This past April, the best golfers in the world teed off at the Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, Georgia. These golfers compete against each other in a four-day event for the chance to earn the coveted green jacket that is awarded to the champion of the Masters Tournament every year. The Masters Tournament is one of four major championships in men’s professional golf and is the first major event of each calendar year.
Part of what makes the Masters Tournament such a special event within the realm of golfing is the rich history behind the competition that dates to the first-ever invitational tournament that took place on Mar. 22, 1934.
Horton Smith was the event’s first winner, and over the course of history, there have been 56 different winners with former golfer Jack Nicklaus holding the record for the most Masters Tournament titles at six. Some of the tournament’s traditions that have held true since its inception, including the champion’s dinner, restriction of mobile devices on the course for event spectators, low concession prices, and the world-famous green jacket that is awarded to the victor each year.
It should also be noted that Augusta National Golf Club pride themselves in keeping their courses in pristine condition and ensuring that the 18-hole layout proves challenging for even some of the most experienced golfers in the world. This adds to the prestige that coincides with conquering the course and winning the Masters Tournament.
This past year proved to be a memorable tournament as Rory McIlroy, one of the game’s greatest golfers, cemented himself in the record books by winning the Masters Tournament and claiming his green jacket, achieving a feat only reached by five other golfers in history by completing a career Grand Slam.
A career Grand Slam is an incredibly challenging feat that is only achieved when a golfer wins all four major championships at least once throughout their career. The four major championships in golf are the Masters Tournament, the Open Championship, the U.S. Open, and the PGA championship.
Although Grand Forks does not offer the same golfing environment that is found at the Masters Tournament in Augusta, Georgia, it does offer some great public golf courses of their own that are now open to students and residents alike as the weather has finally warmed up enough this spring season. Some of the more popular courses in Grand Forks include the Ray Richards Golf Course, located right off campus on Demers Avenue, and Kings Walk Golf Course, located on the south side of town off Columbia Road.
Whether you are a fan of golf or not, tune in to next year’s edition of the Masters Tournament if you get the chance because it truly is one of the most coveted sporting events of the year.
Daniel Silva is a Dakota Student General Reporter. He can be reached at [email protected].
