The Masters

The Masters
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Name	The Masters
Founded	1934
Course	Augusta National Golf Club
Par	72
Length	7,555 yards (6,909 m)
Tour	PGA Tour
Format	Stroke play
Purse	$18,000,000 (2024)
Month	April
Current champion	Scottie Scheffler

The Masters. It is one of the four major championships in men's professional golf and the only one held annually at the same location. Founded by legendary amateur champion Bobby Jones and investment banker Clifford Roberts, the tournament is renowned for its exclusivity, pristine conditions, and iconic traditions. Held each spring, it marks the unofficial start of the golf season and commands a global audience.

History

The tournament was first played in 1934 as the Augusta National Invitation Tournament, a name co-founders Bobby Jones and Clifford Roberts used for five years before adopting its current title. Jones, after completing the Grand Slam in 1930, collaborated with renowned architect Alister MacKenzie to design the course on the grounds of a former nursery. Early editions were won by players like Horton Smith and Gene Sarazen, whose double eagle on the 15th hole in 1935 is part of tournament lore. The event was not held from 1943 to 1945 due to World War II, during which the grounds were used to raise cattle and turkeys. Under the long chairmanship of Clifford Roberts, and later Hootie Johnson and Billy Payne, the tournament evolved into a globally televised spectacle while carefully guarding its private club customs.

Tournament format

The Masters is a 72-hole stroke play competition held over four days, typically concluding on the second Sunday in April. A cut is made after 36 holes, with only the top 50 players and ties, plus any player within 10 strokes of the lead, advancing to the weekend. Unlike other majors, it maintains a relatively small field of roughly 90 players, comprised of past champions, recent major winners, top finishers in other events, and leaders in the Official World Golf Ranking. In the event of a tie after 72 holes, a sudden-death playoff commences, starting on the 18th hole and then the 10th hole. This format famously decided victories for players like Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson in their first major wins.

Course (Augusta National Golf Club)

The tournament is exclusively played at Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, Georgia, a course famed for its dramatic elevation changes, immaculate presentation, and strategic design. Key holes on the back nine, known as "Amen Corner" (holes 11, 12, and 13), often determine the champion and feature the perilous par-3 12th over Rae's Creek. The course has undergone numerous changes by architects like Perry Maxwell and, in the modern era, Tom Fazio, to lengthen it and challenge modern equipment. Distinctive features include its undulating Bentgrass greens, the absence of rough in favor of "second cut," and the iconic flora such as the Azaleas and Dogwood trees that name many holes.

Traditions and green jacket

The tournament is steeped in unique customs, the most famous being the presentation of a green jacket to the champion by the previous year's winner, a practice begun in 1949 when Sam Snead received the first. The jacket remains the property of Augusta National Golf Club and may only be worn off-site by the reigning champion for one year. Other traditions include the honorary starters ceremony, featuring legends like Jack Nicklaus and Gary Player, the Champions Dinner held each Tuesday, and the Par 3 Contest held on the Wednesday before the tournament. The club's adherence to tradition extends to its broadcast partnership with CBS Sports, limited commercial interruptions, and the absence of outside sponsors beyond a select few like AT&T and IBM.

Notable champions and records

The tournament's roll call of winners includes the most revered names in golf history. Jack Nicklaus holds the record for most victories with six, including his historic 1986 win at age 46. Tiger Woods has five titles, including his groundbreaking 1997 win and dramatic 2019 comeback. Other multiple winners include Arnold Palmer with four and Phil Mickelson with three. Gary Player of South Africa was the first non-American champion in 1961. Notable records include the lowest winning score of 268 (18-under) set by Dustin Johnson in 2020 and the largest margin of victory (12 strokes) by Woods in 1997. The oldest champion is Nicklaus (46) and the youngest is Woods (21).