Timeline for the Masters

The first Augusta National Invitational Tournament was won by Horton Smith.

1935
Gene Sarazen hits the “shot heard ‘round the world” – albatross from 230 yards.

1939
The tournament changes it’s name and becomes ‘The Masters’. Ralph Guldhal wins the tournament with a score of nine under. He wins $1,500.

1943-1945
World War Two leads to the cancellation of the tournament. The fairways of Augusta are used for raising cows and turkeys.

1948
President Eisenhower becomes a member – Ike’s Pond, Eisenhower Cabin and Eisenhower’s tree are all part of his legacy.

1949
Sam Snead awarded first ever Green Jacket.

1958
Amen Corner was born along with the Hogan and Nelson Bridge across Rae’s Creek

1960’s and 1970’s
Nicklaus, Palmer and Player dominate the Masters between 1960 and 1978. Of the 18 tournaments played, they won 11.

1961
Gary Player becomes the first non-American to win the Masters, beating Arnold Palmer into second place.

1963
Jack Nicklaus wins his first Masters.

1967
The Masters is broadcast live on the BBC. It makes history as the first sporting event to be broadcast live to an overseas audience.

1975
Lee Elder became the first black American to qualify for the Masters: a full 15 years before Augusta National admitted its first black member.

1997
Tom Watson wins the first of two Green Jackets.

1980
Seve Ballesteros becomes the first European to win at Augusta.  He opened the floodgates – the title was won by Europeans 11 times over the next 20 years.

1986
Nicklaus wins his last of his six Masters titles – 23 years after winning his first.

1988
Good ol’ Scotsman Sandy Lyle wins the Green Jacket after recovering from a bunker on 18 and sticking his seven iron to 10 feet to secure the win.

1989 and 1990
Nick Faldo becomes the only European to win back-to-back Masters titles.

1997
Tiger Woods wins his first Masters title. A record-breaking achievement in many ways. He was the youngest champion is the tournament’s history. He won by the widest winning margin (12 shots). He broke the tournament course record (270 or 18 under par). He was also the first black American to win at Augusta.

2005
Tiger Woods hits ‘that’ shot. He chips from the collar to the high side of the green and lets it trickle its way towards the hole where it seemed a bogey would be probable. It edges towards the hole and clings on for dear life at the age for 1.8 seconds. It drops and the rest is history.

2010
Phil Mickelson wins his third Green Jacket

2015
Jordan Speith equals the tournament low scoring total of 18 under par and becomes the second youngest winner of the tournament.

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