Why do caddies have to wear the white jumpsuits at the Masters (and how to style your own)

"A tradition unlike any other", a phrase echoed every April — The Masters is golf's most prestigious week. Masters lore is comprised of its pristine, turf-like Bermuda grass (that's practically a symphony of greenish hues), blossoming azaleas denoting that spring golf has officially arrived, and budget-friendly concession items that have become world-famous. But the visual aesthetics of Augusta National include another tradition that stands out among the rest (despite its subtle nature)—the pure white caddy jumpsuits.

Unlike other host courses at tour-sanctioned events, Augusta National requires a certain level of uniformity from players and their on-course companions, but why?

When Augusta National was founded in 1930 and hosted the first Masters tournament in 1934, caddies wore clothing similar to the patrons. The idea to create a uniform of sorts came in the late 1940s when Masters co-founder Cliff Roberts wrote a letter suggesting that caddies weren't easily spotted in the sea of patrons and needed to contrast against the vibrant green fairways of the course. And thus another, and now iconic, Masters tradition was born.

The early days of the jumpsuits were heavy, much like the garb worn by painters. In the Georgia sun, one can only imagine just how uncomfortable and hot, the coverall-like material can be, especially when lugging around player bags and trekking up and down the slopes of Augusta National. Over time, the caddie uniforms have evolved to a lightweight polyester and cotton blend—while maintaining the classic look of one of golf's most renowned pieces of iconography.

The bright white jumpsuit and green Masters hat combination has extended to the Par 3 contest that takes place the day before competition starts. The uniforms have Velcro to attach the names and numbers of the assigned players (number one is reserved for the previous year's champion) making it the perfect souvenir. The winning caddie may send a letter requesting the jumpsuit, which will be mailed for them to keep!

The likelihood of us getting a Masters jumpsuit is slim (but never zero!)— fortunately for us mere mortals, quite a few jumpsuit and romper options for golf have emerged so we can do our very best at cosplaying a championship look!