By: Imani Jones

The start of spring is most notably recognized by golf fans and professionals at the prestigious annual golf tournament in Augusta, Georgia. Since 1934, every Sunday through Thursday in the first week of April, the Masters Tournament is held at the Augusta National Golf Club, home to the rich history of American golfers who paved the way for the evolution of the now-notable Masters Tournament. 

 April 10 marks the 89th round of the Tournament, which was first founded by amateur golf professional Bobby Jones and co-founder and investment dealer Clifford Roberts following the win of Jones’s first “Grand Slam” in 1930. Jones quickly retired after successfully competing in multiple major championships, five U.S. Amateurs, four U.S. Opens, three British Opens, and one British amateur. Succeeding the achievements of 13 championship wins, his riches were never funded by the prize money provided at each major, but it did not hinder the capitalization of his success. Taking his abilities elsewhere, Jones prioritized family and education, unlike the pros of his time, later creating the Augusta National Golf Club. 

First played in 1934, the initial name of the rounds was a direct representation of the facility, The Augusta National Invitation Tournament, but was later renamed “The Masters”. Jones thought the new name was immodest due to the indirect assumption that only “masters” of golf are the few individuals able to compete in the tournament. Despite his dispute with the phrase, the iconic Masters name has stuck with the tournament.

As decades pass, the annual Masters Tournament becomes increasingly more mainstream, giving bystanders an inside scoop on the secretive and esteemed tournament process. Via social media platforms, attendees of the tournament showcase their purchases in “Masters week hauls” and “What I ate in a day at the Masters,” revealing the distinctive traditions and rules that are crucial for all guests to follow. After meeting specific criteria for admission to the Master’s, pro-golfers must win a major golf championship or be ranked in the top 50 of the Official World Golf Ranking. Patrons bid by the luck of the draw through the Augusta National Ticket Lottery, with a winning chance of one in 200. The ticket lottery opens for the 2026 Masters Tournament on June 1 and closes on June 20 and winners will be notified of the outcome in July.

Following admission, spectators have to follow strict rules that prohibit all use of cellular devices or cameras, are limited to bringing a singular chair into the premisis, no sitting in the grass, no running, no autographs from the professional golfers in competition and a few more limitations to ensure the Masters Tournament is enjoyed to its fullest potential. Everlasting traditions of the green suit jacket that only winners of the tournament receive, the champions’ dinner menu chosen by last year’s tournament champion and a concession stand menu filled with classic lunch items like egg salad and ham and cheese sandwiches. An accumulation of these factors makes the tournament stand out from others, upholding its timeless, unique, high status. Golf fans nationally cherish the Masters event as it highlights the skill and competition within the sport, participating in the fun traditions that are to live on for many years to come. 

(Courtesy of CharityAce)