Winning the Masters Tournament comes with a number of benefits.
Prizes include cash, a trophy in the Augusta National clubhouse and lifetime invitations to future Masters tournaments.
And of course, the infamous Green Jacket.
Ahead of the 2024 Masters, here’s everything you need to know about the green jacket, when the tradition started and where it originated.
How did the green jacket at the Masters start?
Before the green jacket was awarded to the Masters winner, it was first given to Augusta National members. So how did this tradition start? According to PGA.com, there are two stories.
First, when Augusta National co-founder Bobby Jones attended a dinner in Liverpool, England, the club’s captains were seen wearing green jackets, which symbolized their rank, and Jones was a fan.
Second, Augusta National co-founder Clifford Roberts saw it as a way for non-club guests to perceive club members as a trusted source of information, while also letting waiters know who was picking up the dinner tab.
When did the green jacket at the Masters start?
Augusta National opened in 1934, but the Green Jacket tradition began in 1937. From then until 1948, only Augusta National members wore the Green Jacket.
The jackets were originally purchased from the Brooks Uniform Company of New York, but the band members felt the material was too thick and uncomfortable to wear in warmer climates, so they changed suppliers.
Where did the green jacket at the Masters come from?
The tradition began at Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, Georgia. Bobby Jones and Clifford Roberts founded the club in 1932. Jones wanted to create a world-class winter golf course in his home state.
Who won the first Masters green jacket?
Sam Snead became the first golfer to wear the green jacket when he won the Masters in 1949. The jacket has since been retroactively awarded to all previous winners of the tournament.
How long does it take to make a Masters green jacket?
The green jacket at the Masters is a classic three-button, single-breasted, single-vent design made from tropical weight wool, logo-engraved brass buttons and interior stitching.
A Masters green jacket takes about a month to make from start to finish due to materials, and costs an estimated $250 to make, though the club has not disclosed the cost. The jackets are not available for sale to the public.
Who has won the most Masters green jackets?
The golfer with the most Masters victories is Jack Nicklaus. The American won the tournament in 1963, 1965, 1966, 1972, 1975 and 1986.
However, Nicklaus only has one jacket, and technically he’s not allowed to take it home. Multiple Masters winners are awarded the same jacket they had before. The only exception to keeping the jacket at home is if the winner returns it to the club at the next Masters.
Who will wear the Masters green jacket?
One of the greatest traditions in sports is the wearing of the green jacket at the Masters, and the usual tradition is for the defending champion to put the jacket on the new winner.
However, three golfers have won the tournament consecutively: Nicklaus, Nick Faldo and Tiger Woods.
In these situations, the Masters chairman at the time stepped in and awarded the jacket to the player who won back-to-back titles.
Has a Masters champion ever lost his green jacket?
As mentioned above, Masters winners can keep their green jackets as long as they return them before the next tournament. But in one case, the return wasn’t so easy.
In 1961, South African Gary Player became the first international winner of the tournament and took the green jacket home, but when he returned to play the following year, he forgot to take the jacket home with him.
When co-founder Clifford Roberts brought it up, Player responded, “Mr. Roberts, if you want it, come and get it.”
But Roberts found the comment amusing and compromised with the player, telling him not to wear it in public.
And when Billy Casper won the Masters in 1970, he loved the green jacket and the tournament so much he refused to give it up. When he died in 2015, his wife Shirley asked Augusta National for permission to bury him in it.
Are the green jackets that players wear after winning the Masters official?
No, the green jackets worn by players at the winner’s presentation ceremony are not official – they are for the presentation ceremony only. Winners will be fitted and given a jacket to wear at a later date within the club grounds.
