Ten facts about The US Masters

The US Masters Tournament, established in 1934, is one of the four major championships in professional golf. For over 70 years The Masters has captivated and enthralled all as golf’s best players and biggest names compete on the sport’s greatest stage. Scheduled to begin this April 10, it is the first major played every year at its traditional course, Augusta National Golf Club, in Georgia, USA. Here are few interesting facts about The Masters.

Jack Nicklaus has donned the green jacket for record six times. Nicklaus was also the oldest player to win the tournament at age 46 (2 months and 23 days) in 1986.

Tiger Woods was the youngest player to win the Masters at age 21 years (3 months and 13 days) in 1997. He has won the tournament four times.

A first-time champion only removes the green jacket from the club’s grounds. A golfer who wins the event multiple times uses the same green jacket awarded upon his first win (that is of course unless he needs to be re-fitted with a new green jacket). All winners are given a replica green jacket that they may keep. The previous year’s passes the torch to the new winner by putting the jacket over the shoulders of the new champion after the conclusion of the tournament.

Both Nick Price and Greg Norman hold the course record at the Masters with a nine-under (63). Phil Mickelson holds the record for the most birdies in a single Masters tournament (25) in 2001, Anthony Kim has the most birdies in one round (11), and Tiger Woods and Steve Pate share the record for most consecutive birdies (7).

Gary Player participated in the most Masters Tournaments (52). He was also the first international winner and has donned the green jacket thrice.

Jack Nicklaus, Nick Faldo, and Tiger Woods are the only players to win back-to-back Masters Tournaments. Only 16 players all-time have won this event more than once.

The prize awarded for the winner of the first Masters Tournament in 1934 (Horton Smith) was $1,500.00.

Fred Couples won the 1992 Masters and began playing in the tournament in 1983. From 1983, Couples never missed the cut until his streak ran out in 2008 giving him the longest active made-cuts streak at Augusta.

Arnold Palmer holds a Masters record that might never be broken. Palmer has played in 50 consecutive Masters from 1955 to 2004.

The Champions Dinner is for the players who have won a Masters Tournament, and is hosted by the defending champion on Tuesday of Masters Week. The first dinner was held in 1952 and was hosted by Ben Hogan.