The Masters Tournament is one of the four major championships in professional golf, held annually during the first full week of April at the Augusta National Golf Club in Georgia. Founded by amateur legend Bobby Jones and investment banker Clifford Roberts, it is the only major championship played on the same course every year.
Masters Historic Timeline by Era
1. The Formative Era (1930s – 1940s)
This period established the tournament’s core identity and survived the disruption of global conflict.
- 1931: Bobby Jones and Clifford Roberts purchase the Fruitland Nurseries property for $70,000 to build Augusta National.
- 1934: The inaugural “Augusta National Invitation Tournament” is won by Horton Smith.
- 1935: Gene Sarazen hits the “Shot Heard ‘Round the World”—a double eagle (albatross) on the 15th hole—en route to victory.
- 1939: The event is officially renamed The Masters.
- 1942: Byron Nelson defeats Ben Hogan in a classic 18-hole playoff.
- 1943–1945: No tournament held due to World War II; the grounds are used to raise cattle and turkeys for the war effort.
- 1949: Sam Snead wins his first title, and the tradition of awarding the Green Jacket begins.
2. The Golden Age & TV Expansion (1950s – 1960s)
The tournament became a televised spectacle, dominated by “The Big Three”: Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus, and Gary Player.
- 1952: Ben Hogan inaugurates the annual Champions Dinner.
- 1956: The first national television broadcast airs as Jack Burke Jr. completes the greatest final-round comeback (8 shots).
- 1958: Arnold Palmer wins his first Green Jacket, and the term “Amen Corner” is coined by writer Herbert Warren Wind.
- 1960: The first Par 3 Contest is held, won by Sam Snead.
- 1961: Gary Player becomes the first international (non-American) champion.
- 1963: Jack Nicklaus wins his first Masters at age 23, then the youngest champion.
- 1966: Jack Nicklaus becomes the first player to successfully defend his title.
3. The International & Rivalry Era (1970s – 1980s)
European and international players began to challenge American dominance, while Nicklaus set enduring records.
- 1975: Lee Elder makes history as the first Black player to compete in the tournament.
- 1979: Fuzzy Zoeller becomes the only player in the modern era to win on his debut.
- 1980: Seve Ballesteros becomes the first European winner.
- 1986: At age 46, Jack Nicklaus wins a record-sixth Green Jacket, becoming the oldest champion in history.
- 1987: Augusta native Larry Mize chips in from 140 feet in a playoff to deny Greg Norman.
4. The Tiger Woods Era (1990s – 2000s)
A period defined by the emergence of Tiger Woods and the “Tiger-proofing” of the course to handle modern power.
- 1997: Tiger Woods wins by a record 12 strokes at age 21, becoming the youngest champion and setting a then-record score of 18-under par.
- 2001: Tiger Woods wins his second title to complete the “Tiger Slam,” holding all four major trophies simultaneously.
- 2004: Phil Mickelson secures his first major championship with a birdie on the 72nd hole.
- 2005: Tiger Woods executes the iconic “chip-in” on the 16th hole during his fourth victory.
5. The Modern Era (2010s – Present)
This era features global diversity in winners and the return of legends.
- 2012: Bubba Watson wins in a playoff after a miraculous hook shot from the trees on the 10th hole.
- 2013: Adam Scott becomes the first Australian to win the Masters.
- 2019: Tiger Woods completes one of the greatest sporting comebacks, winning his fifth Green Jacket 14 years after his fourth.
- 2020: Dustin Johnson sets the tournament scoring record at 20-under par during a November edition delayed by the pandemic.
- 2021: Hideki Matsuyama becomes the first Japanese player to win the Masters.
- 2025: Rory McIlroy completes the career Grand Slam by winning his first Green Jacket in a playoff.
Masters golf overview and detailed historic timeline by era and year
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