The Masters Tournament, a pinnacle in the world of professional golf, is held annually at one iconic location: the Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, Georgia, USA. This prestigious invitational tournament unfolds every year during the first full week of April, from Thursday to Sunday, marking it as the first major championship of the golf season. Unlike the other three major tournaments—the U.S. Open, The Open Championship (British Open), and the PGA Championship—the Masters has the unique distinction of being played at the same, revered venue each year. This unwavering tradition contributes significantly to its mystique and allure within the golfing world.
Conceived by the legendary American golfer Bobby Jones, the Masters Tournament emerged from his vision to create an exclusive golf club. Following his retirement from competitive golf in 1930 at the young age of 28, Jones partnered with Wall Street financier Clifford Roberts. Together, they acquired a 365-acre commercial nursery in Augusta for $70,000. Their ambition was to establish a golf club of unparalleled exclusivity, intentionally omitting amenities like swimming pools and tennis courts to maintain a singular focus on golf. They enlisted the expertise of renowned English golf course designer Alister MacKenzie to bring their vision to life. By early 1933, the Augusta National Golf Club opened its doors, commemorating the occasion with a members’ tournament. Just a year later, in 1934, Jones expanded this event, giving birth to what we now know as the Masters Tournament.
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The Masters rapidly ascended to become one of the most coveted and prestigious sporting events globally. Participation is by invitation only, based on a golfer’s past achievements and standing in the sport. Beyond the substantial monetary prize, which now reaches millions of dollars, victory at the Masters bestows remarkable honors. Winners receive a gold medal, a lifetime invitation to compete in future Masters Tournaments, and automatic invitations to the other three major championships for the subsequent five years. A distinctive symbol of victory, the green jacket, has been awarded to each champion since 1949, signifying their membership at Augusta National. Furthermore, since 1961, the names of Masters winners have been permanently engraved on the club’s silver Masters Trophy, solidifying their place in golfing history.
Golf professionals frequently laud Augusta National as the most visually stunning golf course they have ever encountered. The course evokes a sense of heightened sensory experience; the sunlight appears brighter, the sky a deeper blue, the breeze gentler, the pine trees more majestic, and the azaleas more vibrant compared to any other golf course across the globe. The legendary Sam Snead eloquently captured this sentiment:
I don’t want to sound overly sentimental about it. But with the course looking the way it does and the spirit of Bobby Jones running around, sometimes it feels as though the Masters is played on hallowed ground.
Reflecting the advancements in golf equipment technology and the enhanced physical conditioning of modern golfers, Augusta National has undergone course modifications to maintain its challenging nature. Prior to the 2002 Masters, the course was lengthened by 285 yards (261 meters). Fairway bunkers on three holes were also redesigned to pose a greater challenge to long-driving players. Further adjustments before the 2006 Masters extended the course by another 155 yards (142 meters), bringing its total length to 7,445 yards (6,808 meters). Augusta National remains committed to evolving and adapting to the contemporary game of golf.
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Within the hallowed grounds of Augusta National, a specific section of holes has earned legendary status. The convergence of the 11th green, the entirety of the 12th hole, and the 13th tee box is famously known as “Amen Corner.” This iconic trio of holes is not only celebrated for its proximity on the course but also for the pivotal moments in Masters history that have unfolded there. Amen Corner is renowned as one of the most challenging and famous stretches in golf, and for the author Arnold Palmer, these holes marked a critical turning point during his victorious 1958 Masters campaign.
Image alt text: Jack Nicklaus in action at the 1986 Masters Tournament, blasting sand during his record sixth victory.
Jack NicklausJack Nicklaus blasting out of a sand trap during the second round of his record sixth win at the Masters Tournament, 1986.
Throughout the storied history of the Masters, numerous unforgettable moments have captivated audiences. Among these are Jack Nicklaus’s remarkable sixth Masters victory in 1986 at the age of 46, and Tiger Woods’s groundbreaking 1997 triumph, where he not only secured his first Masters title but also shattered the 72-hole tournament scoring record with a score of 270.
Each year, millions of golf enthusiasts tune in on Sunday afternoon to witness the drama unfold as the tournament leader approaches the final green at Augusta National, met by the resounding cheers of the crowd. Arnold Palmer, a four-time Masters champion, affirmed the unparalleled exhilaration of these final moments, describing them as the most thrilling experience in golf.
The legacy of the Masters Tournament is further cemented by its list of champions. The table below showcases the Masters Tournament winners, highlighting the rich history and prestige of this annual event held at Augusta National.
Masters Tournament
| year | winner* |
|—|—|
| *Won by a U.S. golfer except as indicated. |
| 1934 | Horton Smith |
| 1935 | Gene Sarazen |
| 1936 | Horton Smith |
| 1937 | Byron Nelson |
| 1938 | Henry Picard |
| 1939 | Ralph Guldahl |
| 1940 | Jimmy Demaret |
| 1941 | Craig Wood |
| 1942 | Byron Nelson |
| 1943–45 | not held |
| 1946 | Herman Keiser |
| 1947 | Jimmy Demaret |
| 1948 | Claude Harmon |
| 1949 | Sam Snead |
| 1950 | Jimmy Demaret |
| 1951 | Ben Hogan |
| 1952 | Sam Snead |
| 1953 | Ben Hogan |
| 1954 | Sam Snead |
| 1955 | Cary Middlecoff |
| 1956 | Jack Burke, Jr. |
| 1957 | Doug Ford |
| 1958 | Arnold Palmer |
| 1959 | Art Wall, Jr. |
| 1960 | Arnold Palmer |
| 1961 | Gary Player (S.Af.) |
| 1962 | Arnold Palmer |
| 1963 | Jack Nicklaus |
| 1964 | Arnold Palmer |
| 1965 | Jack Nicklaus |
| 1966 | Jack Nicklaus |
| 1967 | Gay Brewer |
| 1968 | Bob Goalby |
| 1969 | George Archer |
| 1970 | Billy Casper |
| 1971 | Charles Coody |
| 1972 | Jack Nicklaus |
| 1973 | Tommy Aaron |
| 1974 | Gary Player (S.Af.) |
| 1975 | Jack Nicklaus |
| 1976 | Raymond Floyd |
| 1977 | Tom Watson |
| 1978 | Gary Player (S.Af.) |
| 1979 | Fuzzy Zoeller |
| 1980 | Seve Ballesteros (Spain) |
| 1981 | Tom Watson |
| 1982 | Craig Stadler |
| 1983 | Seve Ballesteros (Spain) |
| 1984 | Ben Crenshaw |
| 1985 | Bernhard Langer (W.Ger.) |
| 1986 | Jack Nicklaus |
| 1987 | Larry Mize |
| 1988 | Sandy Lyle (Scot.) |
| 1989 | Nick Faldo (U.K.) |
| 1990 | Nick Faldo (U.K.) |
| 1991 | Ian Woosnam (U.K.) |
| 1992 | Fred Couples |
| 1993 | Bernhard Langer (Ger.) |
| 1994 | José María Olazábal (Spain) |
| 1995 | Ben Crenshaw |
| 1996 | Nick Faldo (U.K.) |
| 1997 | Tiger Woods |
| 1998 | Mark O’Meara |
| 1999 | José María Olazábal (Spain) |
| 2000 | Vijay Singh (Fiji) |
| 2001 | Tiger Woods |
| 2002 | Tiger Woods |
| 2003 | Mike Weir (Can.) |
| 2004 | Phil Mickelson |
| 2005 | Tiger Woods |
| 2006 | Phil Mickelson |
| 2007 | Zach Johnson |
| 2008 | Trevor Immelman (S.Af.) |
| 2009 | Ángel Cabrera (Arg.) |
| 2010 | Phil Mickelson |
| 2011 | Charl Schwartzel (S.Af.) |
| 2012 | Bubba Watson |
| 2013 | Adam Scott (Austl.) |
| 2014 | Bubba Watson |
| 2015 | Jordan Spieth |
| 2016 | Danny Willett (U.K.) |
| 2017 | Sergio Garcia (Spain) |
| 2018 | Patrick Reed |
| 2019 | Tiger Woods |
| 2020 | Dustin Johnson |
| 2021 | Matsuyama Hideki (Japan) |
| 2022 | Scottie Scheffler |
| 2023 | Jon Rahm (Spain) |
| 2024 | Scottie Scheffler |
