A Forgotten Fact About the Masters: Golf’s Greatest Major

The Masters Tournament is one of the four major championships. Although it is the youngest among the other three, the Augusta National is considered the greatest Major of golf. And there are several reasons for that! 

Since the inaugural event itself, the tournament has gained immense popularity. All the credits for this go to Bobby Jones, who was the co-founder, along with Clifford Roberts, of the Augusta National. The 1934 Masters was the first event Jones had attended in four years.

As a legendary golfer who had won all four Major championships at the time, the British Open, the British Amateur, the U.S. Open, and the U.S. Amateur, Jones was at his peak in his career when he retired. And when he announced his participation at the 1934 Augusta National event, it was a huge deal. 

The unique traditions of the Augusta National event

Furthermore, the Augusta National event’s traditions have contributed a lot to making it the greatest major. The main tradition of the event is the yearly Champion’s Dinner. 

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The two-time Masters winner Ben Hogan had suggested the idea, and it had been a tradition since 1952. Only the winners of the event are invited, and the previous year’s winner hosts the event. The Green Jacket presented to the winner, the Champions locker room, and the honorary starters are some of the traditions at the Augusta National. 

The Par-3 Contest is also a tradition that keeps the tournament more interesting. Began in 1958, the event entertains the fans of the tournament. It is usually played a day before the Augusta event. 

Furthermore, the Augusta event is the only major that sends out invitations for its players. Apart from the event winner, the golfers have to qualify to get the invitation. 

Arnold Palmer made the Masters the fourth major!

Nicknamed The King, Arnold Palmer was the first to point out that the Masters has to be considered the fourth major. He suggested omitting the Amateur Championships from the majors’ list and adding the PGA Championship and Masters.  

Palmer suggested his ideas to the golf writer Bob Drum on a flight journey. “He picked up on that, and he wrote that story,” Palmer said. “We started what we know as the Grand Slam of golf.”

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Since its inception, the Augusta National event has been considered one of the best golf tournaments. The event’s legacy and traditions make it one of the greatest Majors!