The mysteries behind the iconic green Masters jacket that costs about $250 to make — but is impossible to buy

Jordan HartApr 8, 2023, 23:42 IST

Tiger Woods is presented with the green jacket after winning the 2019 Masters at Augusta National.Augusta National via Getty Images

The Masters tournament — founded in 1934 — is one of four major championships in pro golf.
Since 1949, each winner of the tournament has been presented with a green jacket.

The first Masters was won by Horton Smith in 1934. He wasn't awarded a green jacket at the time, but he did get one when the iconic jacket became a tradition. It would later be sold for $682,000 in 2013

For his victory at the tournament Smith (right) reportedly received $1,500 in prize money.Associated Press

The first Masters was won by Horton Smith in 1934. He wasn't awarded a green jacket at the time, but he did get one when the iconic jacket became a tradition. It would later be sold for $682,000 in 2013

In 1949, Sam Snead was the first champion to receive a green jacket, and the tradition has continued in every Masters tournament since then.

Snead (left) can be seen shaking hands with fellow Masters champion Ben Hogan after Snead won the 1954 Masters.Associated

The single-breasted, three-button, green blazers have been made by Cincinnati-based Hamilton Tailoring Co. since 1967, but the company is very secretive about the partnership.

Jack Burke Jr. won the 20th Masters tournament in 1956 by one stroke.Associated Press

The single-breasted, three-button, green blazers have been made by Cincinnati-based Hamilton Tailoring Co. since 1967, but the company is very secretive about the partnership.

According to PGA.com, the cost to make one of the jackets is estimated at $250, but neither Augusta National Golf Club nor Hamilton Tailoring has confirmed the price tag.

Tom Watson won the 1977 Masters and was presented with the jacket by previous winner Raymond Floyd.Peter Dazeley/Getty

According to PGA.com, the cost to make one of the jackets is estimated at $250, but neither Augusta National Golf Club nor Hamilton Tailoring has confirmed the price tag.

Although there are champions who have won the Masters many times, like six-time winner Jack Nicklaus, they're only awarded one green jacket.

In 1987, Nicklaus (left) presented Masters winner Larry Mize as part of the tradition that the prior champion crowns the winner after them.Associated

At a ceremony, the winner is presented with the jacket of an Augusta club member and receives his own made-to-order jacket a month later, NBC Sports reports.

Bernhard Langer won his green jacket at the 1993 Masters.Curtis Compton/AP

Only the current champion is permitted to take his green jacket away from the grounds of Augusta National, and then only for the year of his victory tour.

Tiger Woods won his first Masters by twelve strokes in 1997 at the age of 21.Bill Waugh/

"(Augusta National doesn't) like us talking too much about this sort of thing. It's a club of highly disciplined people who like to keep certain things private. It adds to the mystique," Ed Heimann of Hamilton Tailoring once told The Enquirer.

Jordan Spieth is presented with his green jacket by previous winner Bubba Watson after winning the Masters in 2015.Andrew Redington/Getty

"(Augusta National doesn't) like us talking too much about this sort of thing. It's a club of highly disciplined people who like to keep certain things private. It adds to the mystique," Ed Heimann of Hamilton Tailoring once told The Enquirer.

Augusta National's strict rules about keeping green jackets weren't always in place, so some earlier champion jackets have been auctioned off to collectors.

Sergio Garcia of Spain wears his green jacket while holding the Masters trophy after winning the 2017 Masters in Augusta.Thomson Reuters

Only three champions, including Smith, have had their jackets sold. The jacket of Doug Ford, the 1957 victor, was sold for $62,000 by a company formerly known as Green Jacket Auction.

Tiger Woods puts on the green jacket after winning his fifth Masters in 2019.CBS

Only three champions, including Smith, have had their jackets sold. The jacket of Doug Ford, the 1957 victor, was sold for $62,000 by a company formerly known as Green Jacket Auction.

Previous champions are allowed to wear their jackets during the Masters, but they must be returned to a cedar closet in the clubhouse once festivities end, per Bleacher Report.

Scottie Scheffler dons the green jacket after winning the Masters in 2022.AP Photo/David J. Phillip

Previous champions are allowed to wear their jackets during the Masters, but they must be returned to a cedar closet in the clubhouse once festivities end, per Bleacher Report.

26 examples of Tiger Woods' extraordinary competitiveness

Cookies on the Business Insider India website

The mysteries behind the iconic green Masters jacket that costs about $250 to make &mdash; but is impossible to buy

The first Masters was won by Horton Smith in 1934. He wasn't awarded a green jacket at the time, but he did get one when the iconic jacket became a tradition. It would later be sold for $682,000 in 2013

In 1949, Sam Snead was the first champion to receive a green jacket, and the tradition has continued in every Masters tournament since then.

The single-breasted, three-button, green blazers have been made by Cincinnati-based Hamilton Tailoring Co. since 1967, but the company is very secretive about the partnership.

According to PGA.com, the cost to make one of the jackets is estimated at $250, but neither Augusta National Golf Club nor Hamilton Tailoring has confirmed the price tag.

Although there are champions who have won the Masters many times, like six-time winner Jack Nicklaus, they're only awarded one green jacket.

At a ceremony, the winner is presented with the jacket of an Augusta club member and receives his own made-to-order jacket a month later, NBC Sports reports.

Only the current champion is permitted to take his green jacket away from the grounds of Augusta National, and then only for the year of his victory tour.

"(Augusta National doesn't) like us talking too much about this sort of thing. It's a club of highly disciplined people who like to keep certain things private. It adds to the mystique," Ed Heimann of Hamilton Tailoring once told The Enquirer.

Augusta National's strict rules about keeping green jackets weren't always in place, so some earlier champion jackets have been auctioned off to collectors.

Only three champions, including Smith, have had their jackets sold. The jacket of Doug Ford, the 1957 victor, was sold for $62,000 by a company formerly known as Green Jacket Auction.

Previous champions are allowed to wear their jackets during the Masters, but they must be returned to a cedar closet in the clubhouse once festivities end, per Bleacher Report.

The mysteries behind the iconic green Masters jacket that costs about $250 to make — but is impossible to buy