Well, it’s springtime in the valley on Magnolia Lane
It’s the Augusta National and the master of the game
Who’ll wear that green coat on Sunday afternoon?
Who’ll walk the 18th fairway singing this tune?

We’re sure the words must ring a lot of bells for you.

The Masters theme song is not just a song for many, it’s an emotion which is just not possible to describe with words. But we’re going to try our best. Just like the song, its creator is not an ordinary musician as some of you already know.

“Spiritually, it was different,” Dave Loggins recalled about his round of golf at Augusta National Golf Club in the spring of 1981. The serene surroundings, with pine trees swaying in the wind and dogwoods in bloom, sparked his creativity, and he began writing the iconic song “Augusta” in his head, the Masters theme song. Before even leaving the course, he had crafted the first verse. Loggins would later refine the song, and in 1982, CBS Sports picked up an instrumental version for their Masters coverage, which has since become the longest-running sports theme in television history.

Loggins’s music career spanned decades, with hits like “Please Come to Boston” and “Nobody Loves Me Like You Do,” a duet with Anne Murray that earned them a Country Music Award. As a songwriter, he penned songs for legendary artists like Willie Nelson, Johnny Cash, and Ray Charles. Loggins passed away at 76, leaving behind a legacy of timeless music, including the beloved Masters theme that has been a staple of the tournament’s broadcast for generations.

CBS Sports recently paid a heartfelt tribute to a legendary composer during the broadcast of the 2025 Masters. Jim Nantz delivered a touching homage to a renowned musician whose work has become synonymous with the tournament. The tribute was for Dave Loggins, a celebrated composer who passed away in July 2024. Loggins’s musical theme has been a staple on CBS’s Masters Tournament coverage, and Nantz’s tribute highlighted the significant impact of his work on the tournament’s broadcast.

You might be surprised to know that Loggins initially thought it would only be played once – he had no idea it would become a beloved classic that’s used for decades.

Dave Loggins thought that the Masters theme song would only air ‘One Year’

Dave Loggins had no idea that the sports theme that came to him while taking in the breathtaking beauty of Augusta National would become his most well-known work. The song, “Augusta,” has become synonymous with the Masters, and according to Lance Burrow, former CBS coordinating producer of golf, it sits in rare air alongside another beloved theme, “One Shining Moment” from college basketball. Burrow noted that when you hear both songs, “you know something special is happening.” Despite its iconic status, the song didn’t bring Loggins significant financial gain. He was initially paid just $3,000, plus writing royalties, and had to cover costs, making the payment even more meager. Loggins didn’t become an Augusta celebrity either, last visiting the Masters in the late 1980s and setting foot in Augusta in 1996.

Despite this, Loggins remained a devoted fan of the Masters, watching it every year on TV with his iconic tune as the soundtrack. In 2019, Loggins expressed his amazement at the song’s longevity, saying, “We thought they’d air it just one year… Now it’s been 38 years. Amazing.” Well, Loggins will definitely be happy to know that even after he is gone, his work still has a special place in people’s hearts, and the 2025 Masters will be the 44th year of the song.

Needless to say, the song will continue to evoke a sense of specialness for years to come, and its legacy will live on as a beloved part of golf history.