The Unwanted Record: The Trio of Golf Legends with the Most Runner-Up Finishes at The Masters
In the storied history of the Masters, no single golfer holds the record for the most second-place finishes; instead, it is a distinction shared by three of the game's most iconic figures: Ben Hogan, Jack Nicklaus, and Tom Weiskopf.
Winning the Masters Tournament at Augusta National is a career-defining achievement, a moment that places a golfer among the sport's immortals. The green jacket is a symbol of ultimate triumph. But what of the player who comes tantalizingly close, only to fall short? In the storied history of the Masters, no single golfer holds the record for the most second-place finishes; instead, it is a distinction shared by three of the game's most iconic figures: Ben Hogan, Jack Nicklaus, and Tom Weiskopf.
Each of these men finished as the runner-up at Augusta on four separate occasions, but the context surrounding their near-misses tells three very different stories of greatness, resilience, and what might have been.
Ben Hogan: The Resilient Contender
Ben Hogan’s name is synonymous with grit and perfection. His four second-place finishes (1942, 1946, 1954, 1955) are woven into the fabric of his legendary career. His first two runner-up spots came before the near-fatal car crash in 1949 that doctors said would prevent him from ever walking again, let alone playing golf.
That he returned to not only compete but to win two Masters titles (1951, 1953) is a testament to his iron will. His subsequent second-place finishes in 1954 and 1955 were not seen as failures, but rather as remarkable displays of his enduring brilliance. He lost to fellow legends Byron Nelson and Sam Snead in his runner-up campaigns, proving he was consistently battling the best in the world. For Hogan, finishing second was just another chapter in one of sport's greatest comeback stories.
Jack Nicklaus: A Testament to Dominance
It seems fitting that the man with the most Masters victories would also be tied for the most runner-up finishes. Jack Nicklaus, the Golden Bear, donned the green jacket a record six times. His four second-place results (1964, 1971, 1977, 1981) are not a blemish on his record, but rather a staggering confirmation of his unparalleled dominance at Augusta.
For more than two decades, if the Masters was on, Nicklaus was a threat. His losses were to titans of the game like Arnold Palmer and Tom Watson, often in dramatic, down-the-wire fashion. The 1977 duel against Watson, in particular, is remembered as one of the great head-to-head battles in the tournament's history. For Nicklaus, four second-place finishes simply underscore the fact that for over 20 years, he was the man to beat.
Tom Weiskopf: The Heartbreak Kid
Unlike Hogan and Nicklaus, Tom Weiskopf never got to wear the green jacket. His story is the most poignant of the trio. Possessing a famously beautiful and powerful swing, Weiskopf seemed destined for Masters glory, but fate and formidable opponents always stood in his way.
His four runner-up finishes (1969, 1972, 1974, 1975) are a tale of heartbreakingly close calls. Most notably, he finished second to his longtime rival, Jack Nicklaus, in both 1972 and 1975. The 1975 Masters is considered one of the most thrilling ever, a three-way Sunday battle between Nicklaus, Weiskopf, and Johnny Miller. As he watched Nicklaus sink a dramatic birdie putt on the 16th hole from the 17th fairway, Weiskopf knew his chance had likely slipped away again. While he captured a major title at The Open Championship, the Masters remained his white whale, making his shared record a bittersweet honor.
While no golfer wants to be remembered for second place, sharing this unique record places these three men in elite company, forever linking them in the rich and dramatic history of the Masters Tournament.