Category: The Masters
Augusta National and the Masters Tournament are Bobby Jones' second enduring legacy to golf. The course and club were founded in 1931, after Jones retired from competitive golf. The tournament originally was called the Augusta National Invitation Tournament, because Jones didn't like the sound of "The Masters." However, the name changed in 1939. Horton Smith won the first Masters, but it was Gene Sarazen in the second who put the tournament on the map with his double eagle on the 15th -- the "shot heard round the world." Watch this section for articles and updates on The Masters, including scores, leaderboards, and results.
A Listener’s Guide To Augusta National And The Masters
Masters broadcasts are ripe (perhaps overly so) with references to the names of various geographical features at Augusta National. The announcers drop names like the “Crow’s Nest”, “Eisenhower Tree” and “Amen Corner” with careless abandon, perhaps assuming that the average listener knows what they’re talking about—or perhaps in an attempt to make themselves seem to be a chummy insider at America’s most hallowed course.
Here’s a guide to some of the more famous landmark references:
Augusta National Course Record
Masters Trivia:
The course record for Augusta National is a 63, recorded by Nick Price in 1986 and Greg Norman in 1996.
Augusta National Yardage, Pars and Club Names
Among Golf’s Majors, the Masters is unique because it always is played on the same course: Augusta National. As a result, even the casual golf fan is familiar with the look of the course. Below, you’ll find a chart with the names of each hole, the pars and the yardages for Augusta National.
Player Just Keeps Playing
Here’s one record that I think even Tiger will never own: When the Masters kicks off next week, Gary Player will tee it up for the fifty first time. And just not with a ceremonial first shot off the tee. Given what we know about the eternally young champion, he probably thinks he has a chance to make the weekend.
I wouldn’t put it past him. When I saw him at the Ford Championship two summers ago, I was amazed at the shots he was making.
But even if he doesn’t make the weekend, playing in 51 Masters is an incredible achievement. Most of the players he will face weren’t even alive when he first played Augusta National.
Ian Woosnam put the Masters Tournament record Gary Player will break in two weeks in perspective.
“I’m 50 years of age, and he’s played there 51 years,” he said of Player, who will break the record for the most starts at Augusta National he currently shares with Arnold Palmer. “It is mind-boggling.”
Some have criticized Player, saying that he’s only hanging on to pass Palmer, but he doesn’t see it that way. The fitness fanatic says that his primary motivation is to serve as an inspiration for others.
Player said his main motivation for playing in a record number of tournaments isn’t something he views as a personal goal fulfilled, but an example for youth.
“What gives me the thrill is the fact that I can influence a lot of young people,” he said. “My dream now is to influence them to look after their bodies. We’re riddled with it, obesity. This is a concern to me. I want to see the young people look after their bodies. It’s a natural thing that I would like to leave a legacy, as far as young people are concerned.”
He certainly inspires me. Watching him play, I know that there are a LOT of good years of golf (and life) ahead of me.
Memories of The Masters
ESPN columnist Bob Harig has a collection of the Masters memories of past Champions, including Sandy Lyle, Ben Crenshaw, Bernhard Langer, Mark O’Meara, Gary Player, Craig Stadler, Tom Watson, Ian Woosnam and Fuzzy Zoeller. It’s a nice collection because—aside from Player and Watson—these are not the ones typically interviewed about Augusta.
Stadler’s comments:
Craig Stadler led by six shots with nine holes to play in 1992, but fell into a tie with Dan Pohl, forcing a sudden-death playoff, which Stadler won with a par at the 10th hole, the first extra hole.
“Three-putting 18 stands out, if you really want to know. To fall back into the playoff. I hit two good shots to about 40 feet with a 4-iron. I thought I hit a pretty good first putt and left it 8 feet short. And hit a good second putt. So there you go. We went right to the playoff. Unfortunately, he returned the favor by three-putting 10. It worked out. Obviously, it would have been nice to stand there on 18 with my arms up after having made the putt. But that’s OK. I haven’t lost sleep over it.”



