A MASTER-FUL PRIZE
AUGUSTA — Let’s be honest about the fabled Green Jacket that’s awarded to the Masters champion every year: It’s not exactly what you would describe as the most fashion-forward piece of clothing.
It is, well, kind of ugly.
Yet it’s one of the most cherished prizes in all of sports, not just golf. And it is one of the most recognizable prizes awarded in all of sports.
Trevor Immelman, who’ll be defending his Masters title this week at Augusta National, always knew about the Green Jacket, always craved owning one someday — an honor reserved for only Masters champions and members of ultra-exclusive Augusta National.
Immelman, however, didn’t have any idea just how powerful and iconic the jacket is until he won one himself.
“One story I’ll never forget is when I played a tournament in China towards the end of last year,” Immelman recalled. “I wasn’t wearing the jacket, but I had it in a suit bag that I was carrying with me onboard. When we walked down to the baggage reclaim area, my caddie and I, I was recognized by some golf fans.
“When these guys realized it was me, then realized that I was carrying the Green Jacket with me, these guys started crying. They were so in awe of the fact that they were in the presence of the Green Jacket.
“The more I thought about it, the more I realized that the mystique that goes along and the history that goes along with Augusta National is just something that not many sports have. That was a cool feeling.”
The lore of the Green Jacket, made by the Brooks Uniform Company of New York City, began in 1937 when Clifford Roberts, the co-founder of Augusta National, asked members to buy one so patrons of the tournament could find “a reliable source of information” if needed.
In 1949, Sam Snead became the first Masters champion to be awarded a Green Jacket, and the tradition has continued since, with the previous year’s winner slipping the jacket onto the new winner in a post-tournament ceremony.
Members are not permitted to take their jackets from the Augusta National grounds and Masters champions can do so only for one year upon winning the tournament. Then the jacket must be returned to the club, where it is stored in the player’s locker in the champions’ locker room.
“It’s incredible that a piece of clothing has such tremendous history and mystique to it,” Immelman said. “It really always strikes me how people are so respectful of the Green Jacket and are in such awe of basically just being in its presence.”
Mike Weir, the 2003 Masters winner and a rabid hockey fan from Canada, wore his Green Jacket when he dropped the puck at a hockey game. But that wasn’t even his favorite jacket moment.
“My grandfather tried it on,” Weir said. “That was kind of cool.”
Other tournaments give their champions jackets, but out of respect for the Masters and its tradition, none of them is green.
“There are some other jackets out there, but there’s only one jacket,” Jerry Kelly said.
The annual dinner for past champions takes place the Tuesday night of Masters week. The reigning champion decides on the menu. And everyone wears his Green Jacket to the affair.
“I think that evening will probably end up being the highlight of the week for me,” Immelman said.
