The Masters Tournament, held annually at Augusta National Golf Club, is renowned not only for its prestigious golf competition but for its iconic green jacket. This iconic piece of apparel has become inextricably linked to triumph at one of golf’s most storied tournaments. The ceremonial practice of awarding the green jacket as a member’s privilege began in 1949. Its history stretches back to the 1930s. For one, Augusta National chose a distinct shade of green to highlight the club’s ornamental fairways. More importantly, they wanted to distance themselves from the more traditional and predictable choice of red.
In 1949, the powers-that-be at the Augusta National Golf Club decided to award each Masters winner their own personal green jacket. That decision marked the jacket’s transformation into a symbol of success. What’s particularly compelling is that Augusta National issued green jackets retroactively to all previous champions, recognizing their role in shaping the tournament’s storied history. The cultural importance of this apparel goes much further than the visual—the uniform is the culmination of a rich history that has developed over years.
The idea of giving each winner their own jacket dates back to a memorable occurrence with Gary Player. Immediately after his historic victory in 1961, Player was discouraged. He had planned on taking his “beshak” (jacket) to South Africa, but it didn’t make the trip either. As it turned out, this situation prompted Augusta National to craft a new rule. Today, victors have the option of keeping their jackets for a full year before returning them to the club’s appointed central storage closet.
Not only is the monetary value of the green jacket impressive, but the jacket’s historical importance was underscored by past auction sales. In 2013, Horton Smith’s 1949 victory jacket sold for an astounding $682,229 at auction. Similarly, Bobby Jones’ own jacket sold for $310,700 in 2011, underscoring the garment’s significance not only as a trophy but as a collectible piece of sports history.
Nick Faldo famously wore his green jacket on numerous press tours following his victories at the Masters in 1989, 1990, and 1996. It was his regular donning of the garment that cemented its association with victory. Rumor has it that Seve Ballesteros of Spain never returned his jacket, leaving it hanging in his hotel closet between his wins in 1980 and 1983. This reveals a range of different interpretations and execution of this iconic garment.
The green jacket has had its fair share of enthralling tales beyond the champions who slipped them on. As it happened, in 1994, a very savvy journalist was able to find and buy the original winning jacket for only $5. In 2017, this very jacket fetched a stunning $139,000 at Green Jacket Auctions. This record-setting sale further highlights just how much value these garments can appreciate over time.
Looking ahead to 2024, the current champion is Scottie Scheffler. He has now won his second Masters championship, with his first coming in 2022. His ongoing success at Augusta National has further added to the illustrious history of the Masters green jacket.
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