On 22 March 1934, the first shot was played at Augusta National Golf Club in the state of Georgia, USA. It was a historic moment which shaped the game of golf and the Masters Tournament, as it is known today.
The Masters was the first 72-hole tournament scheduled across four days, the first event staged on a course designed with patron viewing in mind and the first to introduce the now universal over-and-under scoring system. It is here, across the pristine azalea-lined fairways, greens and famous stretch of Amen Corner, that Rolex has overseen Green Jacket-winning performances as a Tournament Partner since 1999.
“The thought that went into creating such a tournament was unbelievable,” reflects Jack Nicklaus, a Rolex Testimonee and one of the sport’s all-time greats. It was 40 years ago, in 1986, that the American achieved his final title at Augusta National Golf Club. At the age of 46, he became the oldest Masters winner and a six-time champion of the event, records that stand to this day.
Demonstrating composure under pressure, Nicklaus came from four shots back in the final round to win by one stroke with a nine-under-par total of 279. Nicklaus adds: “It was an amazing moment winning my sixth Masters, as everyone, including myself, thought that my time winning major championships was over. Walking off the 18th green in 1986 and sharing the victory with my eldest son who caddied for me, that was special.”
Alongside Arnold Palmer and Gary Player, Nicklaus was welcomed into the Rolex family in 1967, marking the start of an enduring legacy, which has seen the Swiss watchmaker’s support extend to the world’s leading golf tournaments, organisations, and players. Known collectively as The Big Three, they revolutionised the game while paving the way for today’s heroes, many of whom have achieved Masters glory with Rolex by their side, from Tiger Woods to Adam Scott, Jordan Spieth, Hideki Matsuyama, Scottie Scheffler and Jon Rahm.
In 2026, Woods celebrates the 25th anniversary since he memorably completed the ‘Tiger Slam’ at the 2001 Masters. This second win at Augusta National Golf Club cemented his legendary status and crowned his exceptional achievement of winning all four professional major golf championships in a row – a feat unmatched by anyone else in the history of the game.
Woods won the U.S. Open by 15 strokes, the largest margin of victory in any major championship, and The Open by 8 strokes, before securing the 2000 PGA Championship title in a playoff. He had previously become the youngest player, at age 21, to lift the Masters trophy in 1997, recording the largest-ever winning margin in the Tournament’s history with a 12-shot victory.
A Rolex Testimonee and 15-time major champion, Woods says: “Winning the career Grand Slam is one of the proudest moments of my career. Looking back, knowing that Rolex supports every major championship and golf at all levels makes it extra special and feel like a family occasion. There is nothing better than putting on the Green Jacket, which is the pinnacle of golf and one of the most coveted possessions in our sport. It truly is an incredible feeling to have worn it five times and to have shared the honour with greats of the game such as Jack Nicklaus.”
Today, tradition is honoured at every turn and the Masters continues to be played by invitation only. The annual Champions Dinner precedes the Par 3 Contest, before the Honorary Starters – currently Nicklaus, Player and fellow Rolex legend Tom Watson – take to the first tee. This year marks the 90th edition of the Masters, the first of the four major events on the 2026 golf calendar.
From Thursday 9 to Sunday 12 April leading players including Rolex Testimonees Ludvig Åberg, Matt Fitzpatrick, Viktor Hovland and Collin Morikawa, will compete for a maiden Green Jacket and to follow in the footsteps of legends.
Success at Augusta National Golf Club requires patience, precision and mental resilience, where every stroke carries the weight of history. Each year, the back nine on Sunday is where the Masters is often determined. It’s the moment where preparation meets pressure, and icons are made.
Across nine decades, the former champions have proven that timing is everything on the journey to mastering this unique course.
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Main Image: Supplied by Rolex
