AUGUSTA, GA. — Finishing in the top 10 of the Masters is an impressive accomplishment no matter the year. After all, Augusta National Golf Club isn’t for the faint of heart.
But to do so in four different decades? That’s a testament to a player’s longevity and ability to navigate Alister MacKenzie’s masterpiece among the Georgia pines.
Stats guru Justin Ray from the Twenty First Group was first to point out that Phil Mickelson had a shot to join the exclusive group of players with a top 10 this week, and Sunday afternoon he did just that.
Mickelson, who missed last year’s event after his controversial statements and move to LIV Golf, shot a 7-under 65 during the final round of the 2023 Masters to shoot up the leaderboard into a tie for second place with Brooks Koepka. A three-time winner of the green jacket (2004, 2006, 2010), Lefty has now finished inside the top 10 a whopping 15 times in more than 30 appearances at Augusta National.
Here’s the impressive list of other players to finish top 10 at the Masters in four different decades.
Ben Hogan
Hogan, a two-time Masters winner in 1951 and 1953, made his first start at Augusta National in 1938 and his last in 1967. Between the two, he finished inside the top 10 a total of 17 times over 25 appearances.
Sam Snead
Of course the Slammer is on this list.
Snead was a perennial winner on the PGA Tour and claimed the Masters three times in 1949, 1952 and 1954. Snead played at Augusta National for six decades from 1937 to 1983, with his last made cut coming in 1974 (T-20).
Gary Player
Now an honorary starter at the Masters, Player has won the green jacket on three occasions in 1961, 1974 and 1978. He last competed in 2009 and made his final cut in 1998, but in his prime in the 1960s he finished inside the top 10 eight times.
Jack Nicklaus
A fellow starter alongside player, Nicklaus holds the record for most Masters titles with six, and also boasts four runner-up finishes. The Golden Bear made his first appearance at Augusta National in 1959 and his last as a competitor in 2005.
Raymond Floyd
Floyd won the Masters just once in 1976 but was constantly in the mix when he made the trip down Magnolia Lane, finishing inside the top 10 a total of 11 times, including a trio of runner-up finishes in 1985, 1990 and 1992.
Bernhard Langer
Langer has made a name for himself as a prolific winner on the PGA Tour Champions and has a pair of Masters titles as well (1985, 1993). While he hasn’t made the cut since 2020, Langer has missed the Masters just twice since his first appearance in 1982. He missed the cut this year after rounds of 75-74.
Fred Couples
Boom Boom made history at this year’s Masters as the oldest player to ever make the cut before a T-50 finish. Couples made his first appearance in 1983 and earned his first top 10 a year later.
