Moments of the Masters

1857
The origins of Magnolia Lane
Louis Berckmans is not a name associated with the history of the game but it was this Belgian physician and amateur horticulturalist, in 1857, who established a nursery on a site in Augusta, Georgia. One of his first acts was to plant a long row of magnolia trees. In 1930, Bobby Jones decided this nursery would be the perfect site for his dream course and paid ,000 to buy it. Not only did he decide to retain the line of trees, he built the impressive clubhouse drive alongside them.

1935
The shot that was heard around the world
Back in the 1930s, the Masters was known by the rather more humbling title as the 'Augusta Invitational'. Playing in the final round of the 1935 version, Gene Sarazen holed his four-wood approach to the 15th for an albatross two en route to victory. The phrase 'the shot that was heard around the world' belongs to Ralph Waldo Emerson. The sensational nature of this shot, and all the excitement it subsequently provoked, is forever part of ­and effectively began­ Augusta folklore.

1949
The arrival of the Green Jacket
Augusta members have been wearing Green Jackets to distinguish themselves ever since 1937 -­ but it was not until 12 years later that the practice extended to awarding one to the winner. Sam Snead was the first recipient. The jackets may be only worn outside the club grounds during the year in which the player is champion and are held at the club after that.

1968
'What a stupid...I am'
Then Open champion Roberto de Vicenzo fired a sublime closing 65 in the 1968 Masters good enough to make a play-off against Bob Goalby. Except, in all the excitement, the Argentinean forgot to check his scorecard and notice that playing partner Tommy Aaron had made a mistake. De Vicenzo thus signed for a 66, leaving Goalby as champion and everyone else to wonder if a more satisfactory conclusion could have been reached.

1980
Seve begins the European invasion
Back in the late 1970s, very few Europeans were invited to play in the Masters. This, naturally, was all the incentive one Severiano Ballesteros needed. Having won The Open at Lytham the year before, Seve posted a record 23 birdies as he became the youngest-ever Masters champion. In the coming years, Bernhard Langer, Sandy Lyle, Nick Faldo, Ian Woosnam and Jose Maria Olazabal would all follow his lead.

1986
Jack makes it six Masters... and 18 Majors
Not many people seriously thought that 46-year-old Jack Nicklaus could still add to his Major tally but in rolling back the years in 1986 he gave the galleries a treat they would never forget. In covering the final nine holes in just 30 strokes, he saw off the challenges of Greg Norman and Seve Ballesteros. He is still the oldest player ever to win the Masters.

1989
Hoch the choke
Nick Faldo and Scott Hoch finished at the top of the leaderboard in 1989 and headed for the 10th tee to begin their sudden-death play-off. Fifteen minutes later and it was all over as Hoch stood over a two-footer for par to win to become champion -­ but his putt lipped out. Reprieved, Faldo would win the first of his three Green Jackets at the very next hole and Hoch would never again contend at a Major. He also acquired a nickname that would never go away.

1997
The Tiger years begin
The history of non-whites at Augusta is not a happy one but the sensational first Major win of Tiger Woods' breathtaking career changed, overnight, attitudes at the Masters. Apart from its cultural significance, Tiger also broke record after record, becoming the youngest-ever champion, at 21, winning by a staggering margin of 12 shots and establishing a new low 72-hole total of 270.

Since then he has added a further three Green Jackets to his wardrobe -­ as well as two US Opens, three Opens and three USPGAs. Augusta also provided the iconic moment of his career to date -­ this chip-in at the 16th during the final round of the 2005 Masters that we went on to win in a play-off over Chris DiMarco.