The Masters 2012: 7 Reasons the Masters Is Golf's Best Major

One of golf's most prestigious events is once again just around the corner and the storylines surrounding the tournament are already beginning to hit the headlines. 

Will Tiger win his fifth green jacket, passing Arnold Palmer, and needing only one more to tie the great Jack Nicklaus?  Will Rory McIlroy be able to forget his epic Sunday meltdown, posting an 80 in the final round of last year's tournament, and add his name to the list of greats? Will Phil Mickelson catch Tiger Woods at No. 4 after winning in 2004, 2006 and 2010?

Or will someone else steal the show?

Defending champion Charl Schwartzel, No.1 in the world Luke Donald and No. 3 in the world Lee Westwood will certainly have their opportunities.

Even though the Masters Tournament at the Augusta National Golf Club is youngest of the four Majors, it has seen some of the greatest moments in golf history.

It is simply the best when it comes down to the final 18 holes.

Let's take a look at the top seven reasons that make The Masters the best tournament in golf.

The History

The Masters is the youngest of the four Major Championships, and yet it has already been the home of some of golf's most captivating moments.

Beginning in March 22, 1934, the tournament was originally called the "Augusta National Invitational."  "The Masters" was considered to be the name, but founder Bobby Jones felt as though it was too immodest.  It was not until 1939 that it would be coined "The Masters" after public and media pressure.

In 1939, Gene Sarazen hit what has came to be known as "the shot heard 'round the world."  He holed in from the fairway in two shots on the par-5—15th hole for a double-eagle, tying leader Craig Wood and forcing a playoff on the following day. 

Sarazen went on to win by five strokes.

In 1986, 46-year-old Jack Nicklaus scored a 30 on the back nine and an incredible 65 for the final round, which was good enough to earn him his sixth and final green jacket.  The "Golden Bear's" record for holding the most Master's Championships and being the oldest player to win has still not been broken.

Tiger Woods, at only 21 years old, won his first Masters and his first Major Championship in 1997 (pictured).  His 12 stroke victory and final score of 18 under-par are both records for any Major.  It was only the beginning for Woods, as he has since gone on to win 13 more Majors and appears to be on track for several more. 

While 1997 was a memorable year for Tiger Woods, 2001 was perhaps even more special.  Woods' victory at the Master's made him the first ever player to hold all four Major Championships at the same time.  However, his four championships wrapped around two years (2000 and 2001), so it could not officially be called a "Grand Slam." 

Instead, Tiger's achievement has come to be known as the "Tiger Slam".

The list of awe inspiring events that have taken place at Augusta is long and detailed, and it was hard to narrow the list to only Tiger, Sarazen and Nicklaus.  Gary Player, Phil Mickelson, Steve Ballesteros, Nick Faldo and many others have been a part of some fantastic rounds of golf at The Masters as well.

The Tradition

Every course has had their own history and fair share of spectacular events, but it is hard to compare to the tradition that surrounds The Masters.

For starters, The Masters has frequently served as the springboard to many successful careers (see Tiger Woods).  In fact, the Champion of Augusta automatically earns an invitation to the U.S. Open, the British Open and the PGA Championship for the next five years along with a lifetime invitation to return to The Masters.

As an amateur, founder Bobby Jones, also wanted to insure golf's future would have a presence at the Augusta National Golf Club.  The current U.S. Amateur, British Amateur and Asian Amateur are all invited to take part in the tournament.  The U.S. Amateur has historically played in the grouping with the defending Masters Champion for the first two days.

Before every Masters Tournament begins, an honorary tee shot is hit by one of golf's greatest legends.  In 2010 and 2011, Arnold Palmer and Jack Nicklaus were the co-honorary starters. 

This year, Gary Player joins Nicklaus and Palmer to begin the tournament.

The Augusta National Golf Club is truly a place where golf's past, present and future all meet to enjoy golf's most exciting Major.

Amen Corner

There is no other three holes in golf that are more famous than Amen Corner.  The three holes that make up Amen Corner,  White Dogwood (No. 11), Golden Bell (No. 12) and Azalea (No. 13), are some of the toughest and most respected in golf.

Every Sunday, these three holes have been determining factors in producing a favorite headed into the final five holes. 

White Dogwood, a 505-yard par-4, plays downhill from the tee shot.  From there, the golfer must carefully choose his iron and proceed with accuracy as a bunker lies to the right, a pond to the left, and a creek flows directly behind.

In 1987, Larry Mize holed in from 140 yards out to beat Greg Norman in a playoff, winning his one and only Masters Championship.

Golden Bell (pictured) is the most dangerous of the three holes.  A short par-3 of only 155 yards and yet hazards encircle the green.  In front, runs Rae's creek, but upon clearing the water hazard there are still two deep bunkers that look to trap any ball that is not precisely the right distance.  If the layout of the hole was not menacing enough, swirling winds often make choosing the right club very difficult. 

In the history of The Masters there have only been three hole-in-ones on Golden Bell: Claude Harmon in 1947, William Hyndman in 1959 and Curtis Strange in 1988.

The 510-yard par-5 13th hole, or more commonly known as Azalea—because of the 1,600 plus azalea bushes located between tee and green, allows players to go for the green in two if they have an accurate drive down the center of the fairway.

Once again, Rae's creek swallows everything left short of the green while four bunkers along the left and behind the hole take care of any other wayward hit.

Champions Dinner

The Champions dinner first originated with Ben Hogan, who organized a dinner for all the former winners in 1952. Since then, it has become a staple at The Masters and one of the most exclusive gatherings in golf. 

Every Tuesday before the beginning of the tournament, the dinner serves as the welcoming party for their newest member. 

The winner of the previous year gets to choose the menu and he pays for all of the former winners to join him.  With the meals usually being something native to the winner's home country or region, there has been some interesting meals over the course of history.

In 1988, Sandy Lyle from Scotland chose to serve one of the most traditional Scottish dishes.

You guessed it—haggis—a Scottish dish that combines the heart, liver and lungs of a sheep, along with some herbs, which is then all wrapped and boiled in a sheep’s stomach. 

Obviously he had a strategy behind the meal of trying to get some of his opponents rather sick before the tournament kicked off.

Lyle's adventure was one of the more notably unpopular dinners.  Phil Mickelson served an old fashion southern barbeque, Angel Cabrera had beef empanadas and Argentinean salads, while Tiger Woods even served cheeseburgers and milkshakes for his first time.

This year, Charl Schwartzel is serving iced seafood and South African barbeque consisting of filet mignon and lamb chops.

The Green Jacket

In 1937, members of Augusta National Golf Club were asked to wear green jackets so that they could be easily identified as people who could answer questions about the golf club.

Much like the orange apron at Home Depot.

It was not until 1949 that the winner was granted one of these green jackets as a symbol of becoming apart of the club.  Since then, the tradition of the jacket has evolved into a much more meaningful experience. 

Today, the previous year's winner welcomes the current year's winner by helping him with the trophy jacket.

Phil Mickelson (pictured) winner of the 2010 Masters, helped Charl Schwartzel put on his very first green jacket in 2011.

The green coat has become so prestigious that members are not allowed to wear it anywhere outside of the Augusta National Golf Club.

Par-3 Contest

Since 1960, a par-3 competition has taken place on the day before the first round of the tournament.  It is an event played on a separate, nine-hole golf course, on the property that serves to kick-off the golf at Augusta National.

The 1,060 yard course was designed by Clifford Roberts and George Cobb and is played around two different ponds. It is both challenging and popular among fans and golfer's alike because of the laid back nature and the friendly competition.

Tournament participants, honorary invitees and past champions all come together to participate in this friendly, and very sociable event.  The golfer's own children often serve as their caddies proving that the event is much more about having fun than competing.

However, winning serves as a sort of omen even though no golfer will admit it.  The winner of the Par-3 Contest on Wednesday has never gone on to win the Master's on the weekend.

Perfection

From the moment you enter the Augusta National Golf Club and make your way down Magnolia Lane through the 161 magnolia trees, you know it is something very special.

Ron Green, who has covered The Masters since 1950 wrote in his book, 101 Reasons to Love the Masters, "Augusta National is Eden with flagsticks . . . a place where anyone who loves golf should be allowed, by some heavenly intervention, to go at least once."

We may not all get the opportunity to hack our way around Amen Corner, but being able to witness some of golf's greatest players face off in truly the best Major Championship is a perfect consolation prize.

Statistical and Historical Souces:

Masters.com

PGA.com