Golf is a popular sport, one which originated in Scotland. It has deep roots in the United Kingdom, where most of England, Scotland, Wales and even the Republic of Ireland either follow it as a sport or even play it recreationally.
However, once it migrated to the United States, in the late 1800s, it blew up, becoming one of the most popular sports, if not in the eyes of the media, then in the eyes of the people. Three of the four major tournaments are in the United States, one of which is the Masters. Here is more on the tournament, from its inception to today.
The Origins of the Masters
In 1934, after completing his grand slam, Bobby Jones, an amatuer golfer, decided that he should open a golf club and course in his native Georgia. Alongside investment banker Clifford Roberts, they opened the Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta Georgia in 1933. 1934 was the inaugural year of the Masters. The course was designed by none other than Alistar MacKenzie. The Masters had 83 editions out of its 87 years of existence.
The 60s and 70s
These were the interesting years of the the Masters, because they were dominated by 3 players, Jack Nicklaus, Gary Player and Arnold Palmer. In 18 years, they won 11 Masters. 1975 marked the year the first african american was allowed to play in the Masters, Lee Elder. That was 15 years prior to Augusta’s first african american member.
The Modern Era
From the 80s and onwards, there were plenty of victors in the Masters who were not from the US. Tiger Woods made his record breaking run in 1997 and 4 years later, he completed the Tiger Slam, winning majors four times in a row. Nicklaus won the Masters 6 times and Woods 5, and he is the youngest person to win a Masters, at 21 years. Woods and Nicklaus also won the Masters in 3 different decades, Nicklaus in the 60s, 70s and 80s and Woods in the 90s, 2000s and 2010s.
The winner of the tournaments receives a green jacket and has since 1949, which is a traditional jacket of the club members. Each winner becomes an honorary member. Not only that, but the winner gets to take the jacket home for a year to be returned to the club and worn when at the club.
The Masters is a great tournament, a part of a great golf club’s history and the history of golf.