Over the course of four days and 72 holes, golf players from across the world join together during the first full week in April at the Augusta National Golf Course in Augusta, Georgia, founded by Bobby Jones and Clifford Roberts.  According to the Masters website, “Upon his retirement from championship golf in 1930, Bobby Jones had hoped to realize his dream of building a golf course. Following a brief conversation with Clifford Roberts, with whom Jones had met several times during the mid-1920s, it was decided the Club would be built near Augusta, Georgia, provided a suitable piece of ground was available.” This $70,000, 365-acre property is an iconic and historic landmark for golfers and patrons alike. Upon opening, it was initially decided that the course would be strictly open to member play in the early 1930s until the club formally opened in January of 1933. 

While ‘The Masters’ is the most recognizable golf tournament in the world, the name was not the same as it is today. When deciding how to introduce this annual tournament to the public, golfer Jones and broker Roberts decided to come to an agreement and settle on a semi-permanent name. Though ‘The Masters’ was offered, “Bobby Jones objected, thinking it to be too presumptuous,” settling on the ‘Augusta National Invitational Tournament’ until 1939.  

Not only does the actual Masters title have a history, but one of the more iconic parts of the tournament, the hole names, does as well. One of the most prominent and unique parts of the Masters tournament is the attention to detail in every single aspect possible. Whether spectating or playing on this course in Augusta and taking in the surroundings, patrons will come to notice that all 18 holes on the course are named after the plants, flowers, and trees found on that specific hole. According to Roderick Easdale, a writer for Golf Monthly, hole one is named Tea Olive, hole two is named Pink Dogwood, hole three is named Flowering Peach, and so on and so forth throughout the entire course.

To top off the sacred elements and untouchability of Augusta National Golf Course, the likelihood of attending the tournament in person is slim to none. To provide a rough estimate, the Masters profits nearly $10 million a day in ticket sales alone. According to Mike Hall of Golf Monthly, “For the 2026 tournament, not including any appropriate shipping and handling costs, tickets were charged at $125 for attendance on Monday and Tuesday, $150 for Wednesday, which featured the Par 3 Contest, and $160 for each of the tournament days.” To access these tickets, patrons are funneled into a lottery and are randomly selected to be given the opportunity to buy tickets. Further, the resale and purchase of tickets from sources other than the Masters website is strictly prohibited.

Other ticket options, according to Hall, include the ”Map & Flag hospitality ticket. A ticket offers week-long tournament access, although it's not cheap, costing around $17,000 in 2025. Those who would like a ticket can register their interest on the official website.” Patrons can also acquire a series badge, which is a yearly repurchase of $525 and is rarely available. 

On Apr. 13, 2026, Rory McIlroy became a two-time Masters champion. The Irish native topped off the yearly tournament with a 12-under after a bumpy final round, resulting in a 1- under 71, counting this win as his second Masters win. While his win last year was a lot sweeter as he earned himself a Grand Slam, his six major championships tie him with Nick Faldo for the most tournaments by a European player. The runners-up include 2024 Masters champion Scottie Scheffler, Russell Henley, and Cameron Young. 

Besides this incredible win, there is certainly some bad blood on the green. Coined the ‘villain’ of the golf world, Bryson DeChambeau has found himself in hot water the past two seasons of golf. By stating the Masters course as a ‘par 67’ (five strokes lower than the actual number), DeChambeau indicated the course to be a cakewalk, flaunting his confidence. After his bragging, the Masters did not come as easily as he claimed, finishing 45th in 2020 and missing the cut in the three years to follow. Not only does DeChambeau promote his own golf skills, but he also steps on the necks of his competitors on the way up. A dispute with Brooks Koepka, including snarky remarks, eye rolling, and dismissive comments, put the two under fire for lack of sportsmanship and confrontation. According to Dan Treacy, a writer for The Sporting News, “By all accounts, the relationship between DeChambeau and Koepka seems to be just fine now. Both players are central figures in LIV Golf, perhaps forcing a bit of a bond between them with so much of the golf world opposed to the league.”