The Holiest of Holies: The Masters Tournament
Golf is considered by many to be an elitist sport. Played by the rich, the fortunate, and the who’s who. Yet, even in the exalted circles of golf, one tournament that stands far above the rest is, the holiest of the holies, the
Grail of golf, The Masters Tournament.
Unarguably the most prestigious event in all of golf, the Masters Tournament (often known simply as the Masters) is played annually, every April, at Augusta National Golf Club in Georgia, USA. Unlike other majors, the event is held at the same location year
after year. Befitting its status, it is the first among the four masters to be played in the calendar year.
To maintain its prestige, the playing field consists only of players invited to play the tournament. Hence, the number of players that participate are the least in any major. Invitations are controlled by the Augusta National Golf Club, which include the top
fifty players in the World Golf Rankings, previous winners of the Masters, winners of the other majors, and Amateur Champions from the United States, Europe, and Asia.
The Augusta National Golf Club was the creation of Bobby Jones. Jones was perhaps the most successful amateur golfer of all time; however, he never turned professional. After announcing his retirement from the game, he wanted to build a golf course. Along with
Clifford Roberts, who became the first chairman of the club, Jones scouted an unused piece of land in Augusta, Georgia. Alister MacKenzie was commissioned to design the course; work began in 1931 and the Club officially opened in 1933.
The tournament is world famous for its religiously upheld traditions. The most famous of these is the Green Jacket. A green sport coat is the attire of the members of the Club; by being awarded with the Green Jacket, the winner
is inducted into the Club as an honorary member. The jacket stays with the winner for one year after which it is returned to the Club. Usually, the winner of the previous Masters tournament presents the jacket to the current winner. The first exception to
the rule was Jack Nicklaus, who after winning two Masters consecutively, donned the Jacket himself.
Besides the Jacket, the winners also receive a gold medal and have their names engraved on a silver trophy in the shape of the clubhouse. The original trophy stays at the Club while the players receive a replica. There are also
several other rewards for performing feats such as getting an eagle, an albatross, or the daily lowest score.
Besides the main event, a Par-3 contest takes place before the first round of each tournament. It is intended to be a social event, with players allowed to use their children as caddies. The winner of the Par 3 competition is awarded
with a crystal bowl. There is also a Champions dinner two days before the event, which is only open to past champions and certain members of the Club. The dinner is hosted by the current champion who also chooses the menu.
The Masters has played host to a very colourful golfing history. In 1935, trailing the leader Craig Wood, Gene Sarazen hit the ‘shot heard around the world’; he holed a shot from the fairway on a par 5 for a double eagle. This
tied him with Woods and in the following playoff, Sarazen won by 5 strokes. The 60’s and 70’s were dominated by the Big Three: Gary Player, Arnold Palmer, and Jack Nicklaus. Between them, they won the event 11 times. Gary Player, a South African, was also
the first non-American to win the tournament. This was often in highly tight circumstances: Palmer winning by just one stroke in 1963, and Nicklaus also by just one stroke in 1975.
In the most recent Masters, Phil Mickelson triumphed over World No.1 Lee Westwood to win by 3 strokes. Until the third round, Mickelson trailed Westwood by five strokes; however, two eagles and a birdie allowed him to move just
one stroke off Westwood. In the last round, Westwood fumbled and Mickelson, with a bogey-free round, took all the glory.
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