The History Of The Masters Green Jacket
The iconic Masters Green Jacket is presented every year to the winner, but when did this tradition begin and why?
The Masters Green Jacket is presented to The 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 the 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.
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 Hideki Matsuyama present Scottie Scheffler the Green Jacket.
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. 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 reportedly still has that jacket at home, but agreed to never wear it in public.
Get the Golf Monthly Newsletter
Subscribe to the Golf Monthly newsletter to stay up to date with all the latest tour news, equipment news, reviews, head-to-heads and buyer’s guides from our team of experienced experts.
Dan has been with Golf Monthly team since 2021. He graduated with a Masters degree in International Journalism from the University of Sussex and looks after equipment reviews and buyer's guides, specializing in golf shoe, golf bag and golf cart reviews. Dan has now tested and reviewed over 30 pairs of golf shoes and is an expert in the field. A left-handed golfer, his handicap index is currently 6.5 and he plays at Fulford Heath Golf Club in the West Midlands.
Dan is currently playing:
Driver: TaylorMade Stealth 2
Fairway: TaylorMade Stealth 2 15°, Ping G425 Max 21°
Hybrid: Ping G425
Irons: Cobra King Tec Utility, Ping i230 (5-PW)
Wedges: Ping Glide Forged Pro
Putter: TaylorMade Spider Tour X
Ball: TaylorMade TP5x
-
Phil Mickelson Announces Brother Tim To Retire As His Caddie
The LIV Golf player, who won the 2021 PGA Championship with Tim alongside him, made the announcement on his social media platforms
By Mike Hall Published
-
Greg Norman's Former Agent Says World Golf Hall Of Famer Invented Idea Behind LIV In 1960s
Hughes Norton makes the claim in an interview to promote his new book
By Mike Hall Published
-
Where Is Augusta National?
Augusta National Golf Club is in Augusta, Georgia, on the east side of the state next to the South Carolina border
By Elliott Heath Published
-
Past Winners Of The Masters: Every Augusta Champion Since 1934
Almost all of the men's game's biggest names have won at Augusta National over the years
By Elliott Heath Published
-
What Are The Four Majors In Men's Professional Golf?
There are four weeks of the year that men's professional golf looks forward to more than the rest - when the biggest prizes in the sport are competed for
By Jonny Leighfield Published
-
Which Golfers Have Won The Masters On Debut?
Only three players have won The Masters on their first attempt at Augusta National
By Mike Hall Published
-
Why Do The Caddies Have Numbers At The Masters?
It's something unique to The Masters, where each caddie wears a number on their jumpsuit
By Elliott Heath Published
-
A Decade On From 14-Year-Old Guan Tianlang's Masters Heroics - Where Is He Now?
The Chinese amateur made the cut at Augusta National a decade ago, but where has his career taken him since?
By Mike Hall Published
-
Youngest Player To Win The Masters
Several fresh-faced players have worn the Green Jacket, but Tiger Woods holds the record as the youngest with his 1997 win
By Mike Hall Published
-
Is Gary Player's Son Wayne Banned From The Masters?
Wayne Player was absent from the 2022 Masters, but why was that? And is he likely to appear with his father again?
By Mike Hall Published