The Masters Tournament History

The Masters Tournament History

The Masters Tournament History

For golfers and golf fans, this weekend means just one thing: the culmination of The Masters. At the moment of this writing, the first round at iconic Augusta provided plenty of surprise and intrigue—but then, this tournament just does that, again and again across its history. Here's a look back at the battle for the green jacket:

 

1931... Bobby Jones buys 360-acre Fruitland Nurseries in Augusta for $70,000

1934... Precursor to the first Masters Tournament played on Jones’
private golf club, Augusta National

1935... Gene Sarazen’s “shot heard ’round the world” double eagle to
force playoff

 

Gene Sarazen, 1930Gene Sarazen putting, 1930

 

1943... Tournament suspended, livestock raised on grounds for war effort

1948... Pimiento cheese and egg salad sandwiches made by Herndon
family, of Augusta

1949... First green jacket awarded to Masters champion

1956... CBS begins televising the tournament, covering only final four holes

1958... Term “Amen Corner” (11, 12 and 13) first used in
Sports Illustrated

1960... First time Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer and Gary Player
compete together

1966... Nicklaus first to win two consecutive Masters

1975... Bunker sand replaced by now-signature quartz white feldspar
for tournament

1977... Longtime chairman Clifford Roberts commits suicide on
banks of Ike’s Pond

1980... Spaniard Seve Ballesteros wins, becoming first European champion

1982... Dave Loggins’ soothing piano theme debuts on CBS television
coverage

1983... Players allowed to bring their own caddies for the first time

1986... Nicklaus wins record sixth Masters

1989... First year for Jim Nantz to anchor CBS coverage

1990... Augusta National accepts its first black member, Ron Townsend

1996... Greg Norman loses six-stroke lead on final round in epic collapse

1997... Tiger Woods, only 21, wins first Masters by 12 strokes

 

Tiger Woods plays his first U.S. Open in 1997
Tiger Woods plays his first U.S. Open, Tim Hipps, 1997 

 

2012... Condoleezza Rice becomes first female member of Augusta National

2012... Bubba Watson hooks wedge through trees to win in sudden death

2015... Jordan Spieth ties Masters record of 18-under par

2017... Green jacket found at thrift store auctions for $139,000

 

 

 

 

2018... CBS runs only four minutes of commercials per hour of coverage