
All these facets help make The Open the greatest golf tournament in the world - and what is more, unlike the Masters we can all go and watch it. The US Open, traditionally the most attritional of the majors, is the United States' national championship. It carries huge prestige, but too often the story is the course rather than the player.
Full Answer
What is the Masters in golf?
The Masters is a golf tournament held annually at Augusta National Golf Club. The tournament is one of four major championships in men’s professional golf and is the first of the four contested each year. Why is the Masters so important?
Is the Masters easier to win than the open?
Sorry but the Masters is played on the same course every year, generally in great weather, and looks great on the TV but its easier to win than the Open. Many of the Americans historically haven't played the Open because its not what they are used to and the weather conditions can be a bit tricky especially when the wind blows.
Who was the first pro golfer to win the Masters?
Jimmy Demaret was the first pro to win the Masters under its current name in 1940, capturing the $5,000 first prize as many of the game’s biggest names — Ben Hogan, Sam Snead and Byron Nelson, among others — began to flock toward the event.
Why did they start the Masters golf tournament?
Who started the Masters? Amateur golfer Bobby Jones and investment banker Clifford Roberts, the founders of Augusta National Golf Club, started the Masters as a way to promote their newly formed golf club and as a way to give back to the game of golf. What do you get for winning the Masters?

Which is bigger the Masters or The Open?
Masters, The Open, US Open, US PGA Championship - which is the biggest major? If nothing else, Rory McIlroy has stirred up a delicious debate with his assertion that the Masters is "the biggest tournament in the world".
What is the difference between an open and a Masters?
The Masters is a reunion, a celebration of the game in a grand setting. The U.S. Open is golf's ultimate test, played on the some of best, most difficult and most historic courses in the country.
Which golf tournament is most prestigious?
The Open Championship Also known as The Open or British Open is the oldest tournament of the Grand Slam. It's considered to be the most prestigious as it's held in the homeland of golf.
Is the Masters the biggest golf tournament?
1. The Masters. The Masters, one of golf's four major tournaments, is widely recognized as the most prestigious golf tournament in the world by both players and fans, making it the clear pick for number one on this list.
Why is the Masters so special?
The US Masters was the first major golf tournament to host a 72-hole, 4-day game. It was the first to pair golfers, the first to be covered nationwide (by radio of course), and the first to use the par system we see in all golf tournaments today.
Who gets invited to the Masters?
It is an invitational event, with invitations largely issued on an automatic basis to players who meet published criteria. The top 50 players in the Official World Golf Ranking are all invited.
Is the Open the best major?
It is the only major held outside of America; it is the oldest professional golf tournament that remains to this day; the Claret Jug and its rich history is craved by every golfer and its frequently contested at the home of golf – that's why The Open is golf's best major.
Why is the Masters the most prestigious golf tournament?
Why is the Masters so important? The Masters is important because, as stated above, it is one of four majors in men's professional golf. Beyond being a major, the Masters holds additional prestige as the winner each year has a standing invitation to come back and compete in the event for the rest of their life.
What is the hardest golf tournament to win?
The Masters has long been considered the easiest and toughest major to win. It is the easiest because the actual number of players truly capable of winning is typically 20 to 30. It is the easiest because it is the only major played at the same site. It is the hardest because of the demands of this course.
Why is Masters golf so important?
And as the first major tournament of the year, there is a ceremonial importance to holding it in the same place. The Masters represents the first step of each golfer's dream of winning the Grand Slam. Only the winner of the Masters has that opportunity going forward.
How popular is the Masters?
According to CBS, the final round of the 2022 Masters was the most-watched golf telecast on any network since the fourth round of the 2019 Masters, when Tiger Woods famously won his fifth green jacket. An average of 10.173 million viewers, which is a seven percent increase over last year.
What is the highest award in golf?
Award WinnersBob Jones Award. The highest honor given by the USGA recognizes distinguished sportsmanship in golf.Joe Dey Award. Winners are annually recognized for meritorious service to the game as a volunteer.Green Section Award. ... Herbert Warren Wind Award. ... Ike Grainger Award.
What is the Masters Golf Tournament?
The tournament is one of four major championships in men’s professional golf and is the first of the four contested each year.
What happens if you win the Masters?
If you win the Masters, you not only win a boatload of cash (this year’s winner will take home $2,070,000), but you also receive a custom green jacket. The green jacket is a sign of prestige and is only for tournament winners and Augusta National Golf Club members. You are only allowed to wear your green jacket while on the grounds ...
Why is the Masters important?
The Masters is important because, as stated above, it is one of four majors in men’s professional golf. Beyond being a major, the Masters holds additional prestige as the winner each year has a standing invitation to come back and compete in the event for the rest of their life.
When is the Masters held?
The Masters is traditionally held in the first full week of April each year. That tradition has only been broken during extreme circumstance, such as during WWII when the tournament was not held for three years, or such as last year when the Covid-19 pandemic delayed the event to November.
Who started the Masters?
Amateur golfer Bobby Jones and investment banker Clifford Roberts, the founders of Augusta National Golf Club, started the Masters as a way to promote their newly formed golf club and as a way to give back to the game of golf.
How many times has Jack Nicklaus won the Masters?
Jack Nicklaus has won the Masters six times and has the record for most Masters titles. Tiger Woods has the second most wins at Augusta National with five wins, while Arnold Palmer claimed four green jackets during his career. Video Player is loading. This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window.
What was the first major in golf?
The story behind golf's first major. What is the Masters and how did it start? A brief history of golf’s most famous tournament. The Masters is golf's most celebrated tournament, but how did it come to be? The Masters began, like so many other historic events, with a partnership. In 1930, the legendary Bobby Jones retired from competitive golf ...
When is the Masters tournament?
Traditionally, the Masters is held in the first full week of April, a tradition adopted with the Masters name in 1940. With rare exception, the tournament has been held annually in the months of March and April for the entirety of its existence. The tournament was canceled for a number of years during World War II, ...
Why did Augusta National host a golf tournament?
Soon after opening, it was decided that Augusta National would host a golf tournament, both to give back to the game of golf and as a way of promoting the new club on the national stage.
How many Masters titles does Hogan have?
Those half-dozen names own 20 Masters titles and the lion’s share of many of the great moments in tournament history.
Where is Augusta National Golf Course?
The two decided Augusta, Ga. — a suburb of Atlanta — would be the ideal location for a golf club, and quickly purchased a parcel of land belonging to Fruitland Nurseries. The pair hired Alister Mackenzie, a renowned golf course architect, to design a layout, and within three years’ time, Augusta National was open for play.
Who won the 2020 Masters?
The tournament scoring record belongs to Dustin Johnson, who claimed his first Masters in November 2020 with a 20-under total of 268. The win made him the only golfer to record a 72-hole score in the 260s, and the first winner of the tournament outside the months of March and April. Pro shop.
Who was the first golfer to receive a green jacket?
In 1949, Snead became the first golfer to receive a green jacket for winning the tournament, which up to that point had been reserved only for Augusta National members (previous winners were retroactively awarded jackets soon thereafter).
