Masters 2026: 5 things we'd like to see Augusta National bring back (and 5 things we wouldn't)
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The Masters is steeped in tradition perhaps more than any other sporting event. There are so many traditions associated with this golf tournament that its official slogan is “A tradition unlike any other.” But that doesn’t mean all of its traditions have survived as we approach a century of Augusta National hosting this major championship.
There have been some interesting ones that have been lost to time, including a big calcutta that used to happen on the eve of the tournament at the old Bon Air Hotel, where players would buy a piece of themselves and often win bigger prize money than what the actual tournament was offering. With the purse up to $21 million in 2025, we don't need to see that return. Plus, it wasn't the club running this gambling event so that doesn't make the list.
But there are plenty of others that Augusta National had more control over. Here are five we'd like to see make a comeback—along with five we're OK with being gone.
1. Player Clinics
Augusta National
In the old days, buying a ticket to Wednesday's practice round also meant patrons got up-close golf lessons from some of the best players in the world like Ben Hogan and Gene Sarazen. Although this was replaced in 1960 with another great tradition, the Par-3 Contest, we'd argue there's room for both.
2. Bass Fishing
Peter Dazeley
Speaking of the Par 3 course, Ike's Pond used to be a gathering place for golfers to fish ahead of the tournament. And they took this other outdoor activity pretty competitively. Johnny Miller is said to have caught the biggest fish, a 9-pound large-mouth bass in 1976. So while the Hall-of-Famer never won a green jacket, he at least holds that distinction at Augusta National.
3. The Masters Parade
Augusta National
From 1957 to 1964, a big parade was held in downtown Augusta on the Tuesday of tournament week, similar to the Rose Bowl Parade. Augusta National co-founder Bobby Jones rode in the lead car during the inaugural parade and was followed by players like Ben Hogan and Byron Nelson. At its peak, the parade drew more than 25,000 people.
4. Honorary starters playing holes
Andrew Redington
Modern golf fans are familiar with the honorary starters hitting ceremonial tee shots on Thursday to start the tournament, but most don't know they used to keep playing. The first official honorary starters were Jock Hutchinson and Fred McLeod in 1963 and they would go on to play nine or more holes. Who wouldn't want to see Jack, Gary and Tom playing a nine-hole skins game?!
5. Long drive contest
It's hard to imagine the Masters not being a huge draw considering how difficult it is to get tickets now, but this was one way Augusta National co-founder Clifford Roberts got patrons in the gates. Beginning in 1946, there was a long-drive contest on the eve of the tournament, highlighted by Mike Fetchick winning in 1957 with a record 357(!)-yard drive. If they brought this back, you'd have to imagine even Bubba Watson would participate.
OK, now for five former traditions that we're happy to leave in the past . . .
1. 'Miss Golf' beauty pageant
Augusta National
From 1957-1967, a "Miss Golf" was crowned in Augusta. And the winner of this beauty pageant would get cash, some FootJoys (true story) and other prizes before being part of Sunday's trophy presentation.
2. Weird pairings
We take it for granted that the leaders will always play with each other in the final round, but that wasn't always the case. Based on a long tradition of the tournament making the pairings for all rounds, that actually stayed the case until 1969. And even then, Augusta National chose to pair first place with third place, second place with fourth place, and so on for the final round for some reason for the next dozen years until:
Good for Jack for saying something. Golf Twitter would have a field day if the Masters still did that.
3. Player voting
Golf Twitter would also have a field day over this as well. We know Augusta National controls who it gives special invitations to the tournament, but ex-Masters champs used to vote to select one player to put in the field. No matter who got selected, it would just be one more thing to argue about. On second thought, that sounds kind of fun …
4. Flipping the nines
The inaugural Masters tournament used a completely different routing as golfers played the back nine first. Can you imagine? Getting to Amen Corner so early in the round? Ending on 9 instead of 18? Heck, the saying, "The Masters doesn't start until the back nine on Sunday" exists because that back nine is so memorable—and volatile. Thankfully, Bobby Jones and Clifford Roberts made the switch back ahead of the 1935 tournament and the rest is history. Speaking of history …
5. No. 16's (old) Sunday pin
In honor of the 50th anniversary of the famed 1975 tournament in which Jack Nicklaus held off Johnny Miller and Tom Weiskopf by one thanks in large part to draining a long putt on No. 16, the tournament used that same back-pin placement for the 2025 final round.
And it was a real snoozer compared to the normal mid-left pin that uses the slope and has been the site of some of the event's most memorable moments (Think: "IN YOUR LIFE HAVE YOU SEEN ANYTHING LIKE THAT?!") through the years. So, yeah, let's hope that was a one-and-done.