Augusta National – Amen Corner

On Monday, April 7th, the best golfers in the world will drive along stately Magnolia Lane as they enter the most hallowed grounds in the game of golf, Augusta National Golf Club, home of the Masters Golf Tournament.

The Masters is the first of the four Major PGA Championships and to many, the official start to the PGA golf season.

Masters History
The first Masters was played on March 22, 1934 and won by Horton Smith.
This inaugural event was called the Augusta National Invitation. The legendary Bobby Jones, co founder, and the greatest name in golf at the time, felt that Masters was too presumptuous. In 1939 Bobby eased up on his position and the name was changed to the Masters Golf Tournament.

In 1930, Bobby Jones, the amateur who never turned pro, retired from playing championship golf in order to establish his legal practice in Atlanta. Bobby’s dream of creating a golf course became a reality through working with Clifford Roberts, whom he had met several times during the 1920’s. The 365 acre property was first viewed by Jones from the area that is now the practice putting green. As he took in the beauty of the view Bobby apparently said, “Perfect! And to think this ground has been lying here all these years waiting for someone to lay a golf course on it.” The property was purchased for $70,000.00, construction began in 1931, and the course opened in December of 1932.
Clifford Roberts became the first chairman of the Augusta National Golf Club and retained that post until his death in 1977.

Bobby Jones played in the first 12 Masters Tournaments but was never to win the event.

In 1942 Byron Nelson defeated Ben Hogan in an eighteen hole playoff which is noted in Masters History as “the real arrival of the Masters as a truly significant competition.”
Shortly thereafter, Augusta National was closed due to World War II. Some, including Bobby Jones, feared that competitive golf may never again be played at Augusta. During the war, cattle and turkeys were raised on the property and in 1945 Augusta reopened. The Masters resumed in 1946.

Augusta National Golf Club
Augusta National is well known for its botanic beauty. During Masters Week, the flowers on the shrubs and trees throughout the course are all in bloom. Each of Augusta’s golf holes has been given a name associated with the particular growth surrounding the hole.

Hole # Name
1 Tea Olive
2 Pink Dogwood
3 Flowering Peach
4 Flowering Crab Apple
5 Magnolia
6 Juniper
7 Pampas
8 Yellow Jasmine
9 Carolina Cherry
10 Camellia
11 White Dogwood
12 Golden Bell
13 Azalea
14 Chinese Fir
15 Firethorn
16 Redbud
17 Nandina
18 Holly

Amen Corner Celebrates its 50th Birthday
In spite of their beauty, the 11th, 12th, and 13th at Augusta have proven to be the turning point for many a Masters championships.

In 1958 Arnold Palmer successfully escaped the wrath of this trio to win against Ken Venturi. Sports Illustrated author, Herbert Warren Wind, named the holes Amen Corner in an article about Palmer’s victory.

Many Green Jacket hopefuls have tee’d off at the 11th only to find that they’re out of the game by the final putt at the 13th. A huge relief awaits those who escape Amen Corner in the black.

Masters Traditions
The Masters is revered and respected for many of its tournament traditions;

Honorary Opening Tee Shot
Some of golf’s most legendary players have taken the first tee shot to officially open the championship; Jock Huchinson, Fred McLeod, Byron Nelson, Gene Sarazan, Sam Snead.

This year the legendary Arnold Palmer will take the still loyal members of Arnies Army down memory lane as he steps up to the first tee to open the 2008 Masters. Mr. Palmer is a four time Masters Champion.

Caddie Uniform
It is a requirement of Augusta that caddies of the PGA players dress in the caddie uniform; white jumpsuit, green masters cap, and white tennis shoes.

Amateur Golf Invitations
The Masters Championship continues the pledge of Bobby Jones to support amateur golf. Winners of the most prestigious amateur tournaments in the world are invited to play at the Masters. One of the lucky amateur contenders is chosen to play with the Masters defending champion for the first two days of play.

Champions Dinner
In 1952 Ben Hogan hosted the first Champions Dinner. The defending champion selects the menu for the dinner and only past champions, (The Masters Club), and a select few Augusta members are invited.

Par 3 Contest
Before the Masters Championship begins, a par 3 contest is held. The champion receives a crystal bowl. This however may be a small consolation since there has never been a par 3 champion go on to win the Masters in the same year.

Masters Trophies
The Masters trophy is an exact replica of the original Augusta National clubhouse. It was made in England of over 800 separate pieces of silver. The trophy remains in the Augusta clubhouse sitting room from October to the week before the Masters when it is moved to the main entrance. In late May when the club closes, the trophy is placed in storage.

The Masters Champion receives a sterling silver replica of the trophy in addition to a gold medal and the traditional green jacket.

Other Masters Awards
Runner up; name on permanent Masters trophy, silver medal, and silver salver.
Low Amateur; silver cup
Amateur Runner up; silver medal
Day’s low score; crystal vase
Hole in one; large crystal bowl
Eagle; pair of crystal goblets
Double Eagle; large crystal bowl

The Green Jacket
In 1949 the tradition of the green jacket began. The idea that each Augusta member would receive a green blazer with the Augusta crest was introduced by Cliff Roberts. He wanted the patrons of the Masters Tournament to be able to easily identify Augusta members. The Masters Champion becomes an honorary Augusta member and is awarded his green jacket.

The privilege of owning a green jacket is accompanied by some very strict rules;

• The jacket may be worn on club grounds only.
• The jacket must remain at the club at all times.
• The Masters Champion may wear the jacket off of the club grounds for the first year after which it must be returned and only worn on club grounds.
In 1961 Gary Player failed to return the jacket to the club in spite of several Augusta demands to do so.

• A multiple Masters winner may only have one green jacket unless his size changes dramatically.

It is customary for the winner of the previous year to put the jacket on the current champion. In the case of consecutive wins, the Augusta chairman puts the jacket on the current winner. The only exception to this was in 1961 when Jack Nicklaus put his jacket on without assistance.

Winning the Masters
Winning at the Masters provides a PGA professional with a high degree of security in his career. In addition to the green jacket, prize money, and awards, the winner picks up a number of valuable exemptions to further his career;

• Invitation to play in the other three Major Championships; U.S. Open, The Open Championship (British), and the PGA Championship for the next five years.
• Invitation to play in the Players Championship for five years.
• Lifetime invitation to the Masters
• PGA membership for five years.

Masters Trivia
Who has won the Masters more than once?
Jack Nicklaus (6); Arnold Palmer (4); Tiger Woods (4)
Jimmy Demaret (3); Sam Snead (3); Gary Player (3); Nick Faldo (3);
Horton Smith (2); Byron Nelson (2); Ben Hogan (2); Tom Watson (2); Seve Ballesteros (2); Bernhard Langer (2); Ben Crenshaw (2); Jose Maria Olazabal (2); Phil Mickelson (2)

Who is the youngest winner of the Masters?
Tiger Woods (21 yrs 104 days)

Who was the oldest winner of the Masters?
Jack Nicklaus (46 yrs. 82 days).

Who has made the most Masters appearances?
Arnold Palmer and Gary Player (50 appearances)

Who holds the Masters course record?
Nick Price and Greg Norman (63)

Masters Champions
1934 Horton Smith 1960 Arnold Palmer 1983 Seve Ballesteros
1935 Gene Sarazen 1961 Gary Player 1984 Ben Crenshaw
1936 Horton Smith 1962 Arnold Palmer 1985 Bernhard Langer
1937 Byron Nelson 1963 Jack Nicklaus 1986 Jack Nicklaus
1938 Henry Picard 1964 Arnold Palmer 1987 Larry Mize
1939 Ralph Guldahl 1965 Jack Nicklaus 1988 Sandy Lyle
1940 Jimmy Demaret 1966 Jack Nicklaus 1989 Nick Faldo
1941 Craig Wood 1967 Gay Brewer Jr. 1990 Nick Faldo
1942 Byron Nelson 1968 Bob Goalby 1991 Ian Woosnam
1946 Herman Keiser 1969 George Archer 1992 Fred Couples
1947 Jimmy Demaret 1970 Billy Casper 1993 Bernhard Langer
1948 Claude Harmon 1971 Charles Coody 1994 Jose Maria Olazabal
1949 Sam Snead 1972 Jack Nicklaus 1995 Ben Crenshaw
1950 Jimmy Demaret 1973 Tommy Aaron 1996 Nick Faldo
1951 Ben Hogan 1974 Gary Player 1997 Tiger Woods
1952 Sam Snead 1975 Jack Nicklaus 1998 Mark O’Meara
1953 Ben Hogan 1976 Raymond Floyd 1999 Jose Maria Olazabal
1954 Sam Snead 1977 Tom Watson 2000 Vijay Singh
1955 Cary Middlecoff 1978 Gary Player 2001 Tiger Woods
1956 Jack Burk Jr. 1979 Fuzzy Zoeller 2002 Tiger Woods
1957 Doug Ford 1980 Seve Ballesteros 2003 Mike Weir
1958 Arnold Palmer 1981 Tom Watson 2004 Phil Mickelson
1959 Art Wall Jr. 1982 Craig Stadler 2005 Tiger Woods
2006 Phil Mickelson
2007 Zach Johnson

Who Will Win the 2008 Masters?
Tiger? Phil? Vijay? Ernie?

The outcome of the Masters is seldom predictable until after the final hole has been played. At Augusta National in April we can count on the flowers blooming and the Masters, once again, providing the golf world with a week of exceptional golf entertainment.