Masters momentos
Masters 2024: Crystal trinkets—Here's what you get if you make an eagle or a hole-in-one at Augusta National
Augusta National
The 10-yard lengthening of the par-5 second hole at Augusta National has been a storyline at the 2024 Masters. It doesn’t sound like a big deal, but Augusta officials believe it will influence the second shot enough where going for the green in two will no longer be all reward and no risk. At week’s end we can access if it had the desired effect, but if nothing else, the change will make it just a little bit tougher to take home a coveted Masters memento.
Augusta National will once again give a personalized crystal to any player who makes a hole-in-one, double eagle, eagle or shoots the low round of the day. A year ago, making a 3 on the course’s opening par 5 was a player’s best chance to lock down a crystal. The hole ranked the easiest in 2023 with a 4.635 scoring average, yielding eight birdies, which tied for the most along with the par-5 13th hole.
The tradition of handing out commemorative crystal trinkets started in 1954, the year Sam Snead defeated Ben Hogan in a playoff to win his third Green Jacket. Over time, the specific awards have changed. In 1954, one crystal highball glass was awarded for eagles. The tournament began handing out one goblet in 1963, before dishing out a pair of them starting in 1965. Finally in 2012, it was back to highball glasses—this time a pair of them.
The crystal highball glasses given to any player who makes an eagle at the Masters.
Courtesy of Augusta National
If a player makes a hole-in-one, they receive a large crystal bowl. Hole out for the rare double eagle, er, albatross, and you also take home a crystal bowl. (Interestingly, a crystal was retroactively given to Gene Sarazen in 1967 after Bruce Devlin made a 2 on the eighth hole, the first double eagle since Sarazen’s in 1935. Clifford Roberts ordered the special trophy for Devlin, but first had one delivered to Sarazen.) What’s more, if you shoot the low round of the day, you’re given a crystal vase.
The crystal bowl given to players who make a hole-in-one at the Masters.
Courtesy of Augusta National
The bottom line is players are vying for a lot more than a green jacket this week. Play well for one round or hole, hell, for even one shot, and Augusta National goes full Oprah Winfrey. You get a crystal. You get a crystal. You get a crystal.
Don’t think these consolation prizes are on players’ minds? During the opening round of the 2018 Masters, then-amateur Doug Ghim holed out for eagle on the 18th hole. Squarely in the hunt for low-amateur honors, Ghim was focused elsewhere.
“I was like, ‘I’m pretty sure I get a crystal for this,’” he said after the round. “I’m excited no matter what happens, I’m going home with something with my name on it from the Masters, and not from the pro shop. … Those will be coveted. I might have to get a safe so I make sure that no one takes it, and that if the house burns down that those will be all right.”
The crystals are engraved with a player’s name, the year and the accomplishment and are typically delivered several months after the tournament.
Entering the 2024 tournament, Jack Nicklaus holds the all-time Masters record for the most career eagles with 24. Four players have made eagles on consecutive holes: Don Pohl in 1982 (Nos. 13-14), Dustin Johnson, 2009 (Nos. 13 and 14), Phil Mickelson, 2010 (Nos. 13-14) and Webb Simpson (2018 (Nos. 7 and 8). There have been four double eagles at the Masters, most recently in 2012, when Louis Oosthuizen made a 2 on the par-5 second. Each of the four par 5s at Augusta National has surrendered a double eagle. Entering this week, there have been 34 holes-in-one, 24 of which have come at the par-3 16th.
As for you trivia nerds out there, amateur Ross Somerville made the first hole-in-one at the Masters in 1934, using his mashie niblick to ace the then-145-yard 16th.
MORE GOLF DIGEST MASTERS COVERAGE