What is the largest margin of victory at the Masters?

The largest margin of victory at the Masters is 12 strokes. Tiger Woods set the record in 1997, winning his first Masters at Augusta National by 12 shots over Tom Kite.

Woods finished the tournament at 18-under-par, a record-setting score at the time. He opened with a 70, followed it with rounds of 66 and 65, and closed with a 69 for a total of 270. His 12-stroke margin surpassed the previous Masters record of nine strokes, set by Jack Nicklaus in 1965.

The victory was a landmark moment in golf. Woods was only 21 years old, making him the youngest Masters champion, and his performance announced him as the sport’s next dominant star. The win also made him the first golfer of Asian or African-American heritage to claim the green jacket.

The record is sometimes confused with the Masters’ largest winning score relative to par or with other major-championship margins. They are different measurements: the margin of victory compares the winner’s score with the runner-up’s score. Woods’ 12-shot advantage over Kite remains the tournament’s benchmark.