Origin of 'The Masters' Green Jacket

You might not know that the Masters green jacket traces its origins to a red jacket given to Bobby Jones after winning the 1930 British Open Championship. That symbolic moment inspired Jones when he co-founded Augusta National. Members first wore the green jacket in 1937 to distinguish themselves from visitors. Sam Snead became the first champion to receive one in 1949. There's plenty more to this iconic tradition that'll surprise you.

Key Takeaways

• Bobby Jones was inspired to introduce the jacket tradition at Augusta National after receiving a red jacket for winning the 1930 British Open.
• The green jacket was introduced in 1937 so Augusta National members could be easily distinguished from visiting guests during tournaments.
• The distinctive Pantone 342 green color was specifically chosen to match the azalea bushes found throughout the Augusta National grounds.
• Brooks Uniform Company, based in New York, produced the first green jackets, but quality complaints led Augusta National to quickly switch suppliers.
• Sam Snead became the first Masters champion to receive the green jacket as a prize in 1949, creating the celebrated tradition.

The Red Jacket Moment That Inspired Bobby Jones

Picture a scene at Royal Liverpool Club's Hoylake Course in 1930: Bobby Jones, fresh off winning the British Open Championship, sits beside club captain Kenneth Stoker at the player's reception dinner. You'll notice the captains wearing matching red jackets, a detail that clearly captured Jones's attention.

Stoker had promised Jones his red jacket if he won that week, and Jones delivered. The symbolic significance of the red jacket wasn't lost on Jones — he brought it home to Atlanta Athletic Club, where it remained on display as a constant reminder of Royal Liverpool's distinctive tradition.

When Jones later co-founded Augusta National, Jones's introduction of the jacket concept to Augusta National translated that British tradition into American golf culture, ultimately evolving into the iconic green blazer the Masters champion receives today. The jacket was originally intended to help identify Augusta National members during Masters week, making them easily recognizable to patrons throughout the tournament grounds. Today, the Green Jacket is awarded exclusively to the Masters winner, cementing it as the most coveted prize in professional golf.

Why Augusta National Members Wore the Green Jacket Starting in 1937

When Augusta National opened in 1934, members had no way to distinguish themselves from the thousands of visitors flooding the grounds during tournament week. That problem needed solving, and the green jacket became the answer in 1937.

The jacket's purpose centered on exclusive club distinction and practical event identification guidance. You'd immediately recognize a member by their distinctive green jacket, making it easy to approach them for directions, information, or assistance. Waitstaff also relied on the jackets to identify which members were responsible for dinner bills.

For eleven years, only Augusta National members wore these jackets during Masters events. The tradition created a visible, reliable system that kept crowded tournament days running smoothly. Every attending member wore one, transforming the jacket into an instantly recognizable symbol of membership and authority on the grounds. The distinctive color chosen was Pantone 342, a verdant green that matched the azalea bushes on the grounds. The first champion to receive the jacket was Sam Snead in 1949, marking the beginning of one of golf's most celebrated traditions.

The New York Company That Made the First Green Jacket

Augusta National didn't just dream up the green jacket—they sourced it. In 1937, three years after the club opened, Augusta National turned to Brooks Uniform Company, a New York-based manufacturer, to outfit members in matching green attire. The supplier's role in tradition inception was significant—Brooks provided the first batch of jackets designed to help members stand out to visiting guests, aligning with co-founders Bobby Jones and Clifford Roberts' vision.

However, material quality challenges quickly emerged. Members found the jackets too thick and uncomfortable in Georgia's warm climate, prompting Augusta National to switch suppliers shortly after the 1937 introduction. Despite Brooks' brief tenure, their contribution remains a foundational chapter in the green jacket's history, highlighting how tradition sometimes begins with trial and error. It wasn't until 1949 that Sam Snead became the first Masters winner to actually receive the green jacket as a prize.

Augusta National has since taken extraordinary steps to protect the jacket's legacy and identity. The company successfully registered a trademark for the iconic green jacket design, covering services for organizing and conducting golf tournaments and the promotion of goods and services through sponsorship of sports events.

Why Hamilton Tailoring Changed the Green Jacket in 1967

Thirty years after Brooks Uniform Company introduced the original green jacket, Augusta National handed production over to Hamilton Tailoring Co. of Cincinnati, Ohio, in 1967. The switch happened because the original jacket's heavy wool was simply impractical for Georgia's warm spring weather. You can imagine how uncomfortable that thick fabric felt during April tournaments.

Hamilton's improved material quality solved the problem immediately. They sourced a lighter Australian wool blend from Victor Forstmann Inc.'s mill in Dublin, Georgia, creating a softer, more breathable jacket dyed to Pantone 342 specifications.

Hamilton also established a standardized production process, assembling each jacket in Cincinnati using strict design specifications. The result maintained Augusta National's iconic tradition while delivering a jacket that actually suited the tournament's climate and conditions. Each jacket takes about a month to complete, reflecting the level of care and precision that goes into every detail of the construction process. The fabric itself undergoes a 30-step fulling process to achieve its signature softness, giving the wool its uniquely refined feel that sets it apart from any ordinary garment.

How Sam Snead Started the Green Jacket Tradition in 1949

Sam Snead's 1949 Masters victory transformed the green jacket from a simple member identifier into one of golf's most coveted prizes. Before Snead's iconic win, members had exclusively worn the jacket since 1937 to help visitors identify them on the course. Augusta National's decision to extend the honor to the tournament champion marked a pivotal shift in the jacket's significance.

The first jacket presentation to Snead established a tradition that continues today, symbolizing membership into Augusta National's exclusive circle. After Snead received his jacket, organizers retroactively awarded jackets to all previous Masters champions, including 1934 inaugural winner Horton Smith, whose jacket later sold for $682,229 at auction in 2013. What started as a practical member identifier had officially become golf's most recognizable symbol of excellence. Winners are permitted to take the jacket home for the first year following their victory, after which it is returned and kept on site at Augusta National.

What Happens at the Green Jacket Ceremony Each April

Each April, as the final putt drops at Augusta National, one of golf's most anticipated ceremonies unfolds inside Butler Cabin. You're watching a globally recognized, televised ceremony presentation broadcast on CBS Sports, marking the official conclusion of the Masters tournament.

The jacket placement traditions connect past champions to the newest winner, as the defending champion places the green jacket on the new victor's shoulders. If you've won before, the club chairman handles the honors instead.

Tournament officials prepare multiple jacket sizes beforehand, ensuring a proper fit during the live broadcast. The jacket you receive during the ceremony is temporary. You'll later receive a custom-made replica with your name stitched inside.

Beyond the jacket itself, you're accepting honorary lifetime membership into Augusta National's most exclusive community of champions. The green jacket tradition dates back to 1949, when Sam Snead became the first Masters winner to receive the iconic garment.

The jackets themselves are crafted by Hamilton Tailoring Company, a Cincinnati-based manufacturer that has produced the iconic green coats since 1967, using a distinctive emerald green fabric known as Pantone 342.

Where the Green Jacket Goes After the Champion Leaves Augusta

Once you leave Augusta National as the new champion, the green jacket travels home with you for exactly one year. The champion's jacket retention period is deeply personal — Jordan Spieth carried his in a hanging bag marked "2015 Masters Champion," seeing it daily as a reminder of his victory.

After your year ends, the jacket returns to Augusta's master's jacket storage vault beneath the pro shop.

Here's what awaits it:

• 24 steps underground through an unmarked door
• Motion-sensitive lights illuminate your jacket's new home
• Nearly 100 jackets organized meticulously by size
• Your legacy preserved alongside decades of champions

No alterations, no sales, no exceptions — your jacket remains Augusta's property forever, locked away until history calls for it again. The distinctive color of the jacket is even trademarked as Pantone 342, ensuring no imitation can ever truly replicate the real thing. When a new member first receives their jacket, they are fitted by chairman Fred Ridley and a tailor in the very same vault.