Masters Golf Winners
Being one of the Masters Golf winners is quite an achievement and is one of the greatest honors an athlete can earn in the world of golf. The Masters is one of the four major championship tournaments and is held at the Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, GA; a private golf club.
The Masters is part of the PGA Tour, The Japan Golf Tour and the PGA European Tour. Also called the US Masters, this is an invitation only tournament, with the players who may participate being chosen by the Augusta National Golf Club, which has complete control over the event. There are fewer players in this tournament than in any of the other major tournaments, since only those invited by the club may participate. The first of the year\'s four major tournaments, the Masters is held in early April.
Masters golf winners are awarded the now much coveted green jacket. At one time, people scoffed at the jacket due to its color, but attitudes have changed since and winning this jacket is seen as an honor. The jacket has been awarded to Masters golf winners since 1949 and may wear it for one year, at which point it must be returned to the Augusta National Golf Club, where it awaits the next tournament winner. By tradition, the previous year\'s winner helps the current year\'s winner put on the jacket.
There is also prize money awarded to Masters golf winners totaling $7.5 million. The top winner of the tournament is awarded $1.35 million and a Gold Medal. The player with the lowest score of the day receives a crystal vase. All players that perform a hole in one or a double eagle are awarded a large crystal bowl. Players that perform an eagle are given a set of crystal goblets. The winner of the par 3 competition the day before the tournament is also given a crystal bowl. The runner up wins a Silver Medal.
Some Masters golf winners have earned this honor several times in their careers; Jack Nicklaus is the undisputed all time champion in the Masters, with 6 championship wins between 1963 and 1986. Tiger Woods and Arnold Palmer are tied for second with four Masters wins. Gary Player of South Africa is the first player to be a winner of the Masters; he took the championship in 1961.
Masters Golf winners include some of the most famous names in the sport; being invited to play in this invitation only tournament is an honor to be proud of, regardless of the outcome of the event. This is one of the most eagerly awaited events in the sport each year which always promises some unforgettable golf by the best players in the game.