – Sandy Lyle, ranked three,was successful – again Norman was number one, finishing fifth.

1989 – Nick Faldo won, ranked five – Ballesterous was number one, fnishing fifth.

1990 – Faldo won again, ranked sixth – Norman was number one, but missed the cut.

1991 – Ian Woosnam won, ranked three – Faldo was number one, finishing 12th.

1992 – Freddie Couples won, ranked two – Faldo was number one, finishing 15th.

1993 – Bernhard Langer won, ranked three – Faldo was again number one. finishing 39th.

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1994 – Jose Maria Olazabal won, ranked five – Norman was again number one, finishing 18th.

1995 – Ben Crenshaw won, ranked 21 – Nick Price was number one, but missed the cut.

1996 – Faldo won his third Masters, ranked six – Norman was number one, having led Faldo by six shots after 54 holes, to lose by five, an 11-shot swing, but still finished second.

1997 – Woods won, ranked two – Norman was number one, but missed the cut.

1998 – Mark O’Meara won, ranked four – Woods was number one, finishing eighth.

1999 – Olazabal won a second Masters, ranked 26 – David Duval was number one to finish sixth.

2000 – Vijay Singh won, ranked nine – Woods was number one, finishing fifth.

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2001 – Woods won and was number one as well.

2002 – Woods won again, and again number one.

2003 – Mike Weir won, ranked five – Woods was still number one, finishing 15th.

2004 – Phil Mickelson won, ranked five – Woods was number one, finishing 22nd.

2005 – Woods won, ranked two – Singh was number one, finishing fifth.

2006 – Mickelson won, ranked three – Woods was number one, finishing third.

2007 – Zach Johnson won, ranked 56 – Woods was number one, finishing second.

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2008 – Trevor Immelman won, ranked 25 – Woods was number one, finishing second.

2009 – Angel Cabrera won, ranked 69 – Woods number one, finishing sixth.

2010 – Mickelson won a third Masters, ranked four – Woods number one, finishing fourth.

2011 – Charl Schwartzel won, ranked nine – Martin Kaymer was number one, but missed the cut.

2012 – Bubba Watson won, ranked eight – Luke Donald was number one, finishing 32nd.

2013 – Adam Scott won, ranked two – Woods number one, finishing fourth.

And 2014 – Watson’s second Masters, ranked four – Woods was number one, but did not play.

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There have been 17 world number ones since 1986, but only two – Lee Westwood and Luke Donald – have never won a major of any description.

Westwood played 67 majors with his best results four seconds among 17 top-ten finishes. Donald played 47 majors with two thirds of his best results in eight top-ten finishes.

Spaniards Sergio Garcia and Miguel Ángel Jiménez are two very well credentialed major contenders, yet to win one.

Garcia’s played in 64 majors, with four seconds on his CV amog 19 top 10s.

The 51-year-old Jiminez has played in 62 majors, with one second among his nine top 10s.

The ones to watch, apart from McIlroy, are Jason Day, Jordan Spieth, Jimmy Walker and Rickie Fowler.

Day already has three second-placed finishes in just 16 majors, with seven top tens.

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The 21-year-old Spieth finished second in last year’s Masters, having competed in eight majors.

Walker, a late bloomer at 36, but leads the FedExCup, and last year the 25-year-old Fowler was the only golfer who finished top five in all four majors.

Even if you could fit all the multiple permutations into the one frame, be rest assured Augusta National will have the last say.

So buckle up Roarers for the biggest and most exciting sporting event in the world this week.

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