Masters Timeline

Become an Augusta geek – here’s every date and stat you need to become an instant expert in this famous event.

1931 Fruitland Nurseries is purchased by Bobby Jones and Clifford Roberts as the site of Augusta National GC. Dr Alister MacKenzie is hired as architect and construction begins.

1934 Horton Smith becomes the inaugural Masters champion and Ross Somerville records the fi rst hole-in-one on the 16th. 72 golfers competed; 60 professionals and 12 amateurs. The tournament marks the first nationwide radio broadcast in America and the first 72-hole competition to be played on four consecutive days.

1937 Members begin to wear Green Jackets so they can be more easily recognised by patrons.

1939 The tournament is officially named the Masters. Bobby Jones said: “The tournament is now quite well entitled to be called the Masters, because it has continued to assemble those who are entitled to be called masters of the game.”

1943-45 The club is closed during the War years and allows the course grounds to be used for raising cattle and turkeys in support of the War effort. 

1947 Jimmy Demaret becomes the first player to break par on all four days.

1949 The first Green Jacket presentation is held, honouring winner Sam Snead. Until the tradition was introduced at the 13th event only members could wear Green Jackets. The club extended the tradition to champions to indicate they would become honorary members.

1952 The first Champions Dinner is held, suggested by Ben Hogan.

1956 The first Masters television broadcast by CBS.

1958 The Par-3 course is built.

1960 New cumulative over-and-under method of reporting golf scores introduced. Under par scores are shown in red, over par in green and even scores as a green zero.

1967 First overseas broadcast on the BBC.

1972 Patron badge list is closed and a waiting list established.

1975 Lee Elder becomes first African-American player at the Masters.

1976 Sudden-death play-off format announced.

1980 Seve Ballesteros becomes first European to win at just 23. Greens changed from Bermuda to bent grass.

1983 Players are given the option of using their own caddies.

1986 At 46 Jack Nicklaus wins his sixth Green Jacket and becomes the oldest champion ever. Nick Price sets new course record of 63.

1997 Tiger Woods becomes the youngest ever champion and records the lowest 72-hole total and widest victory margin at just 21.

2000 Tommy Aaron is the oldest player ever to make the cut at 63. The Masters becomes he first golf tournament presented in HD TV.

2010 Just shy of 17, Matteo Manassero becomes the youngest ever competitor and makes the cut. New practice range is used and the event broadcast in 3D for first time.

2011 Charl Schwartzel becomes first player to birdie final four holes to win. Course lengthened by 450 yards to new total of 7,345 yards.

2012 Louis Oosthuizen made an albatross two on the second hole – only the fourth in Masters history and the first ever on that hole.

2013 Adam Scott became the first ever Australian to win the Masters. 14-year-old Guan Tianlang became the youngest ever participant, making the cut despite a one-shot penalty for slow play.