Every year in April, a lot of people look forward to the Masters tournament, which is held at Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, Georgia. This year it will take place on April 7-10 and today is the first day of the Masters 2016, how awesome is that! The Masters first started in 1934 and there have been 79 winners since then, yes some of them have won more than once. Did you know they didn’t start awarding green jackets to the champion until 1949 and the champion “sort-of” gets to keep his hard-earned green jacket? That’s right, the champion gets to keep the green jacket for one year, but when they return to Augusta National the following year, he returns it to the club. According to aboutsports.com, the champion has “visitation rights” where he can visit Augusta National at any time to wear his jacket. This is one of four major golf tournaments played in the world: The Masters, U.S. Open, British Open and PGA Championship.

Thanks to golf.com for some fun facts about Augusta National and the Masters:

  • There’s a natural spring between the 13th and 14th fairways that spouts gold dust when it rains.
  • In May, on the very last day the club is open before closing for the summer, Augusta National’s caddies play free all day.
  • An original membership share in Augusta National cost $350, which in today’s dollars would be in the neighborhood of a paltry $4,217.
  • The previous year’s Masters winner gets to pick the menu for the famous Champions Dinner on Tuesday night, but that doesn’t mean the former champions have to eat it. Attendees are free to order off the clubhouse menu, and many do. When Sandy Lyle served haggis, Scotland’s national dish, in 1989, Jack Nicklaus quipped, “Oh, I hope he enjoys it.”

To read the rest of the fun facts, please visit their website here.

Everyone who has heard about the Masters has had to of heard about the delicious, cheap and traditional pimento cheese sandwich. This sandwich only costs $1.50 and it is only offered at Augusta National. If you can’t make it to the course, feel free to make it at home. You will just need the following ingredients:

  • 3 cups shredded white cheddar cheese
  • 2 cups shredded yellow sharp cheddar cheese
  • 4 oz crumbled blue cheese
  • 1 cup shredded Parmesan cheese
  • 1 (4-oz) jar sliced pimentos, drained
  • 1 cup light mayo
  • 2 tbs Dijon mustard
  • 1 loaf of white bread

Combine cheeses, pimentos, mayo and mustard in a food processor and process until smooth. Cover and chill. Spread on bread slices. Makes four sandwiches.

Besides from hearing about the history of the Masters, fun facts and pimento cheese sandwiches, who do you think will win the green jacket this year?

Photo Credit: masters.com