Thursday marks the first start majors, The Masters, in Augusta.
The Masters (or The U.S. Masters, as it is sometimes called outside of the United States) is one of the four largest tournaments in professional golf, collectively known as the majors.
The Masters, which is traditionally held during the first full week of April, is the first of the majors each year. What sets The Masters apart from other tournaments of this kind, which are always in the same place – Augusta National Golf Club in the southern Georgia city of Augusta, a city of almost 200,000 people.
FORMAT
The Masters is also special because it has a very small participation compared to other majors – only 90 people. It’s by invitation only and the process is strictly controlled by the board of Augusta National Golf Club.
In recent years, however, the concept of “invitation” has become very relative. The Masters is automatically open to the top fifty world rankings, all previous years’ tournament winners and the champions of the last three majors (U.S. Open, Open Championship and PGA Championship) from the past five seasons. Players who were in the Top-16 at the previous Masters, who were in the Top-8 at last year’s U.S. Open and in the Top-4 of last year’s Open and PGA Championship, as well as the winners of three U.S. amateur tournaments, including the U.S. Amateur, the British and Asian amateur champions and other eligible golfers, are eligible to play at the Masters.
In the first two rounds, held Thursday and Friday, golfers play in groups of three. To advance to the third and fourth rounds, you must qualify for the qualifying rounds, which means you must finish in the top 44 in the first two days of competition or not lose by more than 10 strokes to the leader.
THE POLE
The idea for Augusta National Golf Club came from Bobby Jones, who, after retiring from playing, wanted to build his own golf course. The site he chose was what he called “perfect.” “I think this land has been waiting for years for someone to come and build a golf course here!” – exclaimed Jones, upon his arrival in Augusta.
The course was designed by the founder of Augusta National along with architect Elister Mackenzie. Construction work began in 1931, and the field officially opened in 1933.
Since then it has been rebuilt many times and with the participation of various architects. In particular, the greens were changed and then completely rebuilt, new tee areas were added, several hundred trees were planted, a number of mounds were installed, bunkers were added and water obstacles were made more difficult.
Now Augusta National Golf Club, with its perfect 7,435-yard, par-72 course, is called the spiritual home of American golf.
The names of its 18 holes come from the plants that can be found on them.
