The Algarve golfing season is well underway and although the weather for the 2014 Portugal Masters at the Oceanico golf club in Vilamoura was unusually bad, the rest of this season has enjoyed fabulous weather throughout the Algarve.
Despite the weather, our local bit of the European Tour managed to raise over €20,000 for the well-deserving. Make a Wish Portugal, the official charity of the Portugal Masters.
Golf continues to feature everywhere: on the net; in the newspapers; on the television… and is the talk in every bar and pub the world over. And now it’s the turn of the US Masters, played during the first week of April every year at the infamous Augusta National golf course.
The history of the US Masters – and some of the winners
It all started way back in 1934 in Georgia, in the heart of the Deep South of the United States. From humble beginnings, when Bobby Jones came out of retirement to promote his new course and tournament, to the present day million dollar event. The greats in the golfing world have flocked to accept their invitations to participate and some fascinating results have been turned in.
The golf club
The legendary Bobby Jones, who retired from professional golf at the age of 28 after winning the Grand Slam in 1930, got together with Clifford Roberts in 1931, and bought Fruitland Nurseries in Georgia. They brought Alistair Mackenzie (a Yorkshire man) on board to design the best golf course in the world. Together they built the prestigious Augusta National Golf Club and the new course opened for play in 1932.
The course has changed quite drastically over the years, new trees have been planted, hazards have been changed and extended, tee boxes have been altered; but in essence it is still one of the best courses in the world and professionals are honoured to get an invitation to join the Masters Tournament.
The Masters on the map
In 1934 the first Masters tournament was held and Bobby came out of retirement to participate and promote it. Then, in 1935 Gene Sarazen (The Squire) put the tournament firmly on the golfing map with his double eagle, going on to win in a sudden death playoff. In the event of a tie, the Masters Tournament employs a sudden death playoff to determine an outright winner and is the only major event on the PGA tour to do so.
The ’40’s
1942: Byron Nelson and Ben Hogan were only the second players in a Monday playoff round. Nelson won by one shot making him the second two-time Masters winner.
The Tournament was abandoned for three years due to the 2nd world war.
The ’50’s
1954: Hogan v Snead in a playoff – Hogan lost and is still today, the only player to lose two playoffs at the Masters. Who would think that of this golf legend?
The ’60’s
Argentina's Roberto De Vicenzo signed for a 66 on his scorecard when he had actually scored 65, thereby handing in an incorrect scorecard. He forfeited the chance of a playoff against Bob Goalby and had to settle for second place.
If he had signed for a lower score than he’d achieved he would have been disqualified. Not a good way to celebrate his birthday!
The ’70’s
1978: Gary Player trailed 7 shots at the start of the last day. He won by getting 7 birdies in the last 10 holes beating Tom Watson and Rod Funseth. Gary was the first non-American to win this tournament and did so three times, in 1961, 1974 and 1978.
The ’80’s
in 1987 Larry Mize, a relatively unknown outside his hometown of Augusta, ended up playing a sudden death playoff against world renowned Greg Norman and Seve Ballesteros. He beat them both! Ballesteros may not have been too disappointed though, having previously won the tournament in 1980 and 1983 respectively.
The ’90’s
1990: TV executive Ron Townsend was the first black man to become a member: until then the rule had been “Men only” and “White only” for this golf club in the heart of Georgia. Note that Augusta National is an invitation-only golf club.
It was only in August 2012 that two women were finally invited to become members at the prestigious club, although previously women could play at Augusta as member’s guests. Interestingly enough, the first female invitee was Condoleezza Rice, who also happens to be black.
Tiger Woods broke records when he played the Masters in 1997. He made the lowest 72-hole score in the history of the Masters and at 21 was the youngest winner in the tournament history. What an achievement.
2001 - 2010
Tiger Woods won three more times, in 2001, 2002 and 2005. Phil Mickelson also won three times, in 2004, 2006 and 2010.
2011 – 2014
Bubba Watson has won twice and still going strong.
2015
A full field of invited competitors are confirmed for this year’s Masters and of course Bubba Watson will be there to defend his title.
Unlike other three major tournaments, The Masters is always played at the same venue: the Augusta National Golf Club in Georgia. Naturally, traditions have come into place over the years.
Winners
Jack Nicklaus holds the record for the most Masters Titles – he won an amazing 6 times between 1963 and 1986.
A US national has won the title 58 times. The next country to represent the most wins is South Africa, with 5 (including three wins by Gary Player).
The most unique nationality to win this golf Major is probably Vijay Singh of Fiji, with his tournament win in 2000.
The Green Jacket
The Green Jacket awarded to the winner, was first brought in for the 1949 event. The current champion is the only person permitted to remove a Green Jacket from the Augusta club premises. All members of the GC are given a jacket but may not remove them from the club. The Champion’s jacket must be returned to the clubhouse one year after the victory.
Gary Player took his home to South Africa and managed to consistently ‘forget’ to return it. Eventually he was officially given the jacket which is now on display in his personal museum.
8The Champions’ Dinner
Ben Hogan initiated the Champions Dinner, held on the Tuesday before each Tournament, in 1952. The event is only open to past Masters champions and certain members of the Augusta National GC board.
The defending champion gets to choose the menu for the Champions Dinner, and it has become quite the tradition for winners to select dishes from their home country. This includes Scotsman Sandy Lyle selecting Haggis, and Nick Faldo offering traditional English fish ’n chips.
Other traditions at the Masters
Since 1963 legendary golfers (usually past champions) have hit an honorary first tee shot before play commences.
In addition to automatic entry to the three other ‘Majors’ in the PGA Tour, winners are automatically awarded lifetime invitations to future Masters tournaments.
Look out for the Masters to be splashed all over the media between 6 and 12 April this year. And if you don’t fancy watching the pros across the ocean knocking a little white ball around vast fields of green, just go and hit a ball yourself at one of the Algarve’s stunning 39 golf courses!
Golf Season: the US Masters
By Sun’s Dragon
The Algarve golfing season is well underway and although the weather for the 2014 Portugal Masters at the Oceanico golf club in Vilamoura was unusually bad, the rest of this season has enjoyed fabulous weather throughout the Algarve.
Despite the weather, our local bit of the European Tour managed to raise over €20,000 for the well-deserving. Make a Wish Portugal, the official charity of the Portugal Masters.
Golf continues to feature everywhere: on the net; in the newspapers; on the television… and is the talk in every bar and pub the world over. And now it’s the turn of the US Masters, played during the first week of April every year at the infamous Augusta National golf course.
The history of the US Masters – and some of the winners
The golf club
The legendary Bobby Jones, who retired from professional golf at the age of 28 after winning the Grand Slam in 1930, got together with Clifford Roberts in 1931, and bought Fruitland Nurseries in Georgia. They brought Alistair Mackenzie (a Yorkshire man) on board to design the best golf course in the world. Together they built the prestigious Augusta National Golf Club and the new course opened for play in 1932.
The course has changed quite drastically over the years, new trees have been planted, hazards have been changed and extended, tee boxes have been altered; but in essence it is still one of the best courses in the world and professionals are honoured to get an invitation to join the Masters Tournament.
The Masters on the map
In 1934 the first Masters tournament was held and Bobby came out of retirement to participate and promote it. Then, in 1935 Gene Sarazen (The Squire) put the tournament firmly on the golfing map with his double eagle, going on to win in a sudden death playoff. In the event of a tie, the Masters Tournament employs a sudden death playoff to determine an outright winner and is the only major event on the PGA tour to do so.
1942: Byron Nelson and Ben Hogan were only the second players in a Monday playoff round. Nelson won by one shot making him the second two-time Masters winner.
The Tournament was abandoned for three years due to the 2nd world war.
The ’50’s
1954: Hogan v Snead in a playoff – Hogan lost and is still today, the only player to lose two playoffs at the Masters. Who would think that of this golf legend?
If he had signed for a lower score than he’d achieved he would have been disqualified. Not a good way to celebrate his birthday!
The ’70’s
1978: Gary Player trailed 7 shots at the start of the last day. He won by getting 7 birdies in the last 10 holes beating Tom Watson and Rod Funseth. Gary was the first non-American to win this tournament and did so three times, in 1961, 1974 and 1978.
The ’80’s
in 1987 Larry Mize, a relatively unknown outside his hometown of Augusta, ended up playing a sudden death playoff against world renowned Greg Norman and Seve Ballesteros. He beat them both! Ballesteros may not have been too disappointed though, having previously won the tournament in 1980 and 1983 respectively.
The ’90’s
It was only in August 2012 that two women were finally invited to become members at the prestigious club, although previously women could play at Augusta as member’s guests. Interestingly enough, the first female invitee was Condoleezza Rice, who also happens to be black.
Tiger Woods broke records when he played the Masters in 1997. He made the lowest 72-hole score in the history of the Masters and at 21 was the youngest winner in the tournament history. What an achievement.
2001 - 2010
Tiger Woods won three more times, in 2001, 2002 and 2005. Phil Mickelson also won three times, in 2004, 2006 and 2010.
Bubba Watson has won twice and still going strong.
2015
A full field of invited competitors are confirmed for this year’s Masters and of course Bubba Watson will be there to defend his title.
For a lighter perspective of golf, enjoy Bubba Watson battling it out with Tonight show host Jimmy Fallon, in a hilarious game of “Pie Golf”.
US Masters unique facts
Unlike other three major tournaments, The Masters is always played at the same venue: the Augusta National Golf Club in Georgia. Naturally, traditions have come into place over the years.
Winners
A US national has won the title 58 times. The next country to represent the most wins is South Africa, with 5 (including three wins by Gary Player).
The most unique nationality to win this golf Major is probably Vijay Singh of Fiji, with his tournament win in 2000.
The Green Jacket
The Green Jacket awarded to the winner, was first brought in for the 1949 event. The current champion is the only person permitted to remove a Green Jacket from the Augusta club premises. All members of the GC are given a jacket but may not remove them from the club. The Champion’s jacket must be returned to the clubhouse one year after the victory.
8The Champions’ Dinner
Ben Hogan initiated the Champions Dinner, held on the Tuesday before each Tournament, in 1952. The event is only open to past Masters champions and certain members of the Augusta National GC board.
The defending champion gets to choose the menu for the Champions Dinner, and it has become quite the tradition for winners to select dishes from their home country. This includes Scotsman Sandy Lyle selecting Haggis, and Nick Faldo offering traditional English fish ’n chips.
Other traditions at the Masters
Since 1963 legendary golfers (usually past champions) have hit an honorary first tee shot before play commences.
In addition to automatic entry to the three other ‘Majors’ in the PGA Tour, winners are automatically awarded lifetime invitations to future Masters tournaments.
Look out for the Masters to be splashed all over the media between 6 and 12 April this year. And if you don’t fancy watching the pros across the ocean knocking a little white ball around vast fields of green, just go and hit a ball yourself at one of the Algarve’s stunning 39 golf courses!
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