The Masters Tournament and Augusta National boasts a rich, fascinating and sometimes controversial history. Golfshake's Derek Clements has picked out a series of facts and stats that you may not know - which tell the story of this iconic event.
- The land on which the course was built cost just $70,000.
- Construction work on the iconic course began in 1931 and it was first opened for play in January 1933.
- The course was designed by the legendary Alister MacKenzie.
- The first Masters was held on March 22, 1934, and beginning in 1940, it was scheduled each year during the first full week in April.
- Augusta National was founded by Bobby Jones, the best amateur golfer the world has ever seen, and Clifford Roberts, an investment banker who served as chairman from 1931 until 1976.
- The Par 3 Contest, played on Augusta’s beautiful nine-hole course, was first played in 1960 and was won by Sam Snead. No golfer has ever won the Par 3 Contest and gone on to claim the Green Jacket the same week.
- There have been 94 holes-in-one over the years in the Par 3 Contests, including a record nine in 2016.
- The permanent Masters Trophy, which depicts the Clubhouse, was introduced in 1961. It was made in England and consists of more than 900 separate pieces of silver. The champion receives a replica and a gold medal, as well as the iconic Green Jacket.
- The Green Jacket was first awarded in 1949, with the first Champions Dinner in 1952.
- Every golfer who makes an eagle during the tournament receives a pair of crystal goblets. The player who shoots the day’s lowest score gets a crystal vase and anybody who has a hole-in-one gets a large crystal bowl.
- Gene Sarazen holes his second shot on the 15th for an albatross on his way to winning in 1935.
- Gary Player was the first non-American winner in 1961. Seve Ballesteros the first European winner in 1980, with Sandy Lyle the first British champion in 1988.
- The youngest winner is Tiger Woods, who was just 21 when he claimed the first of his five victories in 1997.
- Sergio Garcia required a record 19 attempts before winning for the first time.
- The oldest first-time winner is Mark O’Meara, who was 41 when he donned the Green Jacket in 1998.
- The oldest winner is Jack Nicklaus, who was 46 when he claimed the title for the sixth time in 1986.
- The average age of the winner is 32 - Rory McIlroy is 33.
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