The only major played at the same course every year — and the only one where a jacket is the prize.
In 1930, Bobby Jones completed the Grand Slam — winning all four major championships of his era in a single calendar year — and then retired from competitive golf at just 28 years old. Two years later, he traveled to Augusta, Georgia with Wall Street banker Clifford Roberts and found a former flower nursery at the end of a magnolia-lined drive. On the grounds of what was once Fruitland Nurseries, Jones and Scottish architect Alister MacKenzie built what many consider the finest golf course in the world. The first tournament was played in March 1934, billed modestly as the Augusta National Invitation Tournament. By the 1940s, it had a new name — and a permanent place in sporting legend.
— The founding of Augusta National, 1931–1934
91
Editions played (through 2025)
6
Nicklaus Green Jackets — the record
268
All-time low score (DJ, 2020)
18
Holes, each named for a tree or flower
🏆 All-Time Champions Leaderboard
#PlayerWinsYears Won
1Jack Nicklaus United States61963, 1965, 1966, 1972, 1975, 1986
2Tiger Woods United States51997, 2001, 2002, 2005, 2019
3Arnold Palmer United States41958, 1960, 1962, 1964
3Phil Mickelson United States32004, 2006, 2010
—Gary Player South Africa31961, 1974, 1978
—Sam Snead United States31949, 1952, 1954
—Nick Faldo England31989, 1990, 1996
—Rory McIlroy Northern Ireland12025 — Career Grand Slam ✅
📅 Key Moments in History
1934
First Tournament
Horton Smith wins the inaugural Augusta National Invitation Tournament. Bobby Jones finishes 13th.
1935
The Shot Heard Round the World
Gene Sarazen holes a 4-wood for double eagle on the 15th — one of golf's most dramatic moments.
1949
Green Jacket tradition begins
Sam Snead becomes the first Masters champion to receive the Green Jacket.
1958
"Amen Corner" is coined
Sportswriter Herbert Warren Wind names holes 11–13 "Amen Corner" in a Sports Illustrated piece.
1986
Nicklaus at 46
Jack Nicklaus shoots a back-nine 30 on Sunday to win his 6th Masters — the oldest champion in history.
1997
Tiger Changes Everything
Tiger Woods, 21, wins by 12 strokes — a record margin — shooting 270 (-18) to rewrite Augusta's history.
2012
First female members
Condoleezza Rice and Darla Moore become Augusta National's first female members, ending an all-male policy.
2019
Tiger's Comeback
After years of injury and personal turmoil, Tiger Woods wins his 5th Masters — sport's greatest comeback.
2025
Rory Completes the Slam
Rory McIlroy wins his first Masters, completing the career Grand Slam — only the 6th player ever to do so.
🌿 The 18 Holes of Augusta
1Tea OlivePar 4
2Pink DogwoodPar 5
3Flowering PeachPar 4
4Flowering Crab ApplePar 3
5MagnoliaPar 4
6JuniperPar 3
7PampasPar 4
8Yellow JasminePar 5
9Carolina CherryPar 4
10CamelliaPar 4
11White DogwoodPar 4
12Golden Bell ⭐Par 3
13Azalea ⭐Par 5
14Chinese FirPar 4
15Firethorn ⭐Par 5
16RedbudPar 3
17NandinaPar 4
18HollyPar 4
⭐ Holes 11–13 = Amen Corner. 15 = site of Sarazen's 1935 double eagle.
🎩 Things You Might Not Know
🥗
The Champions Dinner — held every Tuesday of Masters week — was started by Ben Hogan in 1952. The reigning champion picks the menu. Past meals have included Tiger's sushi, Sandy Lyle's haggis, and Bernhard Langer's Bavarian cuisine.
📺
Augusta National was one of the last major sporting events to allow full live TV coverage. CBS began broadcasting in 1956, but Augusta tightly controls everything — including limiting commercial breaks to just a handful per round.
🎟️
Masters tickets — called "badges" — are among the most sought-after in sports. The waiting list for annual badges was closed for decades; a weekly badge resold on the secondary market can fetch thousands of dollars.
🪖
During World War II (1943–1945), the Masters was suspended and Augusta National's course was used to raise cattle and turkeys to support the war effort. The club resumed play in 1946 with Ben Hogan finishing runner-up.
🌸
Augusta's famous azalea blooms are timed to peak during Masters week by horticulturists who manage temperature and shade. The explosion of pink and white color along the course is one of golf's most iconic visual traditions.
🏠
The Masters Trophy is a sterling silver three-dimensional replica of the Augusta National clubhouse — not the Green Jacket itself. Champions keep the jacket for one year, then it returns permanently to Augusta (past champs may wear it on-site).
🎷
"Amen Corner" was named by sportswriter Herbert Warren Wind in 1958 — borrowed from a 1941 jazz recording called "Shoutin' in That Amen Corner." Wind used it to describe the pivotal drama at holes 11, 12, and 13.
💰
The Masters purse has grown dramatically: from $5,000 total in 1934 to $20 million+ by the 2020s. The 2024 winner, Scottie Scheffler, earned $3.6 million — more than the entire purse for most of the tournament's first 50 years combined.
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Masters Golf — FAQ
Who has won the most Masters titles?
Jack Nicklaus holds the record with 6 Masters titles, won in 1963, 1965, 1966, 1972, 1975, and 1986. His 1986 victory at age 46 remains the oldest Masters win in history. Tiger Woods is second with 5 titles (1997, 2001, 2002, 2005, 2019).
What is Amen Corner at Augusta?
Amen Corner refers to the stretch of holes 11, 12, and 13 at Augusta National. The name was coined by sportswriter Herbert Warren Wind in 1958, borrowed from a jazz recording. The 12th hole "Golden Bell" — a short par-3 over Rae's Creek — is one of golf's most treacherous and iconic holes.
Who won the 2025 Masters?
Rory McIlroy won the 2025 Masters Tournament, completing the career Grand Slam — joining only Gene Sarazen, Ben Hogan, Gary Player, Jack Nicklaus, and Tiger Woods in winning all four major championships. It was his first major title since 2014 — an 11-year wait.
What is the Green Jacket?
The Green Jacket is presented to the Masters champion each year. The tradition started in 1949 when Augusta National members wore green jackets to be easily identifiable to patrons. First-time winners take the jacket home for a year; after that, it lives permanently at Augusta National, where past champions may wear it on the grounds.
When is the 2026 Masters?
The 2026 Masters Tournament is scheduled for April 9–13, 2026 at Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, Georgia. It will be the 90th edition of the Masters.
Who designed Augusta National Golf Club?
Augusta National was co-designed by legendary amateur golfer Bobby Jones and renowned Scottish golf architect Alister MacKenzie. It was built on the land of the former Fruitland Nurseries — explaining why each hole is named after a tree or flower. The club was co-founded by Bobby Jones and Clifford Roberts in 1931.