Augusta Time is Here Again – Thank Heavens!

It will be a relief to see golf return to its roots — integrity and sportsmanship — the core beliefs of Augusta National’s co-founders, Bobby Jones and Cliff Roberts.

I hope the obnoxious and toxic behaviour witnessed at Bethpage is left behind, and that it has no place in our game going forward.

The Story Behind the Green Jacket

The Masters is truly unique among global sporting events. It has evolved remarkably in a short time, starting as an invitational tournament — the Augusta National Invitational Tournament — in 1934, when masters of the game, hand-picked by the owners, were invited to play. It stands apart from the other traditional Majors: the Open Championship, the US Open, and the PGA Championship. The now-famous Green Jacket was first worn by Augusta National members in 1937 so that patrons could identify them on the course. In 1949, Sam Snead received the first Green Jacket awarded to a winner, as the tournament had by then become officially known as The Masters.

A Personal Connection to Augusta

Little did we know, growing up in our house in Sutton, the significance of that famous Green Jacket — it was a permanent fixture in our home. My father, the first European amateur invited to become a member of Augusta National, wore it frequently to golf dinners at Sutton Golf Club. It now remains as a fitting tribute to him in the Joe Carr Room, alongside his Hall of Fame jacket and his R&A Captain’s jacket. I was lucky enough, at 19 years old, to meet Mr Jones when my father played his final Masters in 1969, paired with none other than Sam Snead.

The Moments and Champions That Shaped Augusta

Over the years, the Masters has grown through folklore and amazing feats by the great pioneers of the modern game — from Gene Sarazen hitting “the shot heard around the world,” a 4-wood from 235 yards on the 15th hole for an albatross in 1935, to “the roar heard around the world” with Tiger’s epic and emotional Major win in 2019.

It makes me think back to all the Masters I have been lucky enough to attend since 1969, first working for Mark McCormack’s IMG and later managing Seve. Back in the early 1960s, Mark was the visionary behind the concept of golf’s Big Three — Arnie, Gary and Jack. Between them, in the decade from 1958 to 1968, they won eight Masters titles, led by the most charismatic player of his era, Arnold Palmer, the King. The Big Three elevated the fame of the Masters enormously, right up to 1986 with Jack’s historic and unforgettable final Masters victory. Tiger, with Phil Mickelson as a worthy rival, continued the tradition from 1997, with the two of them winning seven Masters in a 12-year stretch, culminating in Tiger’s own memorable kiss goodbye in 2019.

 
It is no accident that these great champions — and the majority of Masters winners like Seve, Bubba, Lyle, Watson, Woosnam, Crenshaw, Faldo, Olazábal and Scheffler — are all great shot-makers with the imagination, heart and courage to take on the high-risk, high-reward strategy laid out by Jones.

Augusta takes no prisoners. She is ruthless to those who do not respect her. I chuckled to myself back in 2020 when a bulked-up Bryson boasted before arriving that he would overpower her and bring her to her knees. He left Augusta that Friday evening with his tail between his legs — a humbler young man. I have no doubt that, as he has matured and with his strong play last year and recent winning form, the Green Jacket sits at the very top of his lifetime goals. I expect him to be in contention, but winning at Augusta is another matter entirely.

Rory and the 2026 Contenders

I remember Jack telling me back in 2011, when a youthful Rory was leading the Masters, that he felt Rory’s game was so perfectly suited to Augusta that he could win six Green Jackets. Little did anyone imagine at the time that he would have to wait 14 years to win his first, in those wonderful scenes we witnessed last year. I still believe Jack was right about Rory’s natural draw and his fit for Augusta — and now with the monkey off his back, I expect him to win again, perhaps this year, perhaps not, but certainly in the future.

The two outsiders I fancy are Ludvig Åberg and left-hander Robert MacIntyre. Ludvig’s power game suits Augusta, and he has been in contention before, taking his recent hard knocks well. MacIntyre embodies the “horses for courses” principle — Augusta has shown a notable affinity for left-handers, with six wins between Phil Mickelson (3), Bubba Watson (2) and Mike Weir. MacIntyre has shown he has the nerve and composure — the way he won his home Scottish Open and the Canadian Open — and he brings the soft, links-honed short game that works so well at Augusta.

Where Manners Still Matter

One thing we can be certain of: there will be no booing, no shouting “get in the hole,” and no bad manners at Augusta — the penalty for which is eviction, permanently.

Thank you, Mr Jones, for setting the standard and keeping it intact through the team you have chosen to honour your legacy.

Can’t wait!

Roddy Carr April 6th, 2026