Justin Bieber may get his peaches down in Georgia, but there's something even juicier that Georgia is known for: The Masters.
In golf, there are 4 tournaments that are considered "The Majors." The Majors are: The US Open, The British Open, The PGA Championship and, you guessed it, The Masters. Of these, The Masters is probably the most iconic. Even if you don't know golf, you have likely heard of it. The location, time frame, scenery, history and competition makes The Masters truly one of the best settings in sports. Around 100 of the best golfers in the world gather every first week of April for a chance to win the famous, coveted Green Jacket (along with a nice sum of money).
In this post, I will discuss the basic wh-questions surrounding the Masters. Alright, friends, it's tee-time; here comes the who, what, when, where, why, and how of the Masters Tournament.
When: The Masters occurs the first full week in April. This year will be April 3-9.
Monday and Tuesday are dedicated to practice rounds.
Wednesday is the "Par 3 Contest." In this event, the professionals will have a family member (including their kiddos or grandchildren--TOO CUTE!) caddy for them during the contest. Players may even allow their caddies to occasionally attempt a chip or putt. The contest is to be a light-hearted, stress-relieving, family-oriented game before the real show begins. The Par 3 Contest is held on a short, 9-hole course and the player with the lowest score is the winner. HOWEVER, some think it is a curse to win the Par 3 Contest as no winner of this has ever gone on to win The Masters.
Thursday and Friday, the tournament begins. On Thursday, the tournament opens with tee-shots by "Honorary Starters." Honorary starters are one or more important (mostly elderly and retired but not always) who will tee-up the ball on the 1st hole and swing away to officially begin The Masters. Former Honorary Starters have been: Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus, Gary Player, and Lee Elder. It's always a tearjerker. At the end of Friday's round, the competition will be "cut" to the top 50 players from the last two days. These 50 will continue playing Saturday and Sunday for a chance to win it all.
Saturday and Sunday are the last two days of the tournament. The competition has been dropped from 100 to 50 players. Players furthest from the lead will tee-off first, while the leaders will tee-off last. At the end of Sunday's round, a winner will be determined to join an elite club of Green Jacket winners.
Where: The Masters is held at Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, Georgia.
Pictures courtesy of Twitter @rbrooks125
What: The winner of The Masters receives not only a trophy, golf medal, and the iconic Green Jacket but also a check for $2,070,000; an invitation to play in The Masters every year, plus 5 years of guaranteed tournament entries on the PGA tour (they don't have to consistently play well for a chance to qualify for PGA tour events).
How: There are several ways a player can qualify to play in The Masters. Qualifying occurs in the following (but not limited to) ways:
Win the Masters: it's a lifetime guarantee to return
Win any of "The Majors" and receive a 5-year invitation to The Masters
Win or get runner-up in the US Amateur and receive an invite to the next Masters
Finish Top 12 at The Masters and receive an invitation to return to the next Masters
Be ranked Top 50 in the world (Source)
Who: The Masters tournament was started by amateur champion, Bobby Jones, and investment banker, Clifford Roberts. The pair bought the land for the course for $70,000 (~1.4 million today) and began construction in 1931. The formal opening for Augusta National occurred in January 1933. In 1934, Jones and Roberts decided to begin an annual tournament in which they named the "Augusta National Invitation Tournament." (A total mouthful of words). The name held for 5 years before it was officially changed in 1939. In 1940, the first ever Masters Tournament was scheduled. (Source)
Fun Fact: Who has won the most Masters Tournaments? Jack Nicklaus (6), Tiger Woods (5), and Arnold Palmer (4)
Pictures Courtesy of Twitter @Jimbo_Wise
Why: Why the Green Jacket? Well, there are two stories. The first story relates to Bobby Jones as the champion behind the Green Jacket. He reportedly attended a dinner at Royal Liverpool in England where club captains wore matching jackets to signify their position. He thought this added a touch of class, status and membership exclusivity to American golf, and wanted to implement this idea. The second (more circulated) story surrounds Clifford Roberts as the creditor to the Green Jacket. He thought the jacket would serve as a way for non-members to recognize who would be reliable sources of information for the club. It's likely the truth can be found in both stories. Regardless, the Green Jacket has stood the test of time. The first ever Green Jacket was awarded in 1949 to Sam Snead. Traditionally, the defending champion will assist the new champion in putting on his Green Jacket. The new champion is allowed to take the jacket off premises for 1 year during their reign, but must return it the following year. From then, it is forbidden for the Green Jacket to leave Augusta National. From then, the Green Jacket may only be worn when at Augusta National or if publicly representing The Masters or Augusta National. (Source)
Icon is defined as "a thing widely admired, especially for having great influence or significance in a particular sphere" (Merriam-Webster). It's clear The Masters fits this definition, not only in the golf-sphere but also in the sports-sphere. The Masters is a timeless, beautiful symbol of hard work and God-given talent. So, this coming week, take the time to watch a round (or 4) of this famous tournament, and witness who will be the next owner of the Green Jacket.
The Masters can be complicated, but remember to KISS (Keep It Simple, Sister).
"But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us." -Romans 5:8
Picture Courtesy of Twitter @freshbob
Comments