The Masters is arguably the most prestigious tournament in the world of golf. It is the first major of the year and Augusta National, where the event is played, has a special aura which only adds to the overall feeling of greatness.
The 2019 Masters will be the 83rd edition of the tournament and is set to be contested between the 11th and 14th April. The defending champion is Patrick Reed and previous winners of the Masters reads like a who’s who of golfing greats.
The Masters: A Tradition like None Other
Arnold Palmer, Gary Player, Jack Nicklaus, Nick Faldo and Tiger Woods are just some of the great names to have slipped on the famous green jacket in the past. Interestingly enough, there are only three professional golfers who are members of Augusta National Golf Club. Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus and Senior PGA Tour player, John Harris.
Related: List of Past Masters Champions & Runner-Ups
The Masters tournament was first played in 1934 and has built up several traditions over time. The green jacket was first awarded to the winner in 1949. The presentation of the green jacket is special occasion in its own right. The Green Jacket is the considered one of, if not the most, prestigious “trophy” in all of sports.
On the Tuesday before the Masters, the current champion hosts a Champions Dinner. The dinner is open to past champions and members of the Augusta National Golf Club board.
Other special features of the Masters include the honorary tee shot on the morning of the first round plus the par-3 contest which takes place on Wednesday.
The Masters is a tournament of the highest traditions. From the course, to the players, to the fans, to the moments. Everything at Augusta is amplified. Packed with history, prestige, tradition, and drama.
Related: The Greatest Shot Ever Played
Overview of Augusta National
The golf course at Augusta National has seen plenty of changes over the years. A former plant nursery, each hole of the course is named after the plant that is featured on that specific hole.
The par-5, 13th hole is a great example. Named ‘Azalea’, this hole is famous for the bright flower display behind the green on what is a tremendous risk/reward hole.
Related: Amen Corner, A Definitive Guide
There are 10 cabins located around Augusta National and they provide lodgings for players and guests. One is named the Eisenhower Cabin as it was built specifically for the President, who is the only United States President to be a member of the golf club.
Augusta’s Exclusivity
Becoming a member of Augusta National Golf Club is difficult. If only one president in the history of the United States was a member, that’s some next level exclusivity if you ask me. The same applies to obtaining tickets for the Masters tournament.
You must apply for tickets over a year in advance of the tournament and memberships are by invite only. There is no application process available. So, if you have a ticket for the 2019 Masters, you are in a very privileged position.
Related: How to get Tickets to the Masters
2019 Masters Preview
With the Masters less than 3 months away at the time of writing this let’s take a look at who is the favourite to win the tournament? You must go back to 2002 to find the last time a player won back-to-back Masters titles and that was Tiger Woods in 01′-02′.
Related: The Masters Hole-by-Hole Guide
The only other players to achieve the feat are Jack Nicklaus and Nick Faldo. Nicklaus in 65′ and 66′, and Faldo in 89′ and 90′. A repeat for Patrick Reed in 2019 would put him in elite company. That is for sure.
The big names will always be the most talked about leading up to the event, with Jordan Spieth, Dustin Johnson, Rory McIlroy and Tiger Woods among them. However, could 2019 be the year Justin Rose finally gets to wear the green jacket?
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Rose is ranked as the world number one at the time of writing. He has finished inside the top 10 twice at the Masters. This includes finishing second in both 2015 and 2017. The Englishman will be aiming to go one better in 2019. There is no doubt that he has the ability and experience to win the Masters.
Who are we Pulling for?
Here at Golf Legends it’s not surprising that were pulling for Tiger or Spieth to reclaim the Green Jacket in 2019. However, all biased aside, we really would like to see Rickie Fowler pull it out!
The runner up at Augusta in 2018 is coming off the best year of his professional career. He is one of the young guns on tour and is undoubtedly one of the most liked players on tour. It would be great to see him get his first Major not only for him by for the sport.
