The Masters Green Jacket is presented to the winner each year at Augusta National Golf Club, but when did this tradition begin and why?
Sergio Garcia got his hands on a Green Jacket in 2017
The Masters Green Jacket is presented to the US Masters winner in the immediate aftermath of their victory. That jacket is borrowed off an Augusta member with roughly the same build as the winner, before the champion is later measured for their own tailored version.
But when did this The Masters Green Jacket tradition begin, and why?
The Masters Green Jacket was first introduced in 1937. The idea was that Augusta National members would wear these jackets during the tournament to make them stand out to members of the public needing guidance or assistance.
It was an idea borrowed from Royal Liverpool in England when a visiting Bobby Jones attended a dinner. At this dinner there was a collection of club captains who were all wearing matching jackets to denote their position.
The first Augusta National jackets soon followed, bought from the Brooks Uniform Company in New York. But they were not popular with the members, who found the material too thick and uncomfortable in warm weather, so they soon changed supplier.
From 1937 through to 1948 only Augusta National members wore the jackets, but in 1949 Sam Snead became the first winner to be honoured with the now famous Green Jacket.
Sam Snead gets a handshake from Ben Hogan after winning the 1954 Masters
After Snead received a jacket, Augusta National retroactively awarded them to each former winner. This included the likes of Byron Nelson, Jimmy Demaret and Gene Sarazen.
After that tradition more followed, including the ceremony where the new champion is presented with his jacket in Butler Cabin by the previous year’s champion. Last year this saw Danny Willet hand one over to Sergio Garcia after he fought Justin Rose on a tense Sunday.
The Masters champion can keep his jacket for a year, and then he has to return it to Augusta National where it remains. He can then only wear it when he is on site at the golf club.
The Masters Green Jacket – The Exception
There is one exception…..
When Gary Player won the The Masters in 1961 he became the first international winner and took the jacket home with him to South Africa. When Player then returned to Augusta National in 1962 he forgot to bring the jacket back, later telling Augusta National Director Clifford Roberts “Well, you can come and fetch it.” Player still has that jacket at home, but agreed to never wear it in public.
OK so now I bet you are wondering why I have printed this out from the internet for my blog???
You will have to wait a while for that answer..
First I want to tell you about the Pearson boys!!!!
My Uncle Bram who you met in this blog two weeks ago is going on 92 years young.......my Dad who passed away in 2006 at the age of 87......my Brother Malc.....and myself....we all possess the gene of having a competitive spirit and a distinct dislike of losing, although some deal with this better than others!!!
We play hard and fair and try our very best to be the best......
Every visit I have to England ends with the usual pitch and putt golf challenge on a course that is interesting and the longest hole about 130 yards.
This afternoon was the time for that event so Malc and I and Andy went down to the 18 hole course and away we went...
Perhaps I should also mention that my esteemed Brother has been a member of a rather exclusive golf club for many years now and he plays every Monday and Friday mornings!!
On the other hand Andy and myself have not played golf since we were last on this course nearly two years ago.
You see how fair my Brother is because before we started he told us he was going to give us each a shot per hole...very kind.
We decided not to keep score by total shots but by holes won......so we each had a fair chance of winning any hole!!!
The afternoon was fun for us all and it was played in good spirits and fairness and we all enjoyed the event.
Back home Janet took our photo in the back yard...three happy Pearson boys...
I would like to tell you that winning was not important just being together was and that is true BUT then there is that Pearson spirit I told you about......
So what I have decided to do is to let you guess who won this years golf event.....I will help you by telling you that Andy came second!!!
Now you now!!!
If you still don’t know read the above article!!!!
And if you still don’t know then look at what I am wearing!!!
THE GREEN JACKET👍😉
Yashi Kochi!!!
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