GOLF ART

The Masters is unlike any other sports event in the world. The history and traditions of Augusta National Golf Club make the PGA Tour season's first major tournament special in so many ways.

here are some eclectic facts every fan of the Masters should know:

   1. Horton Smith, later golf professional at Detroit Golf Club, won the first Masters in 1934. Smith won again in 1936.
   2. The first week in April dates were originally selected to maximize exposure in the early years by making it easy for the baseball writers from the major newspapers in the East and Midwest to stop by Augusta on their way home from covering spring training in Florida.
   3. Ben Hogan won the Masters on his 10th try, in 1951, and earned $3,000. He won the U.S. Open at Oakland Hills Country Club later the same year.
   4. Magnolia Lane is 330 yards long from the entrance on Washington Ave. to the clubhouse and consists of 61 Magnolia trees.
   5. Author Herbert Warren Wind was the first to call the 11th, 12th and 13th holes "Amen Corner," in 1958.
   6. Every hole at Augusta National is named after a flower or tree.
   7. Amateurs invited to play in the Masters are housed in the Crow's Nest above the clubhouse. It's a 30-foot by 40-foot room with living space for up to five, with a cupola offering splendid views of the grounds.
   8. Masters champions have their own locker room. It's on the top floor of the main clubhouse, facing Magnolia Lane.
   9. The Green Jacket, the symbol of victory, was first awarded in 1949 to Sam Snead.
   10. The Champions Dinner is held on Tuesday night during tournament week. The defending champion selects the menu and is the host.
   11. The first overseas telecast of the Masters was by the British Broadcasting Company in 1967.
   12. Texas has produced the most champions -- 12 titles shared by seven golfers.
   13. Tiger Woods became the youngest Masters champion in 1997. He was 21 years, 3 months and 14 days old.
   14. Initially, Bobby Jones objected to the name "Masters," thinking it was too presumptuous, and it was called the Augusta National Invitation Tournament for five years. It was changed to the Masters in 1939 -- with Jones' blessing.
   15. The lowest nine-hole score in the Masters is 29, by Mark Calcavecchia (fourth round, 1992) and David Toms (fourth round, 1998) -- both times accomplished on the back nine.
   16. The Nelson and Hogan bridges over Rae's Creek were built and dedicated in 1958.
   17. The grass on the greens was changed in 1980 from Bermuda to bentgrass.
   18. The recipe for Augusta National's famous pimento cheese sandwiches is a closely-guarded secret.
   19. Radio coverage was first provided in 1934 by CBS.
   20. The average age of the winners is 32.77.
   21. The nines were reversed in the fall of 1934, after the first tournament.
   22. The Masters was first televised in 1956, with holes No. 15-18 covered by seven cameras.
   23. The tournament was cancelled in 1943, 1944 and 1945 during World War II, and to assist in the war effort, cattle and turkeys were raised on the grounds.
   24. A multiple winner will traditionally receive only one green jacket -- unless his physique and jacket size change dramatically.
   25. The trophy resembles the clubhouse and is made of 800 individual pieces of silver.
   26. An Indian burial ground was discovered during construction of the 12th green. Also uncovered were what appeared to be veins of gold. Laboratory testing showed it to be commercial ore. If it had been gold, the course might never have been built.
   27. Argentinian Roberto De Vicenzo, after tying for first place with Bob Goalby in 1968, signed an incorrect scorecard, with a higher number than he actually made, and missed the playoff.
   28. Augusta National was built on property that was the Fruitlands Nurseries, owned by the Berckmans family.
   29. Rae's Creek, which is the dominant feature on the back nine, cuts across the southeast corner of the property and disappears to the south.
   30. Gene Sarazen's double-eagle 2 at the 15th hole in 1935 is arguable the greatest golf shot ever. He holed out from 220 yards with a 4-wood and went on to win the second Masters.
   31. Nicklaus became the oldest winner in 1986. He was 46.
   32. There have been 14 holes-in-one -- seven of them on the 16th hole and only one, by Jeff Sluman, on the fourth.
   33. Three golfers have won the Masters in their first attempt: Smith, Sarazen and Fuzzy Zoeller (1979).
   34. There have been 15 multiple winners.
   35. Tiger Woods owns the lowest total back nine score, 16-under-par, set in 1997. He shot 30-32-33-33 in the four rounds.
   36. Bobby Jones retired from competitive golf at age 28 after winning the Grand Slam or, as it was then called, the Impregnable Quadrilateral.
   37. General Dwight D. Eisenhower, who would later be President, became a member at Augusta National in 1948.

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