Every year thousands of golf fans take to Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, Georgia to witness the Mecca of golf... The Masters Tournament. A collection of the best golfers from around the globe tee off (no pun intended) in a race to win the world's most beloved article of clothing.
The Green Jacket has been worn by legends from Jack Nicklaus to Arnold Palmer and even to modern legends like Tiger Woods. It can only be compared to The World Cup, and the Olympic Gold Medal for it's level of prestigiousness in the sporting community.
So what does it take to actually win The Masters? No one really knows the answer to that question. Many believe the tournament is won by the man with the best composure, many think it is based purely on skill. The truth is, no matter how much skill, experience, poise, and stamina you have on your side, It will always take that little bit of luck.
Now I know what you're saying, "Trevor? All the men you just listed are amazing golfers anyway, so why don't you credit them for their skill?" I'm not saying these men won based on pure luck because that's simply not true.
Every golfer that wins The Masters deserve full credit for their victory, there's no questions asked about that. Most years, although, the winner gets a lucky break at some point or another in the tournament.
Don't believe me? Well I'm sure you've seen Jack Nicklaus' fast rolling 40-foot putt on the 16th hole in 1975, Tiger Woods' gravity defying 20-foot chip on the 16th hole in 2005, and even most recently Bubba Watson's 160-yard magical hook shot on the second hole of the playoff in 2012.
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| Tiger Woods being crowned The Masters champion in 2005 by longtime rival, and good friend Phil Mickelson. (Roberto Schmidt/AFP/Getty Images) |
The "Luck of The Masters" has also been proven to work against golfers in the same manner that it helps them. It's been nearly 25 years since Scott Hoch infamously missed his 2-foot putt to beat Nick Faldo on the first hole of the playoff in 1989. Faldo would go on to make his putt and win the tournament.
No matter what you think it takes to win golf's greatest prize, The Masters will always be fun to watch. Whether it's from a no-name young golfer earning his first Green Jacket on path to promising career, or a legend winning his final Green Jacket on the way out at the end of his career, The Masters never fails to excite and awe fans from around the world.
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