Masters: Experience to win at Augusta National not always necessary

It takes a golfer an average of 6.23 starts before he wins his first green jacket. For multiple winners, the second one comes in the 10th try (9.8 starts).

For the eight who have won three Masters, they slip on the green jacket a third time around their 12th start (12.5).

For the trio of golfers who have won four Masters, however, it took an average of 11.667 years. The fifth green jacket comes in the 19th start, while Jack Nicklaus won his sixth title in his 28th start.

““I think it takes awhile for to you get comfortable on this golf course and the surroundings. But I have, I've got that comfort level now and it took maybe five or six years to get to that point,” Rory McIlroy said last year before his 11th Masters appearance.

Does it really take six years?

In a word: no. Most Masters champions have actually earned the green jacket in their first five starts. From first-timers like Fuzzy Zoeller to third-time winner Tiger Woods, a majority of winners take less than six years.

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Of the 52 people to win a Masters crown, 28 won the tournament in their first five starts.

Winners in their second start include Jimmy Demaret, Charl Schwartzel, Jordan Spieth and Danny Willett. But don’t expect that list to grow in 2020. The only second-time players in this year’s field who made the cut in their first Masters are Justin Harding and Andrew Landry.

Third-start winners include Woods -- but his first a professional -- and Byron Nelson. Hoping to join that group are Xander Schauffele, who tied for second last year and Tony Finau, who has finished in the top 10 in both of his first two starts.

Four starts is the most frequent number of attempts for a player to win a green jacket. Arnold Palmer, Art Wall Jr., Tom Watson, Seve Ballesteros, Larry Mize, Ian Woosnam, Mike Weir, Bubba Watson and Patrick Reed are in this group.

Photos: Tuesday Masters Practice

Bryson DeChambeau and Jon Rahm could be the 10th player to join that club, and they tee off together at 7:33 Thursday morning on the second nine.

So is sooner really better?

While the list of early winners is broad, some of the biggest names in Masters history had to exercise some patience to slip on a green jacket.

Jack Nicklaus and Gary Player each won in their fifth start. Nick Faldo won in his sixth start. And Phil Mickelson won in his 12th try. They have 15 victories at Augusta National Golf Club among them.

Leaderboards:  All Masters winners and hole-by-hole scores

It is the fifth attempt for Brooks Koepka and Justin Thomas this week. Dustin Johnson and Rickie Fowler are each starting their 10th Masters. McIlroy is trying to complete the career grand slam in his 12th Masters start.

Mark O’Meara won his first Masters in his 14th and followed up with a British Open win that same year.

Sergio Garcia holds the record for most attempts before winning at 19. A record that Lee Westwood would love to emulate as he tees off on No. 1 at 7:33 a.m Thursday.