The Masters is widely regarded as the golf tournament all professionals in the sport want to win. Of golf’s four major tournaments, the Masters is the most prestigious and much of its tradition continues to this day.
Played at Augusta National in Augusta, Georgia, the Masters is played the first full week of April each year. While the other three major golf tournaments rotate golf courses, the Masters has remained at Augusta National since it was first played in 1934.
The famous golf course was designed by amateur golf great Bobby Jones and renowned course architect Alister McKenzie. Over the years, the course has truly changed little, keeping the Masters’ tradition going for the last 84 years.
The Masters has the second-largest purse of all the major golf events. In 2018, the purse was set at $11 million, and $1.98 of that went to tournament winner Patrick Reed. Unlike other major golf tournaments, or sporting events for that matter, the Masters awards winners with something unique. The green jacket is given to all Masters Tournament winners. Each year, a new green jacket is given to the winner of the tournament and the tradition dates back to 1937. It was then that Jones decided he wanted something to distinguish members of the invite only club from others. It wasn’t until 1949 that the garment was given out as a prize.
Jack Nicklaus won six Masters Tournaments during his golf career. It is the most of any other golfer. Arnold Palmer and Tiger Woods are joint-second on the list with four each. It currently doesn’t look like anyone will catch Nicklaus. Woods’ last title came in 2005.
The Master remains the pinnacle of golf’s major tournaments. Its tradition and prestige keep it atop golf’s list of great tournaments. It is doubtful any golf tournament will replace it as the golf event of the year.