The Masters is one of the four major championships in professional golf. The Masters is scheduled for the first full week of April each year, and it is the first of the majors to be played. Unlike the other major championships, the Masters is held each year at the same location, Augusta National Golf Club, which is located in the city of Augusta, GA. The Masters was started by Clifford Roberts and Bobby Jones. Jones designed Augusta National with course architect Alister MacKenzie.
Nicklaus has the most Masters wins. Palmer and Tiger Woods won four each, and five have won three titles at Augusta: Jimmy Demaret, Sam Snead, Gary Player, Nick Faldo, and Phil Mickelson.
The Augusta National course first opened in 1933 and has been modified many times by different architects. Among the changes: greens have been reshaped and, on occasion, entirely re-designed, bunkers have been added, water hazards have been extended, new tee boxes have been built, hundreds of trees have been planted, and several mounds have been installed.
Since 1949, a green jacket has been awarded to the champion, who must return it to the clubhouse one year after his victory, although it remains his personal property and is stored with other champions’ jackets in a specially designated room.
The Champions Dinner, inaugurated by Ben Hogan in 1952, is held on the Tuesday before each tournament, and is open only to past champions and club members. Beginning in 1963, legendary golfers, usually past champions, have hit an honorary tee shot on the morning of the first round to commence play. Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus, and Gary Player have been hitting the shot the last couple of year with Palmer setting aside in 2016. Since 1960, a semi-social contest at the par-3 course has been played on Wednesday, the day before the first round.