By Jamie Kennedy and Will Pearson, europeantour.com
With little more than a week left before the 2015 Masters Tournament kicks off,europeantour.comuncovers some facts and figures about Augusta National and the year's first Major that will leave you amazed.
1) There was once a Presidential hostage situation
In 1983, then-United States President Ronald Reagan played Augusta National as a guest of his Secretary of State, George Schultz. An Augusta native, Charles Harris, interrupted their round by crashing his truck through the gates of the club, demanding to see the President. Harris then held hostages at gunpoint in the pro shop for two hours before US Secret Service agents eventually subdued him.
2) Caddies play free
Each year, on the last day the course is open before closing for the summer, Augusta National's caddies can play for free. All day.
3) Augusta's 19th hole
When Alister MacKenzie originally created Augusta National he included a short 19th hole, named 'Double or Quits', designed to settle on-course wagers. At 90 yards long, it was the only hole not named after a tree or shrub and was used as the practice putting surface during the inaugural Masters Tournament in 1934.
4) Amen Corner is not holes 11, 12 and 13
This is a common misconception. Amen Corner is actually the approach to the 11th, all of the iconic, par three 12th and the tee shot on the 13th.
5) Affordable Augusta
An original membership share at Augusta National cost $350. That equates to roughly $4,000 in today's money.
6) The myth of the Champions Dinner
While the previous year’s Masters winner does get to pick the menu for the famous Champions Dinner on the Tuesday night of tournament week, former champions don't have to eat it. Players are free to order off the clubhouse menu, and many do. After Sandy Lyle won the Masters in 1988 he served haggis, leaving six-time winner Jack Nicklaus to reflect: “Oh, I hope he enjoys it.”
7) Clifford Roberts
After falling ill at the age of 83, Augusta National co-founder Clifford Roberts ended his life in 1977 on the slope next to Ike's Pond on the par three course, a spot he dearly loved.
8) The anti Par Three Contest curse
It's common knowledge that no player has ever won the pre-tournament Par Three Contest and gone on to the win the Masters proper, however four playershavewon the nine-hole shoot-out and gone on to win a Major Championship that same year: Tom Watson (1982 US Open and The Open), Hubert Green (1985 US PGA), David Toms (2001 US PGA) and Louis Ooshuizen (2010 Open). Not all bad, then.
9) The Masters Long Drive Contest
Before the Par Three Contest became an annual ritual in 1960, players at the Masters used to compete in a long drive competition as well as completing accuracy challenges and best-ball matches in the days prior to the event.
10) Beware the solo first round leader
In 78 editions of the Masters, just four players have gone wire-to-wire (with no ties) to win the Green Jacket (Craig Wood, Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus and Raymond Floyd). There hasn't been a wire-to-wire winner at Augusta in 38 years.
11) Unbelievable Jeff!
There have been 24 holes in one in the fabled history of the Masters Tournament, however, only one of those has come at the long par three fourth hole. American Jeff Sluman achieved this rarest of Augusta aces on 'Flowering Crab Apple' in 1992, holing out with a four iron from a distance of 213 yards.
12) Better Ball
If you take the best score on each hole over the course of Masters history, the scorecard would add up to 32, with just 16 shots needed on each nine. The highest eclectic score is 166.
13) Fantastic Four
Of all the players who've played more than 30 rounds at the Masters, only four have a scoring average below par: Tiger Woods - 70.86, Phil Mickelson - 71.21, Fred Couples - 71.91 and Jack Nicklaus - 71.98.
14) No ads
The Masters famously does not allow on-course advertising. When beer and soda trucks drive onto the property to fill concession stands, their side panels and logos are covered in Masters green tarp.
15) Switching Nines
Augusta National’s front and back nines were switched after the inaugural Masters in 1934. Yet, records show Alister MacKenzie had first conceived of the current configuration, then changed the plan prior to construction in 1931, possibly to have the 18th (the present ninth) finish near the 'new' clubhouse. The nines were reversed, to their present order, because the lowest parts of the course (today’s tenth to 12th holes) were susceptible to frost and drainage issues. Switching the nines allowed play to start earlier - and yes, for more drama as the round neared completion.
16) Alister MacKenzie never saw a Masters
Augusta's original course designer Alister MacKenzie’s last visit to Augusta was in the summer of 1932. He died on January 6, 1934, three months before the first Masters.
17) Masters Inflation
The first nine winners of the Masters took home $1,500 each in prize money. In 2014, Bubba Watson won $1.62million for his troubles. That's an increase of more than 100,000 per cent in 81 years.
18) Bobby Jones' Struggles
Despite being credited with creating the Masters, Bobby Jones never finished in the top ten. He played 11 times with a best finish of 13th in his debut in 1934.
19) Barefoot Sam Snead
Few players can match Sam Snead's success at Augusta. In 44 appearances, Slammin' Sammy notched three wins and 15 top ten finishes. However, in 1942 the American wasn’t feeling comfortable with his game, so he played nine holes barefoot. He went on to finish seventh.
20) Breaking New Ground
The Masters was the first golf tournament to host a 72-hole event spread over four days. It also pioneered the over/under par system.
