This is part of the Golfweek Masters Survey 2025 series
There’s a past Masters champion — who prefers to otherwise remain nameless — that claims if he were on the bag of Rory McIlroy at Augusta National Golf Club, the Northern Irishman would already own at least one green jacket in his locker and have completed the career Grand Slam.
While it appears unlikely that the past champion will ever get to prove his worth on the bag of McIlroy anytime soon, it does make a point that as the only major that returns to the same course year after year, experience can be invaluable at the Masters. It’s no coincidence that Fuzzy Zoeller in 1979 is the last player to win the title in his first attempt.
And it also made us wonder: what past champion would Masters participants want on the bag to steer them around the famed course and perhaps to a long-awaited first or much-desired multiple green jacket. Imagine having Jack Nicklaus, Tiger Woods or Tom Watson to help McIlroy decide whether to hold a three-quarter 8-iron against the wind at 12 or go full bore on a 9-iron.
Here are some of the answers to whom contestants would pick and the names may surprise you.
Adam Hadwin
Fred Couples. He has the chillest attitude. I played with him last year and he’s so easygoing and knows what he’s doing on that course – plus he just feels like he’d be a great hang.
Adam Scott
Nick Faldo. I think he’d be handy. He would strategize me around the place to a win.
Akshay Bhatia
Phil Mickelson. He knows the place like the back of his hand and has an incredible book on the place.
Billy Horschel
Give me Tiger. I’ll take Tiger every day.
Brian Harman and Keegan Bradley
Phil Mickelson.
Mackenzie Hughes
Bernhard Langer. He’s still playing it well at 65 so he obviously knows it like the back of his hand. He might be a good guy to have.
Collin Morikawa
If Tiger could make it, I’d want him.
Corey Conners
Mike Weir.
Gary Player
I’d take Jack Nicklaus but you have to get him a cart.
Jason Day
Bernhard Langer. He would create a little more discipline in my game. He’s a little more analytical and I’m a little loose with that stuff.
Gary Woodland
Tom Watson has been really good to me. Being a Kanas guy, I played my first practice round in 2011 with him and he gave me a ton of advice but there’d be nothing like having Tiger carry my bag at Augusta. One, it would just be amazing and two, I’d love to give him shit about it.
Harris English
Bernhard Langer. I have enjoyed playing practice rounds with him. He seems standoffish and robotic but he’s one of the nicest guys ever. He has so much experience and know-how to think himself around that place.
Kevin Kisner
Jordan Spieth so I could have his luck.
Matt Fitzpatrick
Bernhard Langer. His attention to detail is impressive,
Rickie Fowler
Freddie Couples. He was someone I always looked up to and loved how he carried himself on the golf course, how he played, and over the past 15-20 years, you know being able to get to know him and spend the amount of time I have with him, he’s just, he’s Freddie. He’s great. He’s definitely one of my favorites. As long as his back and body would let him get around, that’s who I’d pick.
Russell Henley
Larry Mize. He knows me so well and he and I probably would have a good chat out there.
Matt Kuchar
Have to go with Bernhard Langer. He’s the most thorough of anybody.
Stewart Cink
Larry Mize. Every time I play with him, I always play great. I think I have my lowest scoring average by far when we get paired together.
Tony Finau
Freddie Couples. He knows that place better than anybody else. He plays it great. He would be beneficial on my bag.
Webb Simpson
Bubba Watson. He would keep me loose all day.
Xander Schauffele
I’ll go with Jack because he’s won the tournament the most.
Zach Johnson
Ben Hogan. Never met him. He’s the guy that I admire for the prowess of his golf swing and he’s got that aura. I know he’s kind of gravelly and difficult, but that’s all right, that means I’d have Ben Hogan on my bag; that’d be amazing.
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