Harper Lin
The Masters Tournament, usually referred to as the Masters, is one of the four major championships in men's golf. It is held annually at the Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, Georgia, United States. The club, founded by Bobby Jones and Clifford Roberts, is known for its exclusivity and is the only major tournament that is played at the same location each year. The Masters has a number of traditions, including awarding a green jacket to the champion, which has been a tradition since 1949. The tournament has a rich history, with iconic golfers such as Tiger Woods and Jack Nicklaus achieving multiple wins.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Location | Augusta, Georgia, United States |
| Golf Club | Augusta National Golf Club |
| Tournament | Masters Tournament |
| Tournament type | One of the four men's major championships in professional golf |
| Tournament frequency | Annual |
| Tournament date | First full week in April |
| Tournament founder | Amateur golf champion Bobby Jones and investment banker Clifford Roberts |
| Course designer | Alister MacKenzie |
| Course type | Private |
| Course ranking | Top-ranked course in Golf Digest's 2009 list of America's 100 greatest courses |
| Course length | Varies, but the current length of the 10th hole is about 400 yards |
| Bunkers filled with | Granulated quartz ("Spruce Pine sand") |
| Notable traditions | Green jacket awarded to the champion, Champions Dinner, honorary tee shot by distinguished golfers |
| Notable winners | Tiger Woods, Ben Crenshaw, Rory McIlroy, Horton Smith, Jack Nicklaus |
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What You'll Learn
The Masters Tournament
The Masters is always held at the same location—the Augusta National Golf Club, a private course in the city of Augusta. Amateur golf champion Bobby Jones and investment banker Clifford Roberts founded the tournament. After his grand slam in 1930, Jones acquired the former plant nursery and co-designed the golf course with course architect Alister MacKenzie. The Augusta National course first opened in 1933 and has been modified many times by different architects. The Masters was originally known as the "Augusta National Invitation Tournament" when it was first played in 1934. The present name was adopted in 1939.
The tournament has a number of traditions. Since the 1949 Masters, a green jacket (specifically Pantone 342C, "Augusta Green") has been awarded to the champion. The Champions Dinner, inaugurated by Ben Hogan at the 1952 Masters, is held on the Tuesday before each Masters and is open only to past champions and certain board members of the Augusta National Golf Club. Beginning in 1963, distinguished golfers, usually past champions, have hit an honorary tee shot on the morning of the first round to commence play.
The Augusta National Golf Club has been the site of several notable events and protests throughout its history. In 2003, the club was targeted by Martha Burk, who organized a failed protest to pressure the club into accepting female members. In 2012, the club admitted its first two women members, Condoleezza Rice and Darla Moore.
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Augusta National Golf Club
The Masters Tournament has been hosted at Augusta National every year since 1934, making it the only major tournament played at the same course annually. The club first opened its fairways and greens to members in 1932, and the inaugural Masters Tournament was played in 1934 as the "Augusta National Invitation Tournament". The tournament is an official money event, with the winner receiving $4,200,000 out of a total purse of $21,000,000 in 2025. In addition to the cash prize, the winner is presented with a distinctive green jacket, a tradition that has been in place since 1949.
Augusta National is famously private and exclusive, maintaining a small membership relative to other golf clubs. It is a for-profit corporation, but unlike other private clubs, it does not disclose its income, holdings, membership list, or ticket sales. Membership includes former presidents, CEOs, and star athletes, in addition to local families with a long history of membership.
The course at Augusta National has undergone numerous changes since its inception, with architect Perry Maxwell making alterations in 1937, including moving the green of the current 10th hole to the top of a hill, transforming it into one of the toughest holes in Masters Tournament history. The bunkers at Augusta are filled with granulated quartz, known as "Spruce Pine sand", a byproduct of mining in North Carolina. This material has been used at the course since the early 1970s, when Clifford Roberts visited the Linville Golf Club, which also used this type of sand.
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Location and history
The Masters Tournament, usually referred to as the Masters, is one of the four major championships in men's golf. It is held annually and is the first major tournament of the year, taking place in the first full week of April.
The Masters is always played at the same location, the Augusta National Golf Club, a private course in Augusta, Georgia. The club was founded by amateur golf champion Bobby Jones and investment banker Clifford Roberts, who co-designed the course with golf course architect Alister MacKenzie. The course was formerly a plant nursery, and each hole is named after the tree or shrub with which it is associated. The Augusta National Golf Club first opened for play in 1932 or 1933, and it hosted its inaugural Masters Tournament in 1934, then known as the Augusta National Invitation Tournament.
The Masters Tournament has a number of traditions. Since 1949, a green jacket has been awarded to the champion, which remains the property of the winner but is stored at the clubhouse. The Champions Dinner has been held annually since 1952 and is open only to past champions and certain board members of the Augusta National Golf Club.
The Augusta National Golf Club is known for its exclusivity and privacy. It maintains a small membership relative to other golf clubs, and membership includes former presidents, CEOs, and star athletes. The club does not disclose its income, holdings, membership list, or ticket sales. In 2003, the club was targeted by Martha Burk, who organized a protest to pressure the club into accepting female members. The club admitted its first two women members, Condoleezza Rice and Darla Moore, in 2012.
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Traditions
The Masters Tournament, hosted by Augusta National, is steeped in tradition. The tournament was founded by amateur golf champion Bobby Jones and investment banker Clifford Roberts. Owing to Jones' involvement, the Masters has a tradition of honouring amateur golf. Winners of prestigious amateur tournaments are invited to compete, and the current U.S. Amateur champion always plays in the same group as the defending Masters champion for the first two days. Amateurs are also invited to stay in the "Crow's Nest", a small dormitory-style room atop the Augusta National clubhouse, adorned with pictures of past Masters champions.
Another famous tradition is the awarding of the Green Jacket to the champion. Since 1949, the winner has been presented with a green jacket (Pantone 342C, "Augusta Green"), which they are allowed to take home for a year before returning it to the clubhouse. The Green Jacket has become the most prized piece of tailoring in golf, and arguably in sport.
Other traditions include the Par-3 contest, played on a nine-hole course on the Wednesday before the tournament starts, and the honorary opening tee shot at the first hole, typically performed by legendary players. The Masters also has a tradition of serving Pimento Cheese sandwiches as a concession, which have been described as "iconic" and "legendary".
The Masters has a unique vocabulary, with spectators referred to as "patrons", and certain terms such as "fans", "spectators", and "punters" not being used. There are also strict rules for patrons, including a ban on running and on cell phones. Augusta National also has a famous giant oak tree, planted in the 1850s, which is a popular meeting point for important figures in the golf world.
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Past champions
The Masters Tournament, played at the Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, Georgia, is one of the four major championships in men's professional golf. The tournament was first played in 1934 as the "Augusta National Invitation Tournament", and it has since been held annually at the same location.
Horton Smith
Horton Smith was the first champion of the Masters Tournament, winning in 1934. He received a prize of $1,500 out of a $5,000 purse.
Jack Nicklaus
Jack Nicklaus is a legendary golfer who won the Masters Tournament a record six times (1963, 1965, 1966, 1972, 1975, and 1986). He received $20,000 for his first win in 1963 and $144,000 for his final victory in 1986. Nicklaus became the oldest Masters champion when he won in 1986 at the age of 46.
Tiger Woods
Tiger Woods is another notable champion, having won the Masters Tournament five times. He became the youngest champion in Masters history when he won in 1997 at the age of 21. Woods completed his "Tiger Slam" by winning his fourth straight major championship at the Masters in 2001.
Ben Crenshaw
Ben Crenshaw is a two-time Masters champion, winning in 1984 and 1995. His 1995 victory was an emotional one, as it came just days after the death of his mentor, Harvey Penick.
Rory McIlroy
Rory McIlroy joined the list of Masters champions in 2025, defeating Justin Rose in a playoff.
The Masters Tournament has a rich history, and these are just a few of the notable champions throughout the years. The tournament holds various traditions, including awarding a green jacket to the champion, which has been a tradition since the 1949 Masters.
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Frequently asked questions
The Augusta Golf Masters is located at the Augusta National Golf Club, a private course in the city of Augusta, Georgia.
The Augusta National Golf Club is known for hosting the annual Masters Tournament, one of the four major championships in men's professional golf. It is the only major tournament played at the same location every year.
The Augusta National Golf Club was founded by Bobby Jones and Clifford Roberts. The course was designed by Jones and Alister MacKenzie and opened for play in 1932. The first Masters Tournament was hosted in 1934.
One of the traditions of the Masters Tournament is awarding a green jacket (Pantone 342C, "Augusta Green") to the champion. The Champions Dinner is another tradition, held on the Tuesday before each Masters, exclusively for past champions and certain board members.
Augusta offers a variety of experiences during Masters Week, including unique shopping spots, local attractions, and exciting golf activities beyond the Masters Tournament, such as Topgolf Augusta.
