The Masters is probably the most famous golf tournament in the world. The history, the mystique, the Green Jacket, the golf course, absolutely everything around the event is different to how every other tournament in the golfing calendar works. In short, the event is just a big deal.
An interesting fact is that the tournament has it's own song and own piece of music which you would have most likely heard right at the start of television broadcasts, during advert breaks or when the leaderboard comes up on the screen. But what is it? Who wrote it? When did it start?
Well, the music came about after Dave Loggins, the cousin of American singer-songwriter, Kenny Loggins, visited Augusta National Golf Club at the start of the 1980's.
He was so inspired by the place that he did some research and wrote a song called 'Augusta,' which CBS picked up and debuted in the same decade. Loggins said the lyrics came to him on the 14th hole, which we have included below.
Loggins has also changed the song over time to include lines about Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson, two perennial Masters champions. On television broadcasts we usually here the version with no lyrics though.
Marc Leishman, Cameron Smith and Adam Scott walk the 14th hole at Augusta National
'Augusta' lyrics (original)
Well, it's springtime in the valley on Magnolia Lane
It's the Augusta National and the Master of the game
Who'll wear that green coat On Sunday afternoon?
Who'll walk that eighteenth fairway Singin' this tune?
Augusta, your dogwoods and pines
They play on my mind like a song
Augusta, it's you that I love
And it's you that I miss when I'm gone.
Well, it's Watson and Byron Nelson And Demaret, and Player, and Snead
It's Amen's Corner and it's Hogan's perfect swing
It's Sarazen's double eagle at the fifteenth In Thirty-Five
And the spirit of Clifford Roberts that keeps it alive
Augusta, your dogwoods and pines
They play on my mind like a song
Augusta, it's you that I love
And it's you that I miss when I'm gone
It's the legions of Arnie's Army and the Golden Bear's throngs and the wooden-shafted legend of Bobby Jones.
