Given the 6-hour time difference between the East Coast and South Africa, the Masters tournament meant late nights and unproductive days for me. But over the years, it has been worth seeing such epic moments as Tiger retaining the title in ‘02 and Ernie losing to Phil by one stroke in ‘04.
The Masters Tournament is the Super Bowl of the golfing world. Based on my love and passion for this glorious showpiece, I have compiled a detailed guide on this iconic tournament. From statistics, history, and interesting facts, it has everything you need to boost your knowledge on The Masters… to a master’s level.
Why Is It Called The Masters Tournament?
There is no captivating story here, only a logical explanation. Legendary golfer Bobby Jones and Investment Broker Clifford Roberts founded Augusta National in 1933. The two decided that they needed an event for the course to make its mark on the golf world.
Roberts proposed that the pair call the event The Masters to symbolize the caliber of golfers who would appear at the event. However, Jones had no time for the poncey name, and instead, the tournament started life as the Augusta National Invitational. In 1939, it was decided to rebrand and label it the Masters.
Even today, the event is invitation only, and only the best golfers on the planet crack a nod.
How Does The Masters Tournament Work?
When Is The Masters Golf Tournament?
The tournament is hosted every year in the first full week in April. For example, if the 1st of April falls on a Thursday, the Masters will likely commence on the 8th of April.
Only the 2020 Masters Tournament carried a different date because of the global pandemic. The tournament was moved to November, a rarity in its history.
Which Course Hosts The Masters?
The Masters is played at Augusta National every year. It’s an iconic course that every golfer will know. The lane driving up to the clubhouse is one of the most beautiful in the world, with Magnolia trees that are 160 years old. Then, each hole is named after a plant grown by the nursery that previously owned the property.
How Do You Qualify For The Masters Tournament?
There is no qualification for the Masters. You can only be invited. However, to be invited, you need to fall into one of the below categories:
- Past Masters Champion (Lifetime Exemption)
- Major Winners (Past 5-years)
- Players Champions (Past 3-Years)
- Current Olympic Gold Medalist
- Current U.S. Amateur Open Champion, and Runner Up
- Current British, Asia -Pacific, Latin American and U.S. Mid Amateur Champions
- Top 12 From Previous Masters
- Top 4 From Every Major (Previous Year)
- FedEx Cup Tour Championship Finalists (Previous Year)
- Top 50 OWGR Players
When Is the Par 3 Tournament at the Masters?
The par 3 tournament is a fun event held on Wednesday before the actual event tees off. During this tournament, you often see the players with their families. Holes range from 70 to 140-yards, and the course is located in the northeast of the property.
The Masters par 3 tournament in 2021 was canceled. As was the previous year, due to the pandemic restrictions.
What Is the Format at the Masters Golf Tournament?
The Masters is a strokeplay tournament. The field is cut after 36-holes, and the player with the lowest score after 72-holes wins the tournament.
How Are the Masters Golf Tournament Tee Times Structured?
On the first two days, players are grouped into 3-balls and tee off from the crack of dawn through to the late afternoon. Groups usually tee off every 11-minutes. After the field is cut, the players are grouped into 2-balls for the weekend.
Play on Saturday and Sunday usually begins in the late morning to early afternoon.
How Many Days Is The Masters Golf Tournament?
The actual tournament play last four days, from Thursday to Sunday. However, if you include the fanfare of the par 3 event and the practice rounds, it is a seven-day event.
Golfers who enter the tournament the week before the Masters generally arrive on Sunday evening or Monday morning. They typically play two practice rounds on Monday and Tuesday and then participate in the Par 3 contest on Wednesday.
You will also find some players arriving at Augusta early Fans are allowed to attend all three days before the official tournament commences.
What’s The Payout For The Masters Tournament?
2022 winner Scottie Scheffler banked $2.7-million for efforts. The total purse amounted to $15-million. Here is a list of the winners cheque and total purse for each year dating back to 2010:
| Year | Winners Purse | Total Purse |
| 2010 | $1,350,000 | $7,500,000 |
| 2011 | $1,440,000 | $8,000,000 |
| 2012 | $1,440,000 | $8,000,000 |
| 2013 | $1,440,000 | $8,000,000 |
| 2014 | $1,620,000 | $9,000,000 |
| 2015 | $1,800,000 | $10,000,000 |
| 2016 | $1,800,000 | $10,000,000 |
| 2017 | $1,980,000 | $11,000,000 |
| 2018 | $1,980,000 | $11,000,000 |
| 2019 | $2,070,000 | $11,500,000 |
| 2020 | $2,070,000 | $11,500,000 |
| 2021 | $2,070,000 | $11,500,000 |
| 2022 | $2,700,000 | $15,000,000 |
Read More: Wondering how golfers get paid? Check out our in-depth article.
What Channel Is The Masters Tournament On?
If you are watching in the United States, you will find the Masters on CBS and ESPN. ESPN usually airs the first 2 rounds, while CBS is your channel of choice for the weekend. Fans in Canada can watch on TSN and in the UK on Sky Sports.
You can also watch the event from Masters.com with live streams of the:
- Masters on the Range
- Holes 4, 5, & 6
- Amen Corner
- Holes 15 & 16
- Featured Groups of Golfers
- Broadcast
How Can I Get Masters Tournament Tickets?
Legend has it that only the Super Bowl is harder to get tickets for than the Masters. It showcases elitism at its finest, but it is what makes the tournament prestigious.
You need a patron badge to enter, which can be acquired in an annual lottery. If you win a badge, you can hold onto it for $375 a year. Those that have my luck and cannot see themselves winning the lottery can acquire tickets through alternate methods.
For example, you can purchase through ticket brokers or vendors, who charge a fortune for a day’s pass, and do not allow you to hold onto the badge.
Once you own a patron badge and pay the annual fee of $375, it is yours for good. However, when you die, only your widow can use it. If your other half has no desire for the badge or has passed on, it goes back into the pool for the next lottery.
You can apply for tickets at the Masters official website.
What Color Jacket Do Masters Golf Tournament Winners Receive?
Masters Tournament winners receive the prestigious green jacket. The actual shade is a rye green color known as Pantone 342. Bobby Jones got the idea for the jacket from a dinner at Royal Liverpool. Club captains attending the dinner donned matching jackets to highlight their titles.
Have The Winners Always Received A Green Jacket?
In 1937, Jones suggested that the members at Augusta wear green jackets to distinguish them from visitors. It was not done to invoke classism but rather to identify which attendees needed guidance around the facilities.
New York-based Brooks Uniform Company was tasked with crafting the first jackets, which were a flop. The members found the material thick and unbreathable in warm conditions. The board immediately switched suppliers.
Little was known about the manufacturer until 1967, when Hamilton Tailoring Co took over. According to the PGA, the Cincinnati operation is still the exclusive tailor of the green jacket.
Only members had the honor of wearing the rye green between 1937 and 1948. The event was canceled from 1943 through 1945 due to World War 2. In 1949, the decision was made to hand the winner of the Masters a green jacket.
Which Golfer Received The First Green Jacket?
The late Sam Snead had the privilege of being the first to don the prestigious green jacket. However, jackets were issued to all past winners, dating back to the tournament’s inception in 1934.
Masters Tournament Statistics
Historical Masters Tournament Stats
| Year | Tournament Dates | Winner | Score | Winners Purse | Winner Total Pars |
| 2010 | April 8 – 11 | Phil Mickelson | 272 (-16) | $1,350,000 | 47 |
| 2011 | April 7 – 10 | Charl Schwartzel | 274 (-14) | $1,440,000 | 46 |
| 2012 | April 5 – 8 | Bubba Watson | 278 (-10) | $1,440,000 | 44 |
| 2013 | April 11 -14 | Adam Scott | 279 (-9) | $1,440,000 | 51 |
| 2014 | April 10 -13 | Bubba Watson | 280 (-8) | $1,620,000 | 45 |
| 2015 | April 9 – 12 | Jordan Spieth | 270 (-18) | $1,800,000 | 35 |
| 2016 | April 7 – 10 | Danny Willett | 283 (-5) | $1,800,000 | 51 |
| 2017 | April 6 – 9 | Sergio Garcia | 279 (-9) | $1,980,000 | 50 |
| 2018 | April 5 – 8 | Patrick Reed | 273 (-15) | $1,980,000 | 37 |
| 2019 | April 11 – 14 | Tiger Woods | 275 (-13) | $2,070,000 | 43 |
| 2020 | November 12 – 15 | Dustin Johnson | 268 (-20) | $2,070,000 | 46 |
| 2021 | April 8 – 11 | Hideki Matsuyama | 278 (-10) | $2,070,000 | 47 |
| 2022 | April 7 – 10 | Scottie Scheffler | 278 (-10) | $2,700,000 | 33 |
Masters Tournament 2022 Highlights
2022 Masters Tournament Dates
The 2022 Masters main event kicked off on Thursday, April 7, and ran until Sunday, April 10. The Par 3 tournament occurred on Wednesday, April 6, while the Champions Dinner went off on Tuesday, April 5.
Who Won the Masters in 2022?
Scottie Scheffler powered to victory at Augusta National to claim his first green jacket and major title. The Texan finished on -10, with a 72-hole total of 278, to continue a fairytale year. His work was sufficient for a 3-shot victory over former world number 1 Rory McIlroy.
I left Scottie out of my picks for this Masters because I felt that he couldn’t keep up his winning form. He proved me wrong, and now he has a green jacket, and I am eating humble pie.
Notable Moments from the Masters 2022
There were a couple of spectacular shots for the highlights reel in this edition of Masters. However, I will focus on a few standouts.
On Saturday, my compatriot, the South African Charl Schwartzel, holed out for an eagle 2 at 10.
Then, playing partners Rory McIlroy and Collin Morikawa, sunk their bunker shots at 18 to close out the week.
However, besides Scheffler’s antics and Tiger’s return to golf, this year’s top moment goes to Stewart Cink. The veteran used his experience to ride the slope on the 16th and aced the par 3.
Easiest Hole
The stroke 18 in the Masters was the 2nd hole. Measuring 575-yards, it produced a scoring average of 4.5830. Only one double bogey was carded the entire week, but there were 20-bogeys.
Interestingly, there were as many birdies as there were pars, with 128, while 6-eagles were celebrated.
Hardest Hole
The 11th hole proved a challenge in the 2022 Masters, proving to be the most difficult hole on the course. The stroke 1 saw no eagles all week. However, the pros managed 10 birdies, 155-pars, and 96-bogeys. It was also responsible for 22-double bogey’s or worse.
Winners Purse
Prize money for the 2022 Masters reached a record $15-million, $3.5-million more than the previous highest. The winner Scottie Scheffler walked away with $2.7-million. That is equal to the total purse offered in 1997 when Tiger claimed his first Masters.
Lowest Putting Average
Justin Thomas topped the rankings for the best putting average in the 2022 event. He averaged 1.49 putts per hole, which was good enough to beat Australia’s Min Woo Lee by 0.01. Will Zalatoris and Shane Lowry recorded an average of 1.51, while eventual winner Scheffler, returned 1.53 putts per hole.
Most Accurate Driver
Four players tied for the title of the most accurate driver in 2022. Shane Lowry, Lucas Glover, Jason Kokrak, and Kevin Na hit 82.14% of fairways. Kevin Na deserves a mention for finding all 14-fairways in round 2.
Best Greens In Regulation
Kevin Na hit 51 out of 72 greens in the four rounds, giving him an average of 70.83%. That was enough for the best record of the week, 1.4% better than second-place Cameron Champ. Na recorded 14 greens in regulation in the final round, taking his daily tally to 77.78%.
Eagles Summary
Seventeen players recorded eagles in the 2022 Masters. None of them scored more than one during the week. Stewart Cink enjoyed the only ace for the week, while the 2nd hole produced the most eagles.
Here is a breakdown of the eagles scored:
| Par | Total Eagles | Hole With Most Eagles |
| 3 | 1 | 16th |
| 4 | 3 | 10th |
| 5 | 13 | 2nd |
Most Birdies
Australian Cam Smith led the field with 22 birdies, beating out the champion Scheffler by one. Smith carded 8 birdies in round one and two on the second day. He scored a further 6 each on Saturday and Sunday.
Most Par 3 Birdies
Another Australian who made waves at the 2022 Masters was Min Woo Lee. He tied for 15th and scored the most birdies on par 3’s in the field. His 6 birdies were 1 better than his compatriot Cam Smith.
Most Par 4 Birdies
After a stellar 2021 performance, Will Zalatoris showed his class again, carding the most birdies on par 4’s. He birdied ten par 4 holes for the tournament. That was one more birdie than Justin Thomas, Sergio Garcia, Bubba Watson.
Most Par 5 Birdies
This stat tells a story. Cam Smith and Scottie Scheffler tied for the most par 5 birdies in 2022, with nine. These two players were also the final pairing on Sunday, and had Smith not put his ball in the drink on 12, he would have been a close second in the standings.
Best Sand Save Record
Sergio Garcia, Tommy Fleetwood, and Tom Hoge all returned a 100% sand save record. Fleetwood and Garcia finished 5 from 5 out of the bunker, while Hoge had 3 fewer attempts.
How Many Pars Were Made In The Masters 2022?
In 2022’s Masters Tournament, there were 3008 pars made throughout the 4 round tournament.
| YEAR | YARDS | TOTAL PAR | AVERAGE SCORE | EAGLES | BIRDIES | PARS | BOGEYS | DOUBLE BOGEYS |
| 2022 | 7510 | 72 | 73.9505 | 17 | 827 | 3008 | 1092 | 150 |
The Masters FAQs
What Is The Masters Known As?
The Masters is one of four annual majors in the world of golf. It is also known as the U.S Masters or the Masters Golf Tournament.
Do You Get A Green Jacket Every Time You Win The Masters?
You earn a green jacket the first time you win the Masters. Then, you wear the same green jacket on successive wins, within reason. Winning gives you the honor to wear the coat for the next year until the following edition tees off. However, if a player picks up a few pounds or hits a growth spurt, they receive another jacket.
When Did Augusta National Allow Black Members?
According to Bloomberg, 9-members of the exclusive Augusta National are African-American. The first African-American to join the club was Ron Townsend in 1990.
Has Anyone Won The Masters 2 Years In A Row?
Only three players have won the Masters 2 years in a row, including Jack Nicklaus, Tiger Woods, and Nick Faldo. Nicklaus went back to back in 1965 and 66, while Faldo did it in 1989 and 1990. Tiger kept his green jacket in 2001 and 2002.
Are Masters Practice Rounds Televised?
There is limited coverage of practice rounds and the par 3 contest. However, you can find it on ESPN +.
Who Won The 2019 Masters Tournament?
Tiger Woods won the 2019 Masters Tournament to win the 15th major title of his career. After winning 14-majors in his first 46 outings, he had struggled to win one in his last 28-appearances. The victory left him three behind Jack Nicklaus’ record of 18-major victories.
Who Won The 2021 Masters Tournament?
Hideki Matsuyama won the 2021 Masters tournament, becoming the first Japanese and second Asian male to win a major. Matsuyama held off the challenge of rookie Will Zalatoris to finish -10 for the tournament, with a total score of 278.
2023 Masters Tournament
Dates
Clear your calendar because the dates for the 2023 Masters are out. The 87th edition of the Masters takes place from 6 – 9 April. You can apply for tickets at the Masters official website.
Eligible Players
Scottie Scheffler will return to Augusta in April 2023, looking to become the fourth player to retain the green jacket. Other eligible players include past champions such as Hideki Matsuyama, Dustin Johnson, Patrick Reed, Jordan Spieth, Tiger Woods, and Sergio Garcia.
Rory McIlroy finds himself with an automatic invite to Augusta thanks to his 2nd place finish in 2022. Another eligible foreigner is Australian Cam Smith, who had a nightmare Sunday and still finished tied for 3rd.
Finally, Collin Morikawa’s 5th place finish and his 2 major wins have gained him entry to the 2023 showdown.
Masters Odds Pre-Tournament 2023
Rory Mcilroy is the pre-tournament favorite for 2023. If you take a punt now, you will get 12-to-1 odds on the Northern Irishman. Jon Rahm, Justin Thomas, and Scheffler are all priced at 14-to-1. Dustin Johnson rounds out the top five at 16-to-1.
Final Thoughts
Although the Masters Tournament is not a Championship like the other Majors, it is arguably the best event on the golf calendar. A thrilling 2022 tournament saw Scottie Scheffler win his 4th tournament of the year, while Tiger Woods returned to action.
2023 promises to be another emphatic display of golf around the Bobby Jones masterpiece. Scheffler will look to hold onto his green jacket while a host of talented up-and-comers look to earn their slice of major glory.
Read more: Wondering what the other major golf championships are? Check out our in-depth article.
Matt is a seasoned golf equipment writer and sports fanatic. He holds a Postgraduate in Sports Marketing and has played golf for over 28 years.
