More Than Millions: Why the Masters’ Green Jacket is Golf’s Ultimate Badge of Immortality

In the world of elite golf, trophies shine, and prize money dazzles — but at Augusta National, one symbol stands above it all: the legendary green jacket.
As 95 of the world’s best golfers gather beneath Georgia’s blooming azaleas and towering pines, the true reward for winning the Masters is not the $3.5 million purse, but the right to wear a tailor-made green blazer that costs just $250 to produce — yet holds value beyond measure.
This revered jacket, stitched with the Augusta National emblem on the breast pocket, lined with rayon, and fastened with three custom brass buttons, is made in Ohio using wool and polyester sourced from a Georgia mill. It takes a month to craft. But for the golfer who earns it, the green jacket is more than clothing — it’s a coronation.
“To win the green jacket is to achieve immortality in golf,” says CBS broadcaster Jim Nantz, who is covering his 40th Masters. “Nobody talks about the prize money. It’s all about that coat. It’s iconic.”
A Symbol Woven Into Golfing Lore
The green jacket dates back to 1937 when Augusta National co-founder Bobby Jones borrowed the idea from Royal Liverpool Golf Club in England, where club captains wore red blazers at formal dinners. Jones introduced the green version for Augusta members — and in 1949, Sam Snead became the first Masters champion to receive one.
Today, the jacket’s official color is “Brilliant Rye Green Pantone 342,” but it’s more famously known as Masters green. The club keeps jackets in various sizes on hand for the immediate post-tournament presentation. A custom-fit version is tailored later — although missteps have occurred, like when a young Jack Nicklaus wore an oversized size 46-long jacket in 1963.
Wearing History, Not Just a Blazer
The reigning champion keeps their green jacket for a year, wearing it publicly if they choose. After that, it must be returned to Augusta, where it’s stored in the exclusive Champions Locker Room. Only two legends — Gary Player and Seve Ballesteros — took theirs home permanently. Player was later granted permission to keep his after promising not to wear it in public, while Ballesteros simply ignored requests to return it.
Some champions have worn their jackets in unusual and memorable ways. Billy Casper was buried in his. Mike Weir, the only Canadian winner, dropped the puck at a Maple Leafs playoff game in his jacket. Phil Mickelson wore his through a Krispy Kreme drive-thru the next morning after winning in 2010.
Charl Schwartzel once left his jacket in the backseat of a volunteer’s car — it was miraculously returned. Hideki Matsuyama, fearing it might be lost or damaged, refused to dry-clean his jacket at all during his championship year.
And when Scottie Scheffler wore his jacket to throw the first pitch at a Texas Rangers game, it was a proud display of victory — despite admitting that the emotional weight of his final Masters round left him in tears the night before.
The Value Lies in Meaning, Not Money
Despite the jaw-dropping financial rewards in today’s sports world, what makes the Masters unique is how little money is ever mentioned. Even top players often don’t know — or care — about the payout. They’re playing for the prestige.
“In a world where we talk endlessly about million-dollar contracts and mega-sponsorships, the green jacket reminds us of something rarer: glory without a price tag,” Nantz says. “It’s refreshing. It’s timeless. It’s pure.”
Whether worn with pride at a baseball stadium, tucked safely in a closet, or immortalized in a golfer’s final resting place, the Masters green jacket is far more than a symbol of victory — it’s a garment of legacy, stitched into the very fabric of golfing greatness.