Golf Tours & News

Looking to provide a service to golf by hosting a tournament, Bobby Jones and Clifford Roberts decided to hold an annual event beginning in 1934. Roberts proposed the event be called the Masters Tournament, but Bobby Jones objected thinking it too presumptuous.The name Augusta National Invitation Tournament was adopted and the title was used for five years until 1939 when Jones relented and the name was officially changed.

Many decisions made in the early days of the Tournament remain today. Among these are the four-day stroke playing of 18 holes each day instead of the then customary 36 holes on the third day, eliminating qualifying rounds, and denying permission for anyone except the player and caddie to be in the playing area. A complimentary pairing sheet and a spectator booklet were provided, and commercialization in any form of the Tournament was limited.

The first Tournament was held March 22, 1934, and beginning in 1940, the Masters was scheduled each year during the first full week in April. Tournament was not played the following three years, 1943, 1944 and 1945, during the war.

Phil Mickelson (2006); Tiger Woods (2005); Phil Mickelson (2004); Mike Weir (2003); Tiger Woods (2002 and 2001); Vijay Singh (2000)

 

Jones and Roberts left indelible impressions on the Masters and on the world of golf.