It’s common knowledge that Augusta National put in place some seriously stringent rules during the week of The Masters and throughout the rest of the year for that matter.
Augusta National is famed for being one of the most prestigious golf courses in the world, if not the most prestigious.
The Bobby Jones and Alister MacKenzie-designed gem is surrounded by majestic Georgia pines, and anyone who visits the property is immediately struck by a sense of having time travelled back into the past.
The Masters is an enthralling tournament to watch on television, and its nod to a bygone era is perhaps what makes it so special.
However, the powers that be at Augusta do deploy a somewhat archaic set of rules and regulations.
And one of the most famous players of all time felt the wrath of Augusta National many, many years ago due to what seemed like a fairly innocuous rules infraction.
Masters champion Gary Player forgot to return his green jacket to Augusta National
Golfing legend Gary Player – a three-time Masters champion – won his first green jacket back in 1961, and he took his pristine new item of clothing back to South Africa immediately after.
After winning The Masters, the champion golfer gets to keep the green jacket forever.
However, they are only allowed to take it away from the Augusta National property during the year they are the reigning champion.
The jacket is then kept inside the player’s Champions Locker, and the owner can then wear it as and when he chooses on property during Masters week.
Player returned to the Augusta National property without his green jacket in tow the year after his 1961 triumph.
This caused real friction between the South African and Augusta Chairman at the time, Cliff Roberts.
The nine-time major champion received a dressing down during a phone call from Roberts and famously responded by saying, “come and fetch it“.
However, a compromise was reached by the two parties in the end.
Player was allowed to keep the jacket at home for a further year on the condition that he didn’t wear it out in public and promised to return it the following year in 1963.
Gary Player sadly isn’t a huge fan of Augusta National
Speaking in 2023, Player made it very clear that he feels let down by Augusta National.
He said: “After all I’ve contributed to the tournament and been an ambassador for them, I can’t go and have a practice round there with my three grandchildren without having to beg a member to play with us, and there’s always some excuse. It’s terribly, terribly sad.
“I’ve played my role: I’ve won it three times; I was in the top ten 15 times; I made the most number of cuts in a row ever, yet here we are struggling to get a round.“
Player’s ill-feeling towards Augusta National probably isn’t helped by the fact that his son is banned for life from the property after he cheekily showcased a box of OnCore golf balls – a brand which endorsed his father at the time.
What a sad way for things to end between Augusta National Golf Club and a three-time Masters champion.
However, looking back, it seems like the friction actually may have begun 63 years ago in 1962.
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