A Complete History of The Masters Green Jacket

by Richard Janvrin, April 07, 2025

Tiger Woods Wearing a green jacket from The Masters

In all of golf, there isn’t a more prestigious tournament than The Masters. A win at Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, Georgia can immortalize a player’s career, with them being considered as some of the best to ever play the sport.

In winning the April tournament, players are given a Masters green jacket to recognize their efforts.

As for the fans at home, there’s Masters golf betting online, which has made the event even more must-watch and special.

Below, we’ll look at the history of the winning jacket. This will include green jacket Masters winners, answer the question “Why is the Masters jacket green?” and more.

The Early Traditions and First Winner
Green Jacket Rules
Green Jacket Design
Memorable Moments
All Winners From The Masters

The Early Traditions and First Winner

Believe it or not, the first green jackets worn weren’t necessarily given to winners.

But first, let’s discuss The Masters tournament itself.

The tournament was first hosted in 1934. It was founded by Bobby Jones and Clifford Roberts. Horton Smith was the first winner but didn’t get his green jacket until 15 years later.

Why? Well, again, it took some time before they recognized the winners with the jacket.

The first green jackets were worn by Augusta National Golf Club members in 1937 to make them easy to spot by patrons who needed assistance.

This answers the question, “Why is the Master’s jacket green?”

It’s simple: to help them stand out.

Fast-forward to 1949, when the first green jacket was given to Sam Snead, the winner of that tournament. He was also given an honorary membership to the golf club.

From there, all winners before Snead received their jackets.

So, even though Smith won in 1934, the first jacket was given to Snead about 15 years after the initial win.

Jim Nantz described the jacket best: “Well, it’s what it symbolizes. I think most people would say it represents the greatest victory in golf. It represents history, tradition, and heritage. It just connects the generations of champions. I mean, I would say it’s the richest reward in golf. It’s not about the money, it’s about the Green Jacket.”

Green Jacket Rules

While you may think, “It’s just a jacket, what’s the big deal?”

But there are rules for winners to follow.

I’ll list them in bullet-point format below:

The jacket is reserved for club members and green jacket Masters winners only.
Only the most recent Masters champion can take the jacket off the grounds.
The current champion keeps their jacket for a year until the next Masters Tournament.
Once a new winner is crowned, the most recent winner must keep their jacket on the grounds.
The previous winner presents the current winner with their jacket.
If a person wins back-to-back Masters Tournaments, the Masters chairman presents the jacket. This has happened just three times with Jack Nicklaus, Nick Faldo, and Tiger Woods.
If there’s a repeat winner, they keep their existing jacket. They don’t receive a new one.
Each jacket’s left breast pocket has a patch and a Masters green jacket logo for Augusta National.

Green Jacket Design

Who makes the Masters green jacket? Hamilton Tailoring Company is based out of Cincinnati, Ohio.

The jacket’s wool fabric is produced at the Victor Frostmann Inc. mill in Dublin, Georgia.

The manufacturing time is about one month per blazer. Each is fitted with custom brass buttons inscribed with the Augusta National logo.

Then, the owner’s name is stitched on a label inside.

The official color of the jacket is Pantone 342.

Memorable Moments

Throughout the history of The Masters, there have been moments that not only go down in history but also make the Masters green jacket an even more legendary part of golf lore.

Jack Nicklaus (1986): Nicklaus won his sixth Masters tournament at 46 years old.
Tiger Woods (1997): At just 21, Woods became the youngest golfer to win The Masters tournament.
Tiger Woods (2019): Coming back from several injuries, Woods won his first tournament in 22 years.
Phil Mickelson (2004): Mickelson wins his first ever golf major, The Masters, edging out Ernie Els.
Gene Sarazen (1935): Down three strokes, Sarazen had an albatross on the 15th hole, erasing the margin.
Nick Faldo (1996): While Faldo won, this tournament was headlined by Greg Norman’s collapse. He held a six-shot lead in the final round but ended up losing.

All Winners From The Masters

Below is a list of all green jacket Masters winners, starting in 2024 and going back to 1934.

2024 – Scottie Scheffler (-11)
2023 – Jon Rahm (-12)
2022 – Scottie Scheffler (-10)
2021 – Hideki Matsuyama (-10)
2020 – Dustin Johnson (-20)
2019 – Tiger Woods (-13)
2018 – Patrick Reed (-15)
2017 – Sergio García (-9)
2016 – Danny Willett (-5)
2015 – Jordan Spieth (-18)
2014 – Bubba Watson (-8)
2013 – Adam Scott (-9)
2012 – Bubba Watson (-10)
2011 – Charl Schwartzel (-14)
2010 – Phil Mickelson (-16)
2009 – Ángel Cabrera (-12)
2008 – Trevor Immelman (-8)
2007 – Zach Johnson (+1)
2006 – Phil Mickelson (-7)
2005 – Tiger Woods (-12)
2004 – Phil Mickelson (-9)
2003 – Mike Weir (-7)
2002 – Tiger Woods (-12)
2001 – Tiger Woods (-16)
2000 – Vijay Singh (-10)
1999 – José María Olazábal (-8)
1998 – Mark O’Meara (-9)
1997 – Tiger Woods (-18)
1996 – Nick Faldo (-12)
1995 – Ben Crenshaw (-14)
1994 – José María Olazábal (-9)
1993 – Bernhard Langer (-11)
1992 – Fred Couples (-13)
1991 – Ian Woosnam (-11)
1990 – Nick Faldo (-10)
1989 – Nick Faldo (-5)
1988 – Sandy Lyle (-7)
1987 – Larry Mize (-3)
1986 – Jack Nicklaus (-9)
1985 – Bernhard Langer (-6)
1984 – Ben Crenshaw (-11)
1983 – Seve Ballesteros (-8)
1982 – Craig Stadler (-4)
1981 – Tom Watson (-8)
1980 – Seve Ballesteros (-13)
1979 – Fuzzy Zoeller (-8)
1978 – Gary Player (-11)
1977 – Tom Watson (-12)
1976 – Raymond Floyd (-17)
1975 – Jack Nicklaus (-12)
1974 – Gary Player (-10)
1973 – Tommy Aaron (-5)
1972 – Jack Nicklaus (-2)
1971 – Charles Coody (-9)
1970 – Billy Casper (-9)
1969 – George Archer (-7)
1968 – Bob Goalby (-11)
1967 – Gay Brewer (-8)
1966 – Jack Nicklaus (E)
1965 – Jack Nicklaus (-17)
1964 – Arnold Palmer (-12)
1963 – Jack Nicklaus (-2)
1962 – Arnold Palmer (-8)
1961 – Gary Player (-8)
1960 – Arnold Palmer (-6)
1959 – Art Wall Jr. (-4)
1958 – Arnold Palmer (-4)
1957 – Doug Ford (-5)
1956 – Jack Burke Jr. (+1)
1955 – Cary Middlecoff (-9)
1954 – Sam Snead (+1)
1953 – Ben Hogan (-14)
1952 – Sam Snead (-2)
1951 – Ben Hogan (-8)
1950 – Jimmy Demaret (-5)
1949 – Sam Snead (-6)
1948 – Claude Harmon (-9)
1947 – Jimmy Demaret (-7)
1946 – Herman Keiser (-6)
1945 – Not Held (WWII)
1944 – Not Held (WWII)
1943 – Not Held (WWII)
1942 – Byron Nelson (-8)
1941 – Craig Wood (-8)
1940 – Jimmy Demaret (-8)
1939 – Ralph Guldahl (-9)
1938 – Henry Picard (-3)
1937 – Byron Nelson (-5)
1936 – Horton Smith (E)
1935 – Gene Sarazen (-6)
1934 – Horton Smith (-4)