Golf Betting - The Masters Championship
History - Winners
Back in 1934, Mr. Bobby Jones and Clifford Roberts had the idea of creating an annual golf event. The name proposed was the “Masters Tournament”; but the name used was Augusta National Invitation and it lasted for five years then in 1939 the name was officially changed. The Masters Tournaments was always held at the Augusta National Golf Club, in Augusta, Georgia. The first tournament was on March 22nd, 1934 and the winner was Horton Smith.
There exists yet many regulations established in the early days of the Tournament, like the four-day stroke playing of 18 holes each day, eliminating qualifying round and only the players and the caddie (the one who help the golfer to carry the golf clubs) could remain in the playing area.
In 1940, each year during the first week in April, the Masters was scheduled. In 1935 Gene Sarazen hit "the shot heard 'round the world" scoring a double eagle on the par 5 15th hole, tying Craig Wood and forcing a playoff. The following day Sarazen won the 36-hole playoff by five strokes.
Ben Hogan was defeated in 1942 by Byron Nelson, 69-70 in an 18-hole playoff and the event was not played within the next 3 years, 1943-1944-1945, during the war. In 1950 Ben Hogan had two victories, and Arnold Palmer had his first of four. In 1960 began the Par-3 Contest and Jack Nicklaus became the first Masters champion, defending his title successfully in 1965-1966.
Spaniard Seve Ballesteros won twice in the next decade and Tom Watson got his second title.
In 1986 Nicklaus at the age of 46 donned his sixth Green Jacket. The winners of the tournament use this Green Jacket each year. Also, this player won the Masters six times within 1963 to 1986.
Golfer Tiger Woods set a new record and broke the tournament in 1997, the previous record of four day scoring stood for 32 years. In 2001 at the Masters, he won his fourth consecutive professional major and in 2002 became the third player that has won consecutive Master titles. Also, in 2005 Tiger Woods became the third person that won at least four tournaments.
Winning the Masters championship to the golfers includes several privileges that make their career more secure. Winners are automatically invited to play in other major Golf events such as: the US Open, British Open and the PGA Championship and earn a lifetime invitation to the masters. They receive a membership on the PGA Tour for the following seasons and invitations to The Players Championship for five years.