The article below was written by Steve Carroll of National Club Golfer.
Yes, you get a Green Jacket, but there are a whole host of other benefits that come with winning the year’s first major. We outline some of them.
Winning a major championship is incredible enough, but when it’s the Masters there are so many bonuses that just elevate the winner’s achievement into the stratosphere. From donning the famous Green Jacket, to being able to come back to Augusta National for the rest of your life, the perks of winning the Masters are simply incredible.
Let’s look at what comes with winning the first major of the year at the glorious Georgia course…
Perks of winning the Masters
The green jacket – and you can keep it for a year
Bobby Jones had many good ideas – Augusta National itself being one of his finest – but he drew on inspiration for the Green Jacket.
The now famous ‘coat’ was said to be born from the red hunting jackets that club captains wore at Royal Liverpool, and which he saw on a visit to Hoylake.
Another theory is that the members wore them so they could be easily identified as members, and the first handed out to a Masters champion was Sam Snead in 1949.
The colour is Pantone 342 and they are made by Hamilton Tailoring Co, in Cincinnati. For the first 12 months after winning, winners can take the jacket away from Augusta National. After that, it must remain on the property and worn when visiting the club.
Jon Rahm revealed some of the strict rules that govern the wearing of the green jacket – and that players must agree to by signing a document!
These include: no jeans, no short, no public appearances without the club knowing, and no alcohol while wearing the jacket.
Perks of winning the Masters: It’s quite the trophy…
Some trophies are absolute monstrosities. Some look like they’ve come out of a quick trip to a bargain basement outlet. Not this one. This is one of the fabulous perks of winning the Masters.
The Masters Trophy, which depicts the famous clubhouse, was first awarded in 1961 and is forged out of 900 separate pieces of silver, according to the Masters website.
The original trophy stays at Augusta National, but winners get a sterling replica of it which they can keep.
What’s this – a gold medal too?
It’s a bit grander than you might receive for winning a club competition. Measuring 3.4 inches in diameter and weighing a pound, this gold medallion shows the Founders Circle which is in front of the Augusta National clubhouse.
There is also a silver medallion for the runner up, which is the same size as the gold medal, but is silver and weighs slightly less.
The prize money isn’t bad, either
Jon Rahm picked up £3.24 million in a record year of prize money in 2023, which saw a total purse of $18 million. That was up from $15 million in 2022 and $11.5 million on 2021.
Perks of winning the Masters: You get a lifetime exemption
If one visit to Augusta National’s perfect fairways and greens is enough to captivate, imagine being able to return every single year. Masters champions have a lifetime exemption to play in the tournament if they wish. There is no age barrier to entry. The players, themselves, can decide if they’ve had enough.
Don’t forget the Champions Dinner
One of the highlights of Masters week, winners gather on the Tuesday of the tournament to swap stories and reminisce at the Masters Champions Dinner.
It was Ben Hogan who started the annual tradition in 1952, when he invited the 11 surviving winners to dine with him. It’s more formally known as the Masters Club, and the winners are joined by the current Masters chair.
The defending champion selects the menu and former winners often fly in just to attend and take advantage of what has become one of the game’s most cherished evenings. Truly one of the great perks of winning the Masters.
Access to the Champions Locker Room
A very exclusive place for a very exclusive group. Found on the second floor of the Augusta National clubhouse, with a veranda looking out over Founders Circle and Magnolia Lane, the Champions Locker Room is a secluded spot to gather the thoughts during another Masters run.
Each locker has a plaque engraved with the champion’s name and the dates they were victorious. The list of champions through the decades can often see a current competitor doubling up with a true legend of the game.
You are locked in to the other majors
Winning the Masters brings exemptions into the PGA Championship, US Open, and The Open.
Not only can you play the Masters every year, but you’ll get five years of qualification free starts into the other big three events too, as well as a half-decade exemption on the PGA Tour.
