Golf fans, we can finally rejoice as the long 51-week wait is over and the week of the 89th edition of the Masters is underway. From the 10th of April through to the 13th, the whole golf world stops and watches as a field of 95 players takes to the picturesque grounds of Augusta National Golf Course.
The 2026 Masters will be headlined by defending champion Rory McIlroy, who will be looking to defend his throne against threats such as two-time Masters champion and world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler, along with other top contenders including Bryson DeChambeau, Jon Rahm, plus many more.
However, there is so much more to The Masters than just the names on the course each given year that make it the biggest tournament of the year. It’s the quirks and traditions of the tournament that really make it the crown jewel of the golf schedule each year.
The Champions Dinner
The most exclusive dinner in all of sports is held in the Augusta clubrooms on the Tuesday before the first round. How do you get invited? Simple: win the tournament, which only 35 people currently on earth can say they have done.
It’s a rich tradition that dates back to 1952, where the winner of the previous Masters tournament decides on a menu and hosts all of the other living winners of the tournament for the prestigious evening.
For example, since Rory McIlroy is the reigning champion, he was in charge of the festivities and provided a four-course meal menu.
Below is the menu he selected for the evening, which he described as nostalgic and based around personal experiences.
The food For Patrons
Seemingly, menus are a big reason why The Masters is such a heralded tournament, but the praise is well-earned.
The patrons are the lucky fans who attend the tournament, and for them, eating on course is an opportunity to travel back in time regarding the prices.
On a list of food and drink that hasn’t been overly influenced by modern-day inflation, you can buy a single sandwich for $1.50 (USD), and non-alcoholic beverages all sit at $2, whether that’s a coffee or a fizzy drink.
The most expensive item on the menu is a glass of wine, which is a mammoth $6—an $8 reduction from other PGA tournaments, which charge an eye-watering $14.
The Par 3 Contest
A key tradition during the buildup to The Masters is the Par 3 contest, where players play a 9-hole course made up entirely of par 3s, varying between 90 and 155 yards, prior to the real event.
The contest is a more lighthearted competition where players have family members, like their kids or partners, caddy for them and sometimes chip or putt during the contest.
When the players really apply themselves, the results can be astounding, with the course record being a crazy 8-under when Jimmy Walker shot a 19 in 2016.
However, there is a believed curse when it comes to this competition, as no player has ever won the Par 3 contest and the main tournament in the same year. This curse could also be a major reason you see players take their laid-back approach to the contest and get others involved with them.
The Green Jacket
One of the most historic trophies in sport isn’t the actual silverware you win by becoming a Masters champion, but the infamous green jacket is what players long for.
The tradition of the jacket dates back to 1937, recently celebrating its 75th anniversary, and it is only worn by members of the Augusta National Golf Club or winners who are honorary members.
The jacket is the true symbol of a Masters champion, who is awarded the jacket in the winning ceremony post-tournament. However, once you have earned the jacket, only the defending champion can take it off the course premises and wear it in other public areas.
If you aren’t the defending champion, the jacket stays on course in the clubrooms and can be issued to the person when they are on the course. Interestingly, for multi-time winners, they are only provided with a single jacket. So, for example, when Tiger Woods won his second Masters, he was presented with the same jacket.