Doctor Designer The designer of Augusta National was Alister MacKenzie, a Scot who gave up medicine to dedicate his time to his passion: golf. He designed a golf course with great similarities to Scottish layouts, though he was unable to enjoy his work for very long, as he died shortly after, knowing he had designed his best course. It’s an emblematic example of design and strategy, where players are required to plan each shot perfectly. Each hole can be played in a different way, so players choose their route according to their ability. As far as the landscape is concerned, the course features a great profusion and variety of pine trees, many of which are more than 150 years old. Colourful azaleas are another main feature throughout the course, with more than 30 varieties; and there are several palm trees. During the first few years of Augusta National, the fourth hole was known as the Palm Tree Hole (now it is called the Flowering Crab Apple). The clubhouse is located on an elevated part of the land, and it is from here that Jones and Roberts visualised the course. Situated on the lower part of the hill, at the far end of the course, is the famous Amen Corner, comprising the 11th, 12th and 13th holes – where several Masters have been won or lost. The name “Amen Corner” was coined in 1958 by Sports Illustrated journalist Herbert Warren Wind, who wrote that it consisted of the second half of the 11th hole, the 12th and the first half of the 13th. He took the name from an old jazz song, “Shouting Amen Corner”. The 11th is a 416-metre par-4, with a lake from the front to the left of the green. The 12th, a 142-metre par-3, is the most challenging of the three holes, as it requires great care not to stray off the fairway. The 13th is a 443-metre, par-5 dogleg, also extremely challenging and with the risk - for those going for the pin in two - of the ball landing in a creek that passes in front of the green.
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Cotroversial changes.
The club only survived thanks to the efforts of its founders, Roberts and Jones. The Masters was launched, under another name, when Jones and Roberts decided to create a major event to be held every year in Georgia. Jones’ idea was to invite all the world’s top players to compete at the course. In 1934, Roberts wanted to call the tournament “The Masters” but Jones felt it was too pretentious, so it was called “The first annual Augusta National Invitational Tournament”. Roberts was insistent, however, and used the press to change the name. In 1938, the name “Masters” was officially adopted. ■
History of the green jacket The garment that distinguishes Masters champions dates to 1937, the year Augusta national members began wearing a green jacket. The club committee urged members to buy the jacket and wear it during the Masters, so they could be easily identified. At first, members weren’t particularly enthusiastic about using the jacket as it was too hot, but years later it was made with a lighter material. The tradition of giving a green jacket to the winner was initiated in 1949, when Sam Snead was victorious. The jacket, whose colour is known as “Masters Green”, includes the Augusta National Golf Club logo on the top left pocket, also engraved on the buttons in bronze. Traditionally, the winner takes his jacket home for a year, returning it the following year when he competes in the next tournament. It is kept in the club and is available for when the owner visits the course. When the Masters is drawing to an end, various sizes of jacket that could be suitable for the eventual winner are put aside for the trophy ceremony. The winner subsequently supplies his measurements so the right-sized jacket can be made up. Normally, a multiple winner will only have one jacket, unless his size changes significantly over the years.
The ceremony during which the champion from the previous year helps his successor into the green jacket had to be altered in 1966 when Jack Nicklaus became the first player to win the Masters two years in a row. Bobby Jones suggested he put it on himself, and that’s what he did to jubilant applause from the huge galleries watching the ceremony. No other player won consecutive titles until Nick Faldo in 1990, and on this occasion the president of the host club helped him into his jacket. In 2002, Tiger Woods secured his second consecutive win and was also helped into it by the Augusta National president.
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