The Promised Land

Fergus Bisset gives a whistle-stop tour of all things Masters as he considers the 86th instalment of the historic and iconic tournament

- By Fergus Bisset. Photographs by Getty Images

For many golfers, The Masters Tournament signifies the true start of a new golfing year. The vivid colours, towering pines and pristine surfaces spur keen amateurs everywhere to retrieve their clubs from under the stairs and head back to the fairways. It’s one of golf’s great visual spectacles, contested at one of the most recognisable venues in all of sport.

The Masters is the year’s first Major and the top players have been building towards it via the star-studded events in the deserts of the Middle East and the lucrative ‘Florida Swing’. For the very best, though, The Masters stands out as the year’s first truly significant target.

On April 7, a select field of elite players will tee it up at Augusta National to contest the 86th edition of the tournament. Past champions will seek inspiration from memories of former glory, while other hopefuls will be aiming to gain entry into one of golf’s most exclusive circles – to become only the 53rd player to win The Masters.

A rich history

Augusta National Golf Club was co-founded by the great amateur Bobby Jones, together with a Wall Street banker named Clifford Roberts. Jones had the vision, working alongside British course architect Dr Alister MacKenzie to turn 365 acres of an old indigo plantation into what would become the world’s most famous golf course.

It was Jones’ fame that facilitated the early invitational tournaments at Augusta. When he sent out invites to America’s best, they responded. The first of these competitions, held in 1934, was called the Augusta National Invitation Tournament. It wasn’t until 1939 that the events were referred to as The Masters.