Masters Time
In most parts of the world the official golf season starts in April, which is coincidently when the first Major of the year takes place: the Masters tournament at Augusta, in Georgia in the USA.
It was started in 1934 by the all time greatest amateur golfer, Bobby Jones, because he wanted to have a tournament at the new golf course that he had built in conjunction with golf course architect Alistair Mackenzie.
Jones invited all his friends, who were also the greatest golfers of the time, to play. Jones himself had retired in 1930 after he had won the Grand Slam, which in those days consisted of winning the US Open and US Amateur, and the British Open and British Amateur all in a single year. To promote his event, he was convinced by his friends that he should come out of retirement and play, which he did. Unfortunately, after a gap of four years, Jones’ golf wasn’t anywhere near what it had been at the height of his career, and he was really just a ceremonial golfer, but the appearance of the great man caused spectators and the media to flock to the tournament.
Jones didn’t like the title Masters; he thought it was too pretentious so he called the original event the Augusta Invitational. Every one of the best golfers of the time was there, including future champions Sam Snead, Ben Hogan and Jimmy Demaret. Walter Hagen was in his forties and past his prime, but golf’s great showman still attracted the galleries, as did another great of the time, Gene Sarazen. It was Sarazen that further enhanced the reputation of the tournament in its first year. Standing on the fifteenth tee, he was three strokes behind the leader. As it is today, the 15th was a Par 5 with the second shot played over water. After a good drive Sarazen took out a fairway wood, saying to his caddie that he had nothing to lose. He then knocked the ball into the cup for an albatross (or “Double Eagle” as it is called in America) and it became known as “the shot that was heard around the world”. For days it put golf on the front pages of newspapers. That win by Sarazen immediately lifted the stature of the tournament above all regular PGA events.
Jones was later convinced to change the name to the Masters, and it is still the only major golf tournament that is organised by a golf club. The members of Augusta National control every aspect of the Masters with an iron fist. They even dictate to the television channel CBS how many adverts they can show and who those advertising companies can be. Their power and determination to do things their own way was illustrated during what was referred to as the “Martha Burke” affair a few years ago. She campaigned to get sponsors to stop supporting the event due to the fact that they don’t allow lady members. She completely misjudged the power and importance of the event to the town of Augusta, and the economy of the State of Georgia. To ensure that the television sponsors weren’t going to be more embarrassed, the Club advised them to withdraw their television advertising that year and the club went on to foot the entire bill for the television production that year – millions and millions of dollars worth.
The Masters has the advantage of staging the event at the same venue each year, and they are therefore able to improve on all aspects of the event to ensure maximum comfort for both the patrons (as the spectators are referred to) and the competitors. There is no advertising on the grounds of the event and that even extends to the cups that they serve cold drinks in!
As usual, all South African eyes will be on “our boys” to see if Ernie, Retief, Tim, Rory or Trevor can lift that amazing trophy – they all have the game. Gary Player and Trevor Immelman are the only South Africans to have won the Masters. Gary did so three times: in 1961, 1974 and 1978. Of course we’ll also be waiting anxiously to see if Tiger will use it as his return to professional golf. Realistically he would need to get in some competitive practice before then, so watch this space.
This year’s tournament will take place from the 8th to 11th April and SuperSport will have full coverage of the event. Make sure you don’t miss a minute of the highlight event of the year!
It’s a perfect day for golf at Zwartkop!
Zwartkop is one of the oldest and most prestigious clubs in Pretoria. It’s a classic parkland layout which incorporates the Dale Hayes Golf Academy, golf shop and clubhouse, which has various function rooms.
Tel: +27 12 654 1144 / +27 12 654 2111
www.zwartkopcountryclub.co.za.
Story by Dale Hayes
