The Masters Tournament

The Masters Tournament was established in 1934 by Bobby Jones, a legendary amateur golfer, and Clifford Roberts, an investment banker. Originally called the "Augusta National Invitation Tournament," the event was renamed "The Masters Tournament" in 1939.

The tournament's foundation came after Jones retired from competitive golf at the age of 28, having completed the Grand Slam in 1930 by winning the U.S. Open, U.S. Amateur, British Open, and British Amateur. Jones, along with noted architect Alister MacKenzie, designed Augusta National Golf Club on the site of a former nursery, which explains the naming of each hole after plants and trees.

The Masters has created many iconic moments in golf, including Gene Sarazen's "shot heard 'round the world" in 1935, Jack Nicklaus's victory at age 46 in 1986, and Tiger Woods's historic win in 1997, when he became the youngest Masters champion at 21 and set the tournament scoring record.

Throughout its history, the Masters has established unique traditions that have become synonymous with the tournament. The most recognizable is the awarding of the Green Jacket to the champion, which began in 1949. Other traditions include the Par 3 Contest held on Wednesday before the tournament, the Champions Dinner on Tuesday evening, and the honorary starters who hit ceremonial tee shots to open the tournament.

Augusta National itself has evolved over time, with changes to the course layout and conditioning to keep pace with advancing technology and player abilities. Despite these changes, the tournament and the course have maintained their distinctive character and prestige within the world of golf.