Fluff up those azaleas, bring your chairs (but no running, please) as the 2022 Masters Tournament gets underway.
The Masters is one of golf’s four Grand Slam events, but it is in a category all of its own.
Steeped in rules and traditions (we weren’t joking about the no running), The Masters considers itself a tradition like no other, and it’s not hyperbole.
Here’s a complete A to Z guide for the 2022 Masters Tournament, with some history, fast facts and stories to get you around the famed course.
A for Augusta National
Augusta National is the site of The Masters. It opened in 1932 and has hosted The Masters since 1934.
A is also for Amen Corner, which are holes 11-13.
B is for Bobby Jones
Bobby Jones is a champion golfer and one of the founders of Augusta National with Clifford Roberts.
C is for cabins
There are 10 “cabins” — think houses on the grounds of the golf course. The best known is the “Butler Cabin” where the post-tournament award ceremony occurs.
D is for double eagle
In golf, the double eagle is the “Shot Heard ‘Round the World.’ Gene Sarazen holing out a 4-wood from 235 yards on the 15th hole in the final round in 1935. The shot helped him force a playoff, which he won by five strokes over Craig Wood.
E is for eagle
The 1986 Masters ranks right up there as one of the best sporting events of all time with Jack Nicklaus’ charge on the back nine.
When Nicklaus made an eagle at 15, he said he realized he could win the tournament. Spoiler alert: He did.
F is for flowering peach
Each of Augusta National’s 18 holes have a name. Hole 3 is Flowering Peach. Hole No. 4 is the Flowering Crab Apple. Yes, they like their flowers at Augusta National.
G is for green jacket
What else? The winner of The Masters receives a Green Jacket, a symbol of an honorary membership into Augusta National.
If you’ve wondered why the winner gets a Green Jacket, it’s one of the 10 Masters mysteries revealed.
H is for the Hogan Bridge
Named for golf icon Ben Hogan, the Hogan bridge spans Rae’s Creek that takes golfers to the green on the 12th hole.
I is for “in your life”
Tiger Woods’ amazing chip-in on the 16th hole at the 2005 Masters. The ball hung on the lip for a microsecond before dropping prompting CBS announcer Verne Lundquist to cry “In your life, have you ever seen anything like that?” Cue the chills.
J is for Jack
Jack Nicklaus. The Golden Bear. The all-time champion of champions at The Masters (Tiger hasn’t quite gotten there yet). Nicklaus has the most Green Jackets with six.
K is for king
The king of golf is Arnold Palmer, swashbuckling, good-looking and leader of “Arnie’s Army”. That’s the large gallery of fans following his every step. Palmer won four Masters titles in a seven year span: 1958, 1960, 1962 and 1964. Not even Tiger did that.
L is for Larry Mize
Larry Mize won one major title, the 1987 Masters, but how he did it is legendary. Mize, an Augusta native, chipped in on the second playoff hole from 140 feet for birdie to beat Greg Norman.
M is for Magnolia Lane
Magnolia Lane is the tree-lined road that leads golfers to Augusta National Golf Club.
N is for Nick Price and Greg Norman
Both men share the course record with a 63. Price shot his in 1986, Norman in the first round in 1996. But Norman would collapse on the final day of the 1996 Tournament, losing to Nick Faldo. Norman remains one of the best golfers to never win The Masters.
O is for Mark O’Meara
Long before Phil Mickelson did his famous leap on 18, O’Meara jumped for joy after drilling a walk-off 20-footer on 18 to win the 1998 Masters.
P is for patrons
The Masters doesn’t call the fans “fans,” they are known as patrons.
Q is for qualifying criteria
The Masters doesn’t have a set list of qualifiers, no no. To get an invitation one has to meet one of the 19 standards, including finishing in the top 4 at the three other Majors or being an Amateur Champion.
R is for Rae’s Creek
Somehow Fred Couples’ ball did not roll in it in 1992. Rae’s Creek is the water hazard in front of 12 and behind 11.
S is for starters
The Masters begins every year with ceremonial tee shots by former champions and legends. There have been 11 honorary starters at the Masters, including Sam Snead, Byron Nelson and Gene Sarazen.
T is for Tom Watson
No, just kidding, although Watson did win two Masters titles. T is for Tiger Woods, who has won five Masters, including his historic 1997 win by 12 strokes. He also came back from injuries to win again in 2019.
U is for umbrella
You can buy one, but you won’t need it. It rarely rains at The Masters. But the only place to get official Masters merchandise is on the grounds.
V is for Vijay Singh
The 2001 Masters Champion served a Thai-themed feast at the Champions dinner to honor his heritage.
W is for women
So, yes, Augusta National was a bit slow before allowing women members. It didn’t until 2012 but now boasts six. Still, no ladies tees on the course.
X is for Xander Schauffele
Xander Schauffele, a native Californian, is playing his fifth Masters after finishing tied for second in the 2019 Masters and third in 2021. And you didn’t think we’d find an X.
Y is for “yes, sir!”
That Lundquist fella gave his first signature call on the 17th green at The 1986 Masters with Nicklaus draining a long putt. Lundquist first said “Maybe.” Then when the ball dropped exclaimed, “yes sir!”
Z is for Fuzzy Zoeller
In 1979, Zoeller became the first golfer since 1935 to win The Masters in his first appearance. He had to go to sudden death to do it, beating Ed Sneed and Tom Watson on the second hole at Augusta National.
Photo by David J. Phillip / Associated Press
