A new study has revealed who has earned the most money per shot at The Masters since its inception - and the golfer who tops the list might not be who you expect.
Using historical data provided by ESPN and Augusta.com, Bookmakers.com has analysed the results and earnings of every competitor from 1934 to 2021, and while most are household names, there are more than a few surprise rankings.
In fact, three of the top five have never actually managed to get their hands on a Green Jacket, with many recent champions not even featuring. But topping the pile after a magnificent debut in 2021 is Will Zalatoris.
The 25-year-old, making his first appearance at Augusta National, produced a display that belied his years and lack of experience to finish solo second, one shot behind eventual winner Hideki Matsuyama.
According to the research, Zalatoris earned $4,608.75 for every shot he hit last year on one of golf's most famous layouts, which is nearly $2,000 more than his nearest challenger. Not a bad week's work.
Elsewhere, Masters specialist Jordan Spieth features in third with $2,842.44 and five-time winner Tiger Woods rounds out the top five with $2,545.63. Inflation was accounted for before arriving at the final standings, but that still leaves the likes of six-time champion Jack Nicklaus and four-time champion Arnold Palmer absent from the list.
Here is a full rundown of the top-20 earners per stroke in Masters history:
- Will Zalatoris, $4,608.75
- Len Mattiace, $2,899.68
- Jordan Spieth, $2,842.44
- Sungjae Im, $2,546.65
- Tiger Woods, $2,545.63
- Jonas Blixt, $1,986.01
- Phil Mickelson, $1,793.35
- Dustin Johnson, $1,698.75
- Danny Willett, $1,656.80
- Xander Schauffele, $1.645.76
- Patrick Reed, $1,579.19
- Tommy Tolles, $1,544.34
- Bubba Watson, $1,490.88
- Chris DiMarco, $1,474.88
- Hideki Matsuyama, $1,403.65
- Retief Goosen, $1,364.55
- Thomas Pieters, $1,352.91
- Jon Rahm, $1,337.58
- Cameron Smith, $1,327.84
- David Duval, $1,296.99
In addition, the research also covers the top-10 champions' earnings per stroke, with Charl Schwartzel and Angel Cabrera joining the eight Green Jacket winners from the list above.
This year's Masters gets underway on April 7 and you can follow all the action as it happens through Golf Monthly's dedicated live text coverage.
-
Did You Know The Masters Leaderboard Was Inspired By Fenway Park?The Masters leaderboards are an iconic and historic part of the Augusta National Major, but did you know about its origins and how it operates today?
-
Why The 16th Pin Has Been Moved From Its Traditional Spot For The Masters Final RoundThe 16th pin at Augusta National is in an different position that normal for the final round of The Masters, but why is that?
-
Did You Know The Masters Leaderboard Was Inspired By Fenway Park?
The Masters leaderboards are an iconic and historic part of the Augusta National Major, but did you know about its origins and how it operates today?
-
Why The 16th Pin Has Been Moved From Its Traditional Spot For The Masters Final Round
The 16th pin at Augusta National is in an different position that normal for the final round of The Masters, but why is that?
-
Seve Ballesteros And Brooks Koepka Among The Big Names That Rory McIlroy Would Join As A Five-Time Major Winner With A Masters VictoryRory McIlroy leads The Masters going in to the final round and, if he were to win, he would join an illustrious list of five-time Major winners
-
Rory McIlroy Explains His Extraordinary Pre-Round Routine (And It's The Complete Opposite Of Most Amateurs)McIlroy shares what goes into his usual pre-round routine at tournaments and what his timetable looks like before arriving at the first tee
-
‘You Kinda Did It To Yourself’ – When Bryson DeChambeau Needled Rory McIlroy Over US Open BattleMonths after Bryson DeChambeau’s defeat of Rory McIlroy in the US Open, the two met in Las Vegas, where the LIV Golfer had a lightning-quick response to a humorous comment from his rival
-
Should It Be Mandatory For Pro Golfers To Speak To The Media After A Round?There seems to be a growing debate in the men's game as to whether pros should have to speak to the media after they've finished - our writers discuss...
-
How Many Playoffs Have There Been At The Masters?There have been plenty of thrilling conclusions at The Masters and, throughout its 89 editions, we have seen a total of 17 playoffs
-
What You Get For Finishing Second At The MastersFinishing runner-up at The Masters is sure to bring disappointment, but there are plenty of reasons for the player who misses out to be cheerful too – here are the details
