The Masters tournament is a historical event. It is golf’s only major championship that is played at the one venue. It is the only major that works by invitation only and is completely controlled by the masters tournament commitee. That is the PGA, PGA Tour and the USGA have little say in how the tournament is structured. The masters tournament is steep in history, secure your masters tickets and be part of the rich history that surrounds the tournament and the Augusta National Golf Club.
The tournament was originally titled the Augusta National invitational and was first won by Horton Smith in 1934. The tournament came into the spotlight from the “shot heard around the world” when Gene Sarazen holed out for an albatross in 1935 on the 15th hole. This enabled Sarazen to tie Craig Wood, who he beat in a 36 hole playoff. Between 1943 and 1945 the tournament was not played due to World War Two.
The title was shared through the early to mid 1950’s by Ben Hogan and Sam Snead; two of the biggest legends of the game. In 1958, the king Arnold Palmer burst onto the scene to win his first of four green jackets. In 1961, the first non american to win the masters was seen when Gary Player claimed the green jacket. Then two years later, the golden bear Jack Nicklaus won his first green jacket. In 1968 Roberto DiVicenzo was wrote and signed for the wrong score on the 17th hole. The extra stroke cost him a spot in the playoff with Bob Goalby.
In 1975 Lee Elder changed the course of history by becoming the first African American to play the masters, this occured 15 years before the club allowed its first black member. To this day, the club still does not allow female members. A sign of the elitist nature of the membership there.
The Europeans dominated the 1980’s and 1990’s at the Masters. One of golf’s greatest moments came in 1986 when Jack Nicklaus won his sixth green jacket at a record 46 years of age, shooting 30 on the back nine. Larry Mize will be remembered by Australian golfers as the man who shattered Greg Norman’s chances of being the first Australian to win by holing a near impossible chip shot in a sudden death playoff to beat Greg Norman. At this stage Norman was in perfect position on the right side of the green expecting to two putt for the win.
In 1996 Norman squandered a six shot lead to lose to Nick Faldo. 1997 saw the emergence of Tiger Woods who won his first major. Tiger became the youngest winner at 21 years of age, broke the record for greatest winning margin with a 12 shot victory and also broke the tournament record with 18 under par. Tiger also created history in 2001 when his victory secured the ‘Tiger Slam.’ Meaning he held all 4 majors simultaneously but not in the same year.
Ten years on, be at Augusta to witness history
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This post was written by admin on August 21, 2010
