History of Masters Tournament in Timeline

The Masters Tournament is a major golf championship held annually during the first full week of April. Uniquely, it's always played at Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, Georgia. As the first major of the year, it holds a prominent position in professional golf.

1930: Bobby Jones Grand Slam

In 1930, Bobby Jones achieved a grand slam in golf. Following this achievement, Jones acquired a former plant nursery to co-design the Augusta National course with Alister MacKenzie.

1931: Construction of Augusta National Begins

In 1931, construction began on the Augusta National golf course, with Alister MacKenzie assisting Bobby Jones in the design.

1932: Gene Sarazen's Double Eagle

In 1932, Gene Sarazen made a double eagle on hole 15 at the Masters Tournament.

1933: Augusta National Course Opens

In 1933, the Augusta National golf course officially opened. Since then, the course has undergone numerous modifications by various architects over the years.

March 22, 1934: First Augusta National Invitation Tournament

On March 22, 1934, the inaugural "Augusta National Invitation Tournament" took place, which would later become known as the Masters. Horton Smith won the tournament, receiving the first prize of $1,500.

1934: First Masters Tournament

In 1934, the inaugural Masters Tournament was held. It became an official money event on the PGA Tour, the European Tour, and the Japan Golf Tour, hosted by the Augusta National Golf Club.

1935: Course Layout Reversed

For the 1935 tournament, the course layout was permanently reversed to its current setup, with holes 1 through 9 played as the first nine and 10 through 18 as the second nine.

1935: Sarazen's "Shot Heard 'Round the World"

In 1935, Gene Sarazen famously hit the "shot heard 'round the world" by holing out from the fairway on the par-5 15th hole for a double eagle (albatross). This remarkable shot tied Sarazen with Craig Wood, leading to a 36-hole playoff where Sarazen emerged victorious.

1937: Byron Nelson's First Masters Win

In 1937, Byron Nelson secured the first of his two Masters Tournament titles.

1939: Tournament Name Changed to The Masters

In 1939, the Augusta National Invitation Tournament officially adopted the name "The Masters".

1940: Masters Tournament's Growing Prominence

In 1940, Clifford Roberts, chairman of the Masters, declared that the tournament had become one of the top tournaments in the United States, noting its increasing attendance figures.

1942: Scheduled End Date

The 1942 Masters event was scheduled to end on the second Sunday.

1943: Masters Tournament Suspended Due to WWII

From 1943 to 1945, the Masters Tournament was not held due to World War II.

1945: Masters Tournament Still Suspended Due to WWII

In 1945, the Masters Tournament remained suspended due to World War II. During this time, the Augusta National grounds were used to raise cattle and turkeys in support of the war effort.

1948: Scheduled Final Round

Since 1948, the final round of the Masters has been scheduled for the second Sunday of April, with several exceptions.

1949: Green Jacket Awarded

Beginning with the 1949 Masters, the champion has been awarded a green jacket, which must be returned to the clubhouse after one year but remains the champion's personal property.

1951: Ben Hogan's First Masters Win

In 1951, Ben Hogan won the Masters Tournament, marking one of his two victories at Augusta.

1951: Introduction of Silver Medal

In 1951, the Masters Tournament introduced a silver medal for the runner-up.

1952: Champions Dinner Inaugurated

In 1952, Ben Hogan inaugurated the Champions Dinner at the Masters. This event is held on the Tuesday before each Masters tournament and is exclusively for past champions and select board members of the Augusta National Golf Club.

1952: Silver Cup Award

In 1952, the Masters began presenting the Silver Cup award to the lowest scoring amateur to make the cut.

1952: First Champions' Dinner

In 1952, the first Champions' Dinner was held at the Masters Tournament, hosted by defending champion Ben Hogan, to honor the past champions of the tournament.

1952: Tournament End Date

The Masters Tournament ended on the first Sunday in 1952.

1953: Ben Hogan's Second Masters Win

In 1953, Ben Hogan won the Masters Tournament, solidifying his legacy at Augusta.

1954: Amateur Silver Medal

In 1954, the Masters began presenting an amateur silver medal to the low amateur runner-up.

1955: BBC holds rights to live professional golf

Until 1955, BBC held rights to live professional golf.

1956: Westwood One provides live radio coverage

Since 1956, Westwood One (previously Dial Global and CBS Radio) has provided live radio play-by-play coverage in the United States.

1957: Tournament End Date

The Masters Tournament ended on the first Sunday in 1957.

1958: Palmer's First Masters Win

In 1958, Arnold Palmer clinched his first Masters Tournament title.

1958: Par-3 Course Built

In 1958, the par 3 course was built at Augusta National. It is a nine-hole course, with a par of 27, and measures 1,060 yards (970 m) in length.

1958: Tournament End Date

The Masters Tournament ended on the first Sunday in 1958.

1959: Tournament End Date

The Masters Tournament ended on the first Sunday in 1959.

1960: Palmer's Second Masters Win

In 1960, Arnold Palmer won his second Masters by one stroke in memorable circumstances, making birdies on the last two holes to beat Ken Venturi.

1960: First Par-3 Contest

In 1960, the Par-3 contest was first introduced at the Masters Tournament, with Sam Snead winning that year.

1960: Par-3 Contest Begins

Since 1960, a semi-social contest on the par-3 course has been played on the Wednesday before the first round of the Masters Tournament.

1961: Gary Player's Masters Win

In 1961, Gary Player became the first non-American player to win the Masters Tournament.

1961: Player's Historic Masters Win

In 1961, Gary Player became the first non-American to win the Masters, beating defending champion Arnold Palmer by one stroke.

1961: Gary Player Takes Green Jacket Home

In 1961, Gary Player mistakenly took his green jacket home to South Africa after his Masters victory.

1962: Palmer's Third Masters Victory

In 1962, Arnold Palmer won another Masters Tournament, adding to his legacy at Augusta.

1963: Nicklaus' First Masters Win

In 1963, Jack Nicklaus secured his first Masters Tournament win, marking the beginning of his record-setting six victories at Augusta.

1963: Nicklaus Wins First Masters Tournament

In 1963, Jack Nicklaus won his first Masters, defeating Tony Lema by one stroke, marking the beginning of his successful run at Augusta.

1963: Honorary Starters Introduced

In 1963, the custom of starting the Masters Tournament with an honorary opening tee shot was introduced with Jock Hutchison and Fred McLeod as the first two honorary starters.

1963: Honorary Tee Shot Tradition Begins

Starting in 1963, the Masters Tournament began the tradition of having distinguished golfers, often past champions, hit an honorary tee shot on the morning of the first round to commence play.

1964: Palmer's Fourth Masters Victory

In 1964, Arnold Palmer secured his fourth Masters Tournament title, further cementing his place in Masters history.

1966: Nicklaus Wins Consecutive Years

In 1966, Jack Nicklaus became the first player to win the Masters Tournament in consecutive years and donned the green jacket himself.

1967: Double Eagle Trophy Introduced

In 1967, the Double Eagle trophy was introduced at the Masters Tournament when Bruce Devlin scored a double eagle on hole number 8.

1968: De Vicenzo Scorecard Controversy

In 1968, Roberto De Vicenzo signed an incorrect scorecard, recording a par 4 instead of a birdie 3 on the 17th hole, costing him a chance at a playoff with Bob Goalby, who won the Masters.

1972: Nicklaus' Fourth Masters Victory

In 1972, Jack Nicklaus won his fourth Masters Tournament by three strokes, adding to his impressive record at Augusta.

1972: Waiting list for the patrons list opened

In 1972, a waiting list for the patrons list was opened.

1973: Hutchison's Last Tournament

In 1973, poor health prevented Jock Hutchison from swinging a club at the Masters Tournament. Fred McLeod continued on as honorary starter.

1974: Player's Second Masters Victory

In 1974, Gary Player won his second Masters Tournament by two strokes.

1975: Nicklaus' Fifth Masters Win

In 1975, Jack Nicklaus secured his fifth Masters Tournament win, narrowly defeating Tom Weiskopf and Johnny Miller in a memorable contest.

1975: Lee Elder Breaks the Color Barrier

In 1975, Lee Elder became the first African American to play in the Masters Tournament, marking a significant milestone in the tournament's history.

1975: Elder Participates

In 1975, Lee Elder was the first African-American to take part in the Masters Tournament.

1976: McLeod's Death

Fred McLeod continued as honorary starter until his death in 1976.

1976: U.S. Open Caddies

The U.S. Open first allowed players to use their own caddies in 1976.

1977: Roberts's Death

Club co-founder Clifford Roberts died in 1977. Since 1983—six years after Roberts's death in 1977—players have been allowed the option of bringing their own caddie to the tournament.

1978: The Big Three Era Ends

From 1960 through 1978, the Big Three of Arnold Palmer, Gary Player, and Jack Nicklaus dominated the Masters, collectively winning 11 times.

1978: Player's Third Masters Victory

In 1978, Gary Player, at age 42, won his third and final Masters Tournament by one stroke over three players.

1978: Silver Salver Award

In 1978, a silver salver was added as an award for the runner-up at the Masters Tournament.

1978: Waiting list for the patrons list closed

In 1978, the waiting list for the patrons list was closed.

1979: Zoeller's Suggestion

In 1979, Fuzzy Zoeller, the champion, created a media storm when he suggested that Tiger Woods refrain from serving collard greens and fried chicken at the Masters Champions' Dinner.

1979: Tournament End Date

The 1979 Masters Tournament ended on April 15, the month's third Sunday.

1980: Ballesteros Becomes First European Winner

In 1980, Seve Ballesteros became the first European player to win the Masters Tournament, marking a shift in international representation at the event.

1980: Seve Ballesteros' First Masters Win

In 1980, Seve Ballesteros of Spain became the second non-American player to win the Masters Tournament.

1981: Nelson and Sarazen Start

In 1981, Byron Nelson and Gene Sarazen started as honorary starters at the Masters Tournament.

1981: Norman's First Masters Appearance

In 1981, Greg Norman made his first appearance at Augusta, leading during the second nine but ultimately finishing fourth.

1981: CBS uses "Augusta" as theme music

Since 1981, CBS has used "Augusta" by Dave Loggins as the event telecast's distinctive theme music.

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1983: Seve Ballesteros' Second Masters Win

In 1983, Seve Ballesteros secured his second Masters Tournament victory.

1983: Players Allowed Own Caddies

Since 1983, players have been allowed the option of bringing their own caddie to the Masters Tournament.

1984: Crenshaw's First Masters Win

In 1984, Ben Crenshaw secured his first Masters Tournament victory, marking a significant achievement in his career.

1984: Channel 4 airs closing moments of the 3rd and 4th rounds

In 1984, Channel 4 aired the closing moments of the 3rd and 4th rounds in the UK, marking the first live coverage of the event in the UK.

1984: Snead Joins

In 1984, Sam Snead joined Byron Nelson and Gene Sarazen as an honorary starter at the Masters Tournament.

1984: Tournament End Date

The 1984 Masters Tournament ended on April 15, the month's third Sunday.

1985: Channel 4 continues coverage

In 1985, Channel 4 repeated its coverage of the closing moments of the 3rd and 4th rounds of the Masters Tournament.

1986: Langer Serves Wiener Schnitzel

In 1986, German Bernhard Langer served Wiener schnitzel at the Masters Champions' Dinner.

1986: Norman's Bogey on 18

In 1986, Greg Norman, after birdieing holes 14 through 17 to tie Nicklaus for the lead, bogeyed the 18th hole, missing a chance to win the Masters.

1986: Nicklaus Becomes Oldest Masters Winner

In 1986, Jack Nicklaus became the oldest player to win the Masters at age 46, securing his sixth victory at Augusta.

1986: Nicklaus' Sixth Masters Win

In 1986, Jack Nicklaus won his sixth Masters Tournament, solidifying his record for the most Masters wins.

1986: Nicklaus's Final Victory

In 1986, after Jack Nicklaus's final Masters Tournament victory, he won $144,000.

1987: Mize's Playoff Victory Over Norman

In 1987, Larry Mize defeated Greg Norman in a sudden-death playoff, holing out a remarkable 45-yard pitch shot to birdie the second playoff hole and become the first Augusta native to win the Masters.

1989: Lyle Serves Haggis

In 1989, Scotsman Sandy Lyle served haggis at the Masters Champions' Dinner.

1990: Faldo Repeats as Champion

In 1990, when Nick Faldo repeated as Masters champion, the chairman of Augusta National put the green jacket on him.

1994: Green Jacket Found

In 1994, a green jacket was found at a thrift store.

1995: Crenshaw's Emotional Masters Win

In 1995, Ben Crenshaw won an emotional Masters Tournament, just days after the death of his mentor Harvey Penick. He broke down crying after making the final putt.

1996: Faldo's Victory Over Norman

In 1996, Greg Norman led Nick Faldo by six strokes entering the final round, but shot a closing 78 while Faldo carded a 67 to win by five shots for his third Masters championship.

1997: Tiger Woods' First Masters Win

In 1997, Tiger Woods won his first Masters Tournament, which was the first of his five wins between 1997 and 2019.

1997: Tiger Woods' Historic Victory

In 1997, Tiger Woods, at age 21, became the youngest champion in Masters history, winning by 12 shots with an 18-under par 270, breaking the 72-hole record.

1998: Woods Serves Cheeseburgers

In 1998, Tiger Woods served cheeseburgers, chicken sandwiches, french fries and milkshakes at the Masters Champions' Dinner.

1999: Sarazen's Death

In 1999, Gene Sarazen died, while Nelson continued on as honorary starter at the Masters Tournament.

1999: Norman's Final Masters Disappointment

In 1999, Greg Norman faltered on the second nine of the final round of the Masters and finished third behind winner José María Olazábal, marking another disappointing finish at Augusta despite multiple top-five finishes in his career.

2000: Waiting list for the patrons list reopened

In 2000, the waiting list for the patrons list was reopened and subsequently closed once again.

2001: Purse Growth

Between 2001 and 2014, the winner's share of the Masters Tournament purse grew by $612,000, and the total purse grew by $3,400,000.

2001: Woods Completes "Tiger Slam"

In 2001, Tiger Woods completed his "Tiger Slam" by winning his fourth straight major championship at the Masters, finishing two shots ahead of David Duval.

2002: Snead's Last Tee Shot

In 2002, Sam Snead hit his final opening tee shot at the Masters Tournament, a little over a month before he died.

2002: Television sponsorship suspended

In 2002, following calls to boycott tournament sponsors due to the Martha Burk controversy, club chairman Hootie Johnson suspended all television sponsorship of the 2003 tournament.

2002: Woods Repeats as Champion

In 2002, when Tiger Woods repeated as Masters champion, the chairman of Augusta National put the green jacket on him.

2003: Burk's Protest Against Augusta National

In 2003, Martha Burk organized a protest at the Masters to pressure the Augusta National Golf Club into accepting female members, but her efforts were unsuccessful.

2003: Weir's Historic Win

In 2003, Mike Weir became the first Canadian to win a men's major championship and the first left-hander to win the Masters, defeating Len Mattiace in a playoff.

2003: Television sponsorship suspended due to Martha Burk controversy

In 2003, due to the Martha Burk controversy, television sponsorship was suspended for the tournament.

2003: Martha Burk Protests

In 2003, the Martha Burk protests occurred, but the broadcast lacked discussion of this controversy involving Augusta National.

2004: Burk Ends Protests Against Augusta National

In 2004, Martha Burk announced that she had no further plans to protest against the Augusta National Golf Club.

2004: Arrangement continues after sponsorship suspension

In 2004, the arrangement continued after the suspension of television sponsorship in 2003, with CBS splitting production costs with the club.

2005: Woods Wins Masters in Playoff

In 2005, Tiger Woods won the Masters by defeating Chris DiMarco in a playoff, securing his first major championship win in almost three years.

2005: Tournament reinstates sponsorships with new partners

In 2005, the Masters Tournament reinstated sponsorships with new partners AT&T (then SBC), IBM, and ExxonMobil.

2006: Mickelson's Second Masters Victory

In 2006, Phil Mickelson added to his success at Augusta by winning the Masters Tournament for the second time.

2007: Palmer Takes Over

In 2007, Arnold Palmer took over as the honorary starter at the Masters Tournament.

2007: BBC HD broadcasts the championship in HD

In 2007, with the launch of BBC HD, UK viewers were able to watch the championship in that format.

2008: Palmer as Honorary Starter

In 2008, Arnold Palmer was the honorary starter at the Masters Tournament.

2008: Tiger Woods' Last Major Win Before 2019 Masters

In 2008, Tiger Woods last major title win happened, marking the end of a major-win drought until his 2019 Masters victory.

2008: Immelman Serves Bobotie

In 2008, champion Trevor Immelman served bobotie, a South African dish, at the Masters Champions' Dinner.

2008: Masters Junior Pass Program begins

In 2008, the Masters began allowing children between 8 and 16 to enter on tournament days for free if accompanied by a series badge patron, as part of their Junior Pass Program.

2008: Par-3 Contest Televised

In 2008, the Par-3 contest at the Masters Tournament was televised for the first time by ESPN.

2009: Palmer as Honorary Starter

In 2009, Arnold Palmer was the honorary starter at the Masters Tournament.

2009: Ángel Cabrera Wins Masters Tournament

In 2009, Ángel Cabrera won the Masters Tournament.

April 2010: Payne Comments on Woods' Behavior

In April 2010, Augusta National chairman Billy Payne commented on Tiger Woods' off-the-course behavior at the annual pre-Masters press conference, expressing disappointment in Woods' actions and their impact on children.

2010: Nicklaus Joins Palmer

In 2010, Jack Nicklaus joined Arnold Palmer as an honorary co-starter for the Masters Tournament.

2010: Mickelson's Third Masters Win

In 2010, Phil Mickelson won the Masters Tournament for the third time, further cementing his legacy at Augusta.

2010: BBC Sport holds exclusive TV and radio rights

Until 2010, BBC Sport held the exclusive TV and radio rights to the Masters Tournament in the UK.

2011: Sky Sports broadcasts all four days in HD and 3D

From the 2011 Masters, Sky Sports began broadcasting all four days, as well as the par 3 contest in HD and, for the first time ever, in 3D.

2011: Schwartzel's Masters Win

In 2011, Charl Schwartzel of South Africa won the Masters Tournament, birdieing the final four holes to win by two strokes.

2011: Nicklaus Joins Palmer

In 2011, Jack Nicklaus joined Arnold Palmer as an honorary co-starter for the Masters Tournament.

2011: Mickelson's Spanish-Themed Dinner

In 2011, Phil Mickelson's Champions' Dinner at the Masters was a Spanish-themed menu in hopes that Seve Ballesteros would attend, but he was too sick to attend and died weeks later.

2012: Augusta National Admits First Female Members

In 2012, Augusta National Golf Club admitted its first two women members, Condoleezza Rice and Darla Moore.

2012: Watson Wins in Playoff

In 2012, Bubba Watson secured his first Masters Tournament title by winning on the second playoff hole over Louis Oosthuizen.

2012: French-language coverage aired on TVA and TVA Sports

In 2012, French-language coverage of the Masters Tournament in Canada aired on TVA and TVA Sports.

2012: Player Joins Honorary Starters

In 2012, Gary Player joined Arnold Palmer and Jack Nicklaus as an honorary starter at the Masters Tournament.

2013: Scott's Historic Masters Win

In 2013, Adam Scott became the first Australian to win the Masters Tournament, defeating Ángel Cabrera in a playoff.

2013: Drive, Chip and Putt Established

In 2013, Augusta National partnered with the USGA and the PGA of America to establish Drive, Chip and Putt, a youth golf skills competition.

2013: Global and TSN begin selling advertising directly

In 2013, Global and TSN began selling advertising directly and co-produced supplemental programs covering the Masters Tournament, while still carrying U.S. coverage for the tournament itself.

2013: Pimento Cheese Sandwich Change

In 2013, minor controversy ensued at the Masters when the club switched food suppliers and the new supplier was unable to duplicate the pimento cheese sandwich recipe, resulting in a sandwich with a markedly different taste.

2014: Purse Growth

Between 2001 and 2014, the winner's share of the Masters Tournament purse grew by $612,000, and the total purse grew by $3,400,000.

2014: Watson's Second Masters Victory

In 2014, Bubba Watson won his second Masters Tournament title, finishing three strokes ahead of Jordan Spieth and Jonas Blixt.

2014: Mercedes-Benz replaces ExxonMobil as a global sponsor

In 2014, Mercedes-Benz replaced ExxonMobil as a global sponsor for the Masters Tournament.

2014: Rolex and UPS are international partners

In 2014, Rolex and UPS were the international partners for the Masters Tournament, with UPS replacing Mercedes-Benz.

2014: First Drive, Chip and Putt Competition

In 2014, the first Drive, Chip and Putt competition was held as a youth golf skills event.

December 15, 2015: Bell Media acquires exclusive Canadian rights

On December 15, 2015, Bell Media, the parent company of TSN, announced that it had acquired exclusive Canadian rights to the Masters Tournament beginning in 2016 under a multi-year deal.

2015: Two Holes-in-One in the Same Round

In 2015, Camilo Villegas became the first player to card two holes-in-one in the same round during the Par 3 Contest at the Masters.

2015: Spieth's Masters Win

In 2015, Jordan Spieth became the second-youngest winner (behind Woods) in Masters history, equalling Woods' 72-hole scoring record in just his second Masters appearance.

March 2016: Palmer Unable to Partake

In March 2016, Arnold Palmer announced that a lingering shoulder issue would prevent him from partaking in the 2016 tee shot at the Masters Tournament.

2016: Palmer's Death

Following Arnold Palmer's death in 2016, the 2017 ceremony featured tributes at the Masters Tournament.

2016: BBC loses live rights to the Open Championship

In 2016, BBC lost live rights to the Open Championship to Sky, marking the first time since 1955 that the BBC no longer holds any rights to live professional golf.

2016: Record Holes-in-One

In 2016, a record nine holes-in-one occurred in the Par-3 contest at the Masters Tournament. Rickie Fowler and Justin Thomas scored back-to-back holes in one on the 4th hole.

2016: Broadcast television coverage moves to CTV

In 2016, broadcast television coverage of the Masters Tournament moved to CTV, a co-owned broadcast network, while TSN used its expanded five-channel service to carry supplemental feeds.

2017: Eir Sport broadcasts all four rounds live

In 2017, Eir Sport began broadcasting all four rounds of the Masters Tournament live in Ireland, after Setanta Ireland previously showed all four rounds, and previously broadcasting the opening two rounds with RTÉ broadcasting the weekend coverage.

2017: Garcia's First Major Title

In 2017, Sergio García won his first major title at the Masters, defeating Justin Rose in a playoff.

2017: Green Jacket Auction

In 2017, a green jacket that was found at a thrift store in 1994 was sold at auction for $139,000.

2017: Tributes to Palmer

In 2017, following Palmer's death in 2016, the ceremony featured tributes at the Masters Tournament; his green jacket was draped over an empty white chair, while everyone in attendance wore "Arnie's Army" badges.

April 4, 2018: Augusta National Women's Amateur Announced

On April 4, 2018, Augusta National chairman Fred Ridley announced that the club would host the Augusta National Women's Amateur beginning in 2019.

2019: Woods' Fifth Masters Triumph

In 2019, Tiger Woods captured his fifth Masters Tournament title, marking his first win at Augusta National in 14 years and his first major title since 2008.

2019: Sky to hold exclusive rights

In 2019, it was announced that Sky will hold exclusive rights to live coverage of all four rounds beginning 2020. The BBC will only hold rights to delayed highlights.

2019: Inaugural Augusta National Women's Amateur

In 2019, the inaugural Augusta National Women's Amateur tournament was held.

2020: Sky holds exclusive rights to live coverage

Beginning in 2020, Sky holds exclusive rights to live coverage of all four rounds of the Masters Tournament in the UK, while the BBC only holds rights to delayed highlights.

2020: 2020 Masters Postponed and Johnson Wins

In 2020, the Masters Tournament was postponed until November due to the coronavirus outbreak. Dustin Johnson won the tournament by five strokes.

2020: 2020 Masters Tournament

The 2020 Masters Tournament, postponed by the COVID-19 pandemic, was held from November 12 to 15, thus being the last major of the year.

2021: Sky Sports broadcasts the event exclusively in Ireland

After Eir Sport's closure in 2021, Sky Sports will broadcast the Masters Tournament exclusively in Ireland for the first time, similar to the UK.

2021: Elder Joins as Honorary Starter

In 2021, Lee Elder joined Jack Nicklaus and Gary Player as an honorary starter at the Masters Tournament. He was invited to join them as he was the first African-American to take part in the Masters in 1975.