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History of The U.S. Masters Golf Championship

The US Masters Championship wasn't always known as such. In its first few years, it was known as The Augusta National Invitational Tournament, changing its name to its current one in 1939. Devised by Bobby Jones and Clifford Roberts, the first championship was played in March 1934. The land was formally Fruitland Nurseries and had the most wonderful array of shrubs and trees, which the holes are named after, making the course instantly recognisable. 1940 saw The Masters move to the first full week in April, where it has stayed ever since.

Bobby Jones was a keen amateur golfer and retired from competitive play after dominating the scene for ten years, even though he still made appearances at the tournament. He thought calling it ‘The Masters' was too presumptuous, until he was persuaded into the name change in 1939.

The US Masters Golf Championships, known for its lack of commercialisation, is unique and much loved by players, spectators and gamblers alike. The golfers must be invited to play either through the committee or by meeting a series of qualifying criteria. The course is as well known for its azalea scenery, as it is for the 11th, 12th and 13th holes named "Amen Corner", as success here would often determine the winner of the title.

The tradition of the Green Jackets started for a very simple reason. They were first worn at the club, so that spectators could pick out club members easily, to get help or ask questions. This sparked the practice of presenting one to the US Masters tournament winner each year.

Anyone wanting to get a ticket or badge for The US Masters should go through a ticket broker. In the past there were lists for the badges that gave you access to the tournament, but these were near on impossible to come by. People were on a patron list for years. The list closed in 1972 and a waiting list was opened, but it closed in 1978. Though closed again now, a new list opened in 2000.

Here are some key events in the history of the U.S. Masters Championships:

1934: The first winner of the US Masters Championship was Horton Smith, who was to win again in 1936.

1935 To allow play to start earlier due to problems with frost the back and front nines were reversed. Gene Sarazen won and became remembered for ‘the shot heard around the world' when he made an albatross on the par 5 15th hole.

1939 The Augusta National Tournament had its name changed to The

Masters. The first player to win under its new official name was Ralph Guldahl who won with a 279 score to become the 6th champion.

1943-44 The US Masters got suspended due to the Second World War. The

Augusta Grounds were used to raise turkey and cattle during this time.

1946 The US Masters took up where it left off and Herman Keiser

became the first post-war winner.

1949: The tradition of the Green Jacket began for winners of the US Masters Championship Tournament and it was Sam Snead who was presented with the very first one. Winners got to take the jacket home until the following year, when they returned it. From then on, the jacket would still belong to the player, but would be kept at the club for the champion to wear each time they visited.

1954 For the first time, crystal was presented to the lowest scoring player of the day, and golfers achieving holes in one and eagles.

1957 The first cut of the US Masters field was brought in for forty and above ties.

1960 This was the year that simplified scoring was introduced, by using under par and over par. It has been used ever since. Sam Snead was the winner of the first Par 3 Contest.

1961 The first international golfer to win the US Masters was Gary Player

from South Africa. He won again in 1974 and 1978.

1964 The US Masters Tournament was won by Arnold Palmer, making him the first four-time winner.

1967 This year saw a double bunker built on the 18th fairway to the left. The BBC televised the US Masters Championship, making it the first overseas broadcaster.

1972 The US Masters Championship gets its second ever fourth time winner in Jack Nicklaus.

1976 A key year in the development of the US Masters Championship. The format of the playoff was changed, as the 18-hole play-off was substituted with a sudden-death finish instead.

1978 The Par-3 Course was converted to Bentgrass and served as an experiment for The Masters greens which were converted over in 1981 from Bermuda grass, which was thought to be too slow.

1979 Sudden death playoff was used for the first time ever, to decide the winner. Fuzzy Zoeller won the match on the second playoff hole with a birdie.

1982 The US Masters tournament had its first ever one-hole playoff, when Dan Pohl was defeated by Craig Stadler.

1986 Jack Nicklaus, aged 46, won making him the oldest winner in US Masters history. He celebrated a record sixth time win.

1990 Nick Faldo, won for the second year in succession, becoming only the second player to achieve two consecutive US Masters titles.

1997 This year set a few records, when Tiger Woods became the youngest US Masters Championship winner at the age of 21. He enjoyed a 12-stroke victory (another record) and won with an 18-under-par 270, thus setting a further record.

2002 Tiger Woods became the third player to successfully defend his

title from the year before, joining Jack Nicklaus and Nick Faldo as consecutive US Masters winners.

2001 Changes were made to the course and holes became lengthened, around 300 yards were added in total.

2003 A change was made to the format of the sudden death playoffs: the start was moved from the par 4 10th hole and now starts at the par 4 18th hole.

Record breaking Championship history has been made many times throughout The Masters, throwing up some great odds for anyone placing a golf bet.

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