Saturday, May 9, 2009

These Masters Golf Winners

By Denise I Smithson

Among the highest honors a professional golfer can achieve in their career is to be one of the Masters Golf winners. The Masters, of course is one of the biggest events in golf. One of the four champion ship tournaments on the PGA Tour, this event is held at Augusta, Georgia\'s Augusta National Golf Club, which is unique among the hosts of the major tournaments in being a members-only club, something which has sparked some controversy in the past.

The Masters is part of the PGA Tour, The Japan Golf Tour and the PGA European Tour. Also called the US Masters, this is an invitation only tournament, with the players who may participate being chosen by the Augusta National Golf Club, which has complete control over the event. There are fewer players in this tournament than in any of the other major tournaments, since only those invited by the club may participate. The first of the year\'s four major tournaments, the Masters is held in early April.

Masters golf winners are awarded a green jacket by tradition. This green jacket was frowned upon at first because of the color but is considered an honor to wear today. The jacket has been a tradition since 1949. The winner of the tournament that is given the green jacket is allowed to wear it for one year. After the year is complete they must return the jacket to the clubhouse of the Augusta National Golf Club for the next winner of the tournament. Today, the tradition is that the winner of the tournament returning the jacket will place it on the new winner of the tournament the following year.

Naturally, there is also a cash prize to be won; Masters Golf winners receive awards out of a total purse of $7.5 million. The champion of the tournament wins a gold medal and $1.35 million and the runner up receives a silver medal and a cash prize, while the lowest scoring player of the day goes home with a crystal vase. Any player who scores a double eagle or a hole in one is given a large crystal bowl; players who score an eagle receive a set of fine crystal goblets. A crystal bowl is also awarded to the winner of the par 3 event held the day before the tournament proper begins.

There are many Masters golf winners that have won the title of the tournament more than once in their career. Jack Nicklaus holds the most records and is regarded as the champion of the Masters with six tournament wins between 1963 and 1986. Arnold Palmer and Tiger Woods are both tied with four wins of the Masters Tournament each. The first non-American to win the Masters in 1961 was Gary Player from South Africa.

Masters golf winners are considered to be very fortunate and excellent athletes. They perform very well and the lowest score on the golf course at the Augusta Private Golf Course at the Masters Tournament as a part of the PGA tour. Athletes in this tournament are only allowed to attend by invitation only. There are many awards given at this tournament for the top winner, the runner up, and other things like a double eagle, an eagle, and more. Some of the prizes that tournament winners receive include a green jacket, vases, goblets, and a large purse of prize money to take home with them. - 16887

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