US Masters: The Über-Tournament

It is the most famous golf tournament in the world at probably the most controversial golf club in the world: the Masters and all its facets can only be seen in shorthand:

In the aftermath of the Great Depression of 1929, the Augusta National Golf Club was founded in Augusta, Georgia, with great ambitions and comparatively little money as a winter retreat for wealthy northerners. Its founders were the national hero Bob Jones Jr., who had retired after his Grand Slam triumph, and his partner, the financial broker Clifford Roberts.

The duo actually want to host the US Open, but the US federation insists on the June date when the heat is sweltering in Georgia. So Jones and Roberts simply set up their own tournament, which over time became one of the biggest tournaments: On March 22, 1934, the Masters premieres, although it is called the Augusta National Invitational until 1939. Jones finds this title less presumptuous. The coveted tickets are bought by crowds of spectators to see him play again. He finishes 13th, with US pro Horton Smith winning.

Here you can find the leaderboard of the US Masters 2026.

The 'Green Jacket' - the prize at the US Masters Tournament

From 1937, the Augusta National Golf Club recognizes its members during the tournament with green jackets. This became one of the sport's most famous items of clothing: in 1947, Sam Snead slipped on the first "Green Jacket", three-button single-breasted, Pantone 342 color. Since then, the previous year's winner has helped the new champion into a standard twist for the ceremony. The tailor's shop currently entrusted with the subsequent tailoring has so much cloth in stock that it will last for a good 100 years.

The current winner can show off the jacket for a year during all the circus that surrounds him. He has to bring it to the Champions Dinner the following year, which he is allowed to host with a menu of his choice for all living winners, and from then on the jacket hangs in the clubhouse locker and is only worn during the Masters week.

Supporting program and honorary starters at the US Masters

After all kinds of supporting events such as ball-flicking over a pond or the family celebration of the Par 3 contest, the three oldest living champions open the tournament on Thursdays as honorary starters. In recent years, these have always been the "Big Three" Arnold Palmer, Gary Players and Jack Nicklaus. After Palmer's death in 2016, his seat remained empty, with the "Green Jacket", which the "King" won four times, draped on a chair. Tom Watson later took Palmer's place in the trio. Nicklaus is the record Masters winner with six victories.

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(Text: Michael Basche)