The Masters Tournament is one of the four men’s major championships and one of golf’s most recognisable annual events. Played at Augusta National Golf Club in Georgia, it combines elite competition with a distinctive setting, traditions and a history that stretches back to 1934.
The story that defines this major
Rory McIlroy defended his title in 2026, making Augusta’s Green Jacket story even rarer after completing the career Grand Slam in 2025.
THE MASTERS CODE
Three rituals that make Augusta unlike anywhere else
The Green Jacket
The champion’s jacket is more than a trophy image: it marks membership in a tradition unique to Augusta National.
Amen Corner
Holes 11, 12 and 13 form one of the week’s decisive stretches, where patience matters as much as shot-making.
The Par-3 Contest
A relaxed Wednesday tradition brings families and players together; remarkably, no winner of the Par-3 Contest has gone on to win the Masters that same year.
The Masters at a glance
The Masters is an invitation tournament, rather than an open qualifying championship.
How the Masters began
The tournament grew from the vision of amateur champion Bobby Jones and investment banker Clifford Roberts, who helped establish Augusta National and launch the first tournament in 1934. It was initially known as the Augusta National Invitation Tournament; the name Masters was adopted in 1939. The event was designed to bring leading players together at a course conceived by Jones and architect Alister MacKenzie.
Although the tournament has changed over the decades, its identity remains closely connected to the same venue. Augusta National’s spring presentation, the course’s strategic demands and the event’s carefully maintained traditions have helped make the Masters a singular fixture in the golf calendar.
Traditions that make it distinctive
The Green Jacket
The green jacket is the tournament’s most recognisable symbol. Augusta National members began wearing green jackets in 1937, and Sam Snead became the first champion presented with one in 1949. The reigning champion traditionally helps present the jacket to the next winner; the jacket is associated with Augusta National rather than being a trophy that champions simply keep permanently at home.
The Champions Dinner
The annual Champions Dinner brings past Masters champions together on the Tuesday of tournament week. The defending champion traditionally chooses the menu, making the dinner both a celebration of the previous winner and a gathering of Masters history.
Par 3 Contest and the course in spring
The Wednesday Par 3 Contest and Augusta’s springtime setting are familiar parts of the week. They sit alongside competitive traditions, course details and spectator customs that distinguish the Masters from other major championships.
Key moments in Masters history
- The first Augusta National Invitation Tournament is played; the event later becomes known as the Masters.
- The tournament adopts the name Masters Tournament.
- Sam Snead receives the first Green Jacket awarded to a Masters champion.
- Jack Nicklaus wins his sixth Masters at age 46, one of the tournament’s signature comebacks.
- Tiger Woods wins his first Masters by 12 strokes.
- Woods wins again after an 11-year gap between major titles.
- Hideki Matsuyama becomes the first Japanese man to win a men’s major.
- Rory McIlroy completes the career Grand Slam in 2025, then successfully defends his Masters title in 2026.
How the competition is played
The championship is normally played over four rounds of 18 holes, for 72 holes in total, using stroke play: each player’s score is the total number of strokes taken. A cut after the first two rounds narrows the field for the weekend. The winner is the player with the lowest total after 72 holes. If players are tied for first, the title is settled by a playoff under the tournament’s rules.
Players face a combination of strategic tee shots, precise approach play, undulating greens and recovery challenges around the putting surfaces. Course management matters as much as distance: the right side of a fairway or the correct part of a green can set up a scoring opportunity, while a poor angle can make the next shot much harder.
Moments that shaped Masters history
The Masters archive is full of defining performances and turning points. Jack Nicklaus’s sixth victory in 1986, at age 46, remains one of the championship’s signature comebacks. Tiger Woods won by 12 strokes in 1997 for his first Masters title, then returned to win again in 2001, 2002, 2005 and 2019. In 2019, his victory ended an 11-year wait between major titles and became one of the most widely discussed sporting comebacks of the era.
In 2021, Hideki Matsuyama became the first Japanese man to win a men’s major championship. Rory McIlroy completed the career Grand Slam at Augusta in 2025, then successfully defended the title in 2026 to earn a second consecutive Green Jacket. His 2026 victory made him only the fourth player to defend the Masters title, joining Jack Nicklaus, Nick Faldo and Tiger Woods. These milestones illustrate how the tournament connects generations of champions and audiences around the world.
Champions and records
Jack Nicklaus holds the record for most Masters victories with six. Tiger Woods has five, while Arnold Palmer won four.
| Champion | Masters victories | Why they matter |
|---|---|---|
| Jack Nicklaus | 6 | Record number of Masters titles |
| Tiger Woods | 5 | Five victories, including the 2019 comeback |
| Arnold Palmer | 4 | Four titles that helped popularise the tournament in the television era |
Recent Masters champions
| Year | Champion | Venue | Dates contested | The moment that mattered |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Rory McIlroy−12 · 276 | Augusta National Golf Club | Apr 9–12, 2026 | Defended the title by one stroke, becoming the first back-to-back Masters winner since Tiger Woods in 2001–02. |
| 2025 | Rory McIlroy−11 · 277 | Augusta National Golf Club | Apr 10–13, 2025 | Beat Justin Rose in a play-off to complete the career Grand Slam. |
| 2024 | Scottie Scheffler−11 · 277 | Augusta National Golf Club | Apr 11–14, 2024 | Won his second Green Jacket by four strokes. |
| 2023 | Jon Rahm−12 · 276 | Augusta National Golf Club | Apr 6–9, 2023 | Claimed his first Masters title on the anniversary of Seve Ballesteros’s birthday. |
| 2022 | Scottie Scheffler−10 · 278 | Augusta National Golf Club | Apr 7–10, 2022 | Won his first major while ranked world No. 1. |
Augusta National: the course behind the championship
Augusta National is a private club and the Masters’ permanent home. Its course was designed by Alister MacKenzie in collaboration with Bobby Jones and opened in 1933. The layout is known for carefully shaped greens, dramatic elevation changes, strategic approaches and the way wind, firmness and pin positions affect scoring. The second shot is often decisive: a player must choose a line and landing area that leaves a realistic chance of getting close without bringing severe trouble into play.
The club’s course presentation and tournament operations are part of the event’s public identity, but access, ticketing and spectator rules are controlled by the organisers. Readers seeking current attendance information should consult the official Masters website.
For the official schedule, rules and full records, see Official championship website ↗.
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