When it comes to developing an incentive plan, the Masters Tournament provides an ideal opportunity. Golf as a sport is closely associated with business and networking, and you can be certain your employees and recruitment targets will have an interest in it. If your aim is to impress, you naturally go with the biggest and best event there is, which for golf is the Masters Tournament. Nothing sends a stronger message to your employees and the outside world that your company is in the big leagues than associating it with one of the most well-known sporting events there is. Unlike other one-off events, the days-long format of the Masters naturally allows ample opportunity for interaction and networking. 

When it comes to something this big, is a danger for things to go very badly if they are not planned correctly. Just as the Masters can be a great incentive, if the trip goes wrong that can lead to equally great disappointment. Therefore it is vitally important to plan carefully for the Masters as there is little room for error. If something has not been arranged well in advance there will scant possibility for last minute bookings at this extremely popular and well-attended event. Everyone else, maybe even your close competitors, will be making advanced plans to showcase their business at this event and you need to do so too.

By far the best way to ensure your Masters Tournament incentive plan is a success and not a source of disappointment is to partner with a specialist agency. It makes sense to use the services of people whose focus is in making these arrangements year after year. This is well worth it as it gives you and your company the edge over others who did not have the foresight to retain expert assistance. Furthermore, by doing so you build up ongoing relationships allowing your incentive plan to establish a reputation and grow as needed. The ultimate goal is to establish your business as one that sends people to the biggest tournament there is because it is one of the biggest and best players in its own arena.

As the nation's premier golfing championship, the Masters Tournament is a highly desirable destination which draws huge crowds every year. If you are lucky enough to be going, it is definitely not a good idea to leave the arrangements – any of them – to the last minute. If you do, once you are in Augusta you will find things are a lot more difficult than they needed to be, and what should be a highly enjoyable experience of a lifetime could suffer as a result. This includes the details of how you are going to get around during your trip. Golf's most famous names are not going to wait before teeing off just because you are running late!

This is an event to be planned for far in advance if possible. Augusta during the Masters Tournament is a busy place, and others will be making their preparations long beforehand, so you should too. Better still, why not retain the services of someone who knows their way around and who specializes in making trips to the Masters as smooth as possible? You do not want to regret being at the Masters and not being able to fully enjoy it because of logistical errors or because you were distracted by mundane details like how to get where you want to be on-time.

As with any major sporting event, simply turning up on the day without any planning is not going to give you the most rewarding experience. By taking the time to invest in some research, and by retaining the right people to help you navigate your way through the crowds of eager spectators, your Masters experience will be as great as it should be. Don’t let what should be a spectacular trip to The Masters become a source of ongoing regret by not selecting the right partner to help guide your experience.

Masters 2020 tickets sales ended in June 2019. And because this is, after all, the Masters, you couldn’t simply buy tickets. There’s an “application process” for practice rounds and tournaments. The first round of the process pre-qualified participants to purchase tickets.

If you missed out, don’t plan on buying tickets at the gate. This simply isn’t that kind of event. Remember, if you do attend the Masters, you aren’t a spectator or a “golf fan.” You’re a patron, as in patron-of-the-arts because this golf tournament goes beyond the game and becomes art. Every year.

Masters of the Art of Golf

Jack Nicklaus, Nick Faldo, and Tiger Woods won the Masters two years consecutively. Jack Nicklaus has the most Masters wins. Tiger Woods is looking good for 2020, which would make for his sixth win, should he take the cup. Odds are good Tiger will break the record held by Jack Nicklaus for the most Masters wins (6).

One-Win Wonders by Country

The United States has had 61 Masters wins by thirty-seven golfers. Other competitive nations include Spain, South Africa, and Germany. Surprisingly, England falls into the also-ran category.

The countries with 1 win and one golfer are:

• Argentina
• Australia
• Canada
• Fiji
• Scotland
• Wales

One Win? Wonderful!

U.S. contenders that won once (and winning a Masters once is a huge victory) are:

• 1935 – Gene Sarazen
• 1938 – Henry Picard
• 1939 – Ralph Guldahl
• 1941 – Craig Wood
• 1946 – Herman Keiser
• 1948 – Claude Harmon
• 1955 – Cary Middlecoff
• 1956 – Jack Burke Jr.
• 1957 – Doug Ford
• 1959 – Art Wall Jr.
• 1968 – Bob Goalby
• 1969 – George Archer
• 1970 – Billy Casper
• 1971 – Charles Coody
• 1973 – Tommy Aaron
• 1976 – Raymond Floyd
• 1979 – Fuzzy Zoeller
• 1982 – Craig Stadler
• 1987 – Larry Mize
• 1992 – Fred Couples
• 1998 – Mark O’Meara
• 2007 – Zach Johnson
• 2015 – Jordan Spieth
• 2018 – Patrick Reed

The names in bold are one-winner players you can expect to see at the 2020 tournament.

Save the Date: April 9-12, 2020

The Match Made in Heaven

The 2020 Masters Tournament, 84th Edition is the first of the 4 major tournaments for the year.

One-win wonder Fuzzy Zoeller said winning the Masters was as close to heaven as he would ever get. For the Masters to be considered a divine experience is a bit of an oxymoron, but anyone that has ever played Augusta understands.

Every shot is within a fraction of disaster. That’s what makes it so great! - Gary Player

The U.S. Open, the Open, and the PGA have something in common. They have winners – champions – of a series of tournaments, ranked membership, rated membership.

Anybody can play the Masters. All you have to do is meet one of 19 requirements to be invited. Happy Gilmore wasn’t invited.

If You Could Vote…

The “Masters vs. U.S. Open: Which-is-better?” debate has been an ongoing clubhouse argument and appears regularly as golf magazine articles since it was the Augusta National Invitation Tournament in the ’30s. In fact, since 2013 there’s been an ongoing poll. You can cast your “vote” and/or view the results.

Because golf is a “gentleman’s” game, phrases like “wiped them out” or “shut them down and won by a mile” are uncommon. However, tallied votes indicate the Masters is a runaway.

Masters Biggest Major; Here’s Why

The Masters ranks first among most golfers and spectators. Some of the reasons are:

1. Attendance – There are “crowds” at the U.S. Open. There are “patrons” at the Masters. The 2019 U.S. Open was a sellout. The 2019 Masters Tournament “declines to release” attendance information. And the holes are named after flowers.
2. Course set-up – Depending on its location, the U.S. Open can be more treacherous than Augusta. “One time a season, I’m allowed to enjoy professional golfers squirming through a USGA-primed minefield disguised as a golf course,” said John Iaciofano
3. Location, location, location – “I really want to play Pebble Beach, but before I die I have to play Augusta,” said Erik Peterson. “The worst holes at Augusta are still great.” The course is in terrific shape. Gary McCord once said, “I don’t think they mow these greens, I think they bikini-wax them.”
4. Money – An open field ticket for the U.S. Open are from $32/day. By the end of the week, it’s from $196/day. Daily tickets for the Masters are $115. The U.S. Open payout is more than the Masters. But the Masters has the green jacket.
5. Music – The Masters’ soothing “Augusta” is probably played in spas and psychiatric hospitals worldwide. “In Celebration of Man,” the U.S. Open theme sounds like “Rocky” on drugs. It’s annoying.

The Majors Are Magical

The Masters Tournament is rooted in tradition and has a unique character. The Masters is also the first of several exciting major golf tournaments every year.

The fact is, whether you’re a spectator or a player, being at any one of these golf tournaments is exciting and magical.

The Masters is more than just a major golf tournament that attracts the best golfers from around the world, it's a world-class event in a charming location that dazzles everyone who attends. Annualy the first full week of April, both professionals and fans of the sport gather in Augusta, Georgia to celebrate this prestigious tournament and participate in many of the activities that take place in and around the club. The following are just a few reasons why The Masters is more than just an ordinary tournament:

Impeccable Grounds

Augusta National is considered one of the most beautiful golf courses in the world, one of the more important reasons why The Masters is such a special tournament. Originally the brainchild of Bobby Jones and Clifford Roberts, the course opened in 1933 and has been the only host of this major tournament since 1934 for a good reason. The groundskeepers go through immense effort to keep the course looking its best and strict rules are put into place in the weeks leading up to the tournament. As a result, players and patrons experience a course that is unlike any other. 

Champions' Dinner

Held on the Tuesday before the first round of the tournament, the previous year's winner of The Masters hosts a dinner for other previous winners and a few select members of Augusta National. With help from the club's chef, the host designs a menu of his choice typically themed from their home country. Past examples include Bernhard Langer's wiener schnitzel, Vijay Singh's seafood tom kah, and Nick Faldo's fish and chips.

Supporting Youth Golf

A big part of The Augusta National & The Masters over the last 20 years has been the promotion of youth golf. Since 2005, the Rock Fore! Dough event has raised funds for a variety of programs that support young players. It takes place each year on the Tuesday before the Tournament and features talented artists as well as famous golfers who want to give back to the community.

There's also the Drive, Chip and Putt competition that showcases the best youth players from throughout the country.

To be part of the upcoming 2020 Masters Golf Tournament, Major Sports Augusta is your trusted travel provider for the most memorable Augusta experience! With over 18 years of service in hosting Augusta travel, our planners will customize a travel experience specific to your needs while keeping you within your desired budget.  Give us a call to so you can check one more off your bucket list!

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