![]() ![]() The average course length on the PGA Tour is about 7,200 yards. Although Palmer never achieved the career grand slam himself – the PGA Championship eluded him as he had three career second place finishes – he did create one. Conveniently, Palmer had just won the Masters that year for the second time in his career. The USPGA event was an obvious choice for a third and Palmer decided that the Masters should be the fourth because it had the largest prize pool. Palmer floated the idea of a grand slam of golf with two tournaments to replace the amateur events. In 1960 Arnold Palmer was flying to Europe to play in his first Open Championship with Bob Drum, the journalist who discovered him while he was still in high school. Until then, the four biggest events were the US Open, The Open Championship, US Amateur, and The Amateur Championship (British Amateur). The term “major” didn’t exist in golf until the 1960’s. Opening an exclusive club for the wealthy during the Great Depression is less than ideal timing. In fact, the tournament was quite unsuccessful at first. The Masters hasn’t always been the prestigious event it is today. Roberts served as the club’s chairmen for 45 years from the club’s opening until the day he concluded his life on the banks of Ike’s Pond on the course. Roberts convinced Jones to rename the event and in 1939 the Masters Tournament was adopted. The tournament has been held ever since, apart from 1943-1945 due to World War II. In 1934, Augusta National hosted the Augusta National Invitational for the first time. The club sought to host the US Open every year, but the US Open is held in June and Georgia is exceptionally hot during the summer. The club didn’t invite an African-American man until 1990 ( Ron Townsend) or women until 2012 (Condoleezza Rice and Darla Moore).īobby Jones and Clifford Roberts founded Augusta National, which was designed by Jones and Alister MacKenzie, in 1932. For over 50 years the only members were white males. ![]() Augusta National’s exclusivity was quite controversial until recently. Two of the five wealthiest people in the world, Bill Gates and Warren Buffett are members. Peyton Manning and Roger Goodell are members. The club has about 300 members and 40 of them are CEO’s. There is no application process to join as membership is invitation only. In addition to being the most famous golf club, Augusta National is also the most exclusive. Even the most casual sports fans can tell you something about the Mecca of golf. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)Īugusta National Golf Club is the most famous golf course in the world and hardly needs an introduction. AUGUSTA, GEORGIA – APRIL 11: A general view of the 16th green during the final round of the Masters at Augusta National Golf Club on Apin Augusta, Georgia.
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