Why The Masters winners are given a Green Jacket for winning at Augusta

One of the most famous traditions in sport sees winners of The Masters awarded with a "Green Jacket".

The iconic item of clothing is the most prestigious prize in golf, given to those who conquer the imposing Augusta course to win the Major event.

But just what does the Green Jacket mean, and where did the unique tradition originate?

The Masters was first played as the August National Invitational back in 1934, and three years later club officials decided on the Green Jacket as an official symbol of membership.

The item was designed to be exclusive to those invited to join the August National golf club, representing the status that brings.

Patrick Reed received his Green Jacket as Masters champion last year (Image: Reuters) The Pantone 342 coloured jacket also brought about practical benefits, namely that large crowds of spectators could identify club members to ask them for course information as they were easily distinguishable from the public.

The club then decided 15 years after the inauguration of the tournament, in 1949, to start awarding tournament winners the same Green Jacket. It did not, and still does not, however, grant the winners with membership to the club, as the jacket was initially designed to signify. The first Green Jacket was awarded to 1949 winner Sam Snead, and they were then retroactively given to former winners dating back to 1934.

Tiger Woods has won four Green Jackets during his career (Image: Reuters) The jacket belonging to the winner of the first ever tournament, Horton Smith in 1934, was sold at auction by family members for a whopping $600,000, making it the most expensive piece of golf memorabilia ever.

The jackets have developed over the years, with early recipients claiming they were too uncomfortable to wear in the Georgian Spring heat and being made lighter and cooler in modern designs. The iconic moment of the winning golfer being presented with a Green Jacket shortly after the final hole is actually not their item of clothing. The jacket presented at this point is taken from a club member with a similar build to the winning golfer before being returned after the ceremony. A tailored version is then prepared and presented at a later date.

Source:News Now.