Fun Facts to Know About The Masters
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The 90th playing of the Masters Tournament is now underway. First played in 1934 and then known as the Augusta National Invitation Tournament, the Masters has had many memorable moments.
1934: First tournament played the nines in reverse, then switched to current format the following year.
1935: Gene Sarazen holes a 4-wood from 235 yards for an albatross 2 on the par-5 15th hole in the final round, a shot forever called “The Shot Heard Round the World.”
1937: Augusta National members first wear the single-breasted, single-vent green jacket so patrons could identify a reliable source of information.
1939: Tournament officially named The Masters.
1947: Jimmy Demaret becomes first golfer to break par in all four rounds.
1949: The green jacket is first awarded to the champion, Sam Snead.
1950: Jimmy Demaret becomes the first three-time Masters champion.
1956: First year of television coverage.
1958: "Amen Corner" - holes 11 to 13 - christened by writer Herbert Warren Wind in an article in Sports Illustrated.
1961: Gary Player becomes the first non-American champion.
1964: Arnold Palmer becomes the first four-time champion.
1980: Seve Ballesteros becomes first European champion.
1983: Players given the option of using their own caddies.
1986: Jack Nicklaus wins his record sixth Masters at age 46.
1986: Greg Norman (first round) and Nick Price (final round) shoot the lowest 18-hole score in tournament history of 63.
1996: Nick Faldo becomes the first Englishman to win, with a final-round 67.
1997: Tiger Woods becomes first Black winner and the youngest champion (21 years, 3 months, 14 days).
1998: Mark O’Meara becomes the oldest first-time winner (41).
2012: Former U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and South Carolina financier Darla Moore become the first female members of Augusta National Golf Club.
2013: Adam Scott becomes first Australian champion of the Masters.
2017: Sergio Garcia wins 1st major title in 74th major start, setting all-time mark for most major championship starts to first major title.
2021: Hideki Matsuyama becomes first men’s major champion representing Japan.
2025: Rory McIlroy wins in a sudden-death playoff to complete the career Grand Slam.
"I always said that if they have a golf course like this in heaven, I want to be the head pro. Every shot is within a fraction of disaster - that's what makes it so great."
Three-time Masters champion Gary Player.