Masters Top Finishes: Most Top 5s, Top 10s, Top 25s in Career
You won't be surprised to learn that the record-holder in each category is Jack Nicklaus. Nicklaus holds the Masters tournament records for most Top 5s, most Top 10s and most Top 25s. Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson both appear on the lists, too, but given that they are 50ish now, and, in Woods' case, battling injuries, they are very unlikely to catch Nicklaus. In fact, Nicklaus' records for best Masters finishes (he also has the most wins, 6) seem secure for the forseeable future.
Most Top 5 Finishes in The Masters
15 — Jack Nicklaus12 — Phil Mickelson
12 — Tiger Woods
9 — Ben Hogan
9 — Tom Kite
9 — Arnold Palmer
9 — Sam Snead
9 — Tom Watson
Nicklaus' first Top 5 finish was in the 1963 Masters, which he won. His last was in the 1986 Masters ... which he won. He was 23 years old at the time of his first, 46 years old at the time of his last.
Woods moved ahead of Mickelson in career Top 5s at The Masters by winning the 2019 Masters. But Mickelson tied Woods again by finishing second in the 2023 Masters at age 52. Tom Kite appears on the list yet never won the tournament.
Most Top 10 Finishes in The Masters
22 — Jack Nicklaus17 — Ben Hogan
16 — Phil Mickelson
15 — Gary Player
15 — Sam Snead
15 — Tom Watson
14 — Byron Nelson
14 — Tiger Woods
Nicklaus' first Top 10 was in the 1961 Masters, when he tied for seventh place at age 21. He wasn't the low amateur, though: amateur Charlie Coe tied for second. And Jack's last Top 10 in the Masters didn't happen until 1996, when he tied for sixth at age 56.
Most Top 25 Finishes in The Masters
29 — Jack Nicklaus26 — Sam Snead
22 — Gary Player
22 — Raymond Floyd
21 — Ben Hogan
21 — Phil Mickelson
20 — Byron Nelson
20 — Tom Watson
20 — Fred Couples
Just as with the Top 10 category, Nicklaus' last Top 25 was at the 1996 Masters. His first was in 1960, when he did win low amateur honors by tying for 13th place.
