Mystique of the green jacket endures as Masters looms
Tiger Woods smiles after being awarded the green jacket following his victory at the 2019 Masters (Kevin C. Cox) The Masters green jacket, the symbol of supremacy at Augusta National, is among the most coveted items of clothing in sport -- and one of the hardest to obtain. Rory McIlroy became the most recent recipient of the iconic blazer last year when he ended a 10-year major drought with a career-defining victory at Augusta National in a sudden-death playoff.
Unless he successfully defends his title, McIlroy will return next Sunday to take part in one of golf's most closely observed rituals: helping slip the jacket onto the shoulders of the new champion. For McIlroy, the past year has underscored both the rarity of the garment and the responsibility that comes with it. "The overwhelming feeling of having this jacket for a year is just how honored and grateful I am I was able to do it, and how grateful I am I've had so much great support along the way," McIlroy said.
"As time goes on, it becomes normal and it has been normal for me to go into my closet and see the green jacket hanging there. Hopefully it's not the last time I get to bring (it) off property. " McIlroy has worn the green jacket to India and Australia as well as his homeland of Northern Ireland among other global stops.
Only the reigning champion is allowed to take his green jacket off the club property, and then only until he returns to defend it the following year. An exception to the rule was Gary Player, who took his first jacket home to South Africa but didn't bring it back. Player recalled telling then-Masters chairman Clifford Roberts, "Why don't you come and fetch it?
He did see the funny side of it. He said to me, 'Don't ever wear it in public. '" Tom Watson won in 1977 and was presented an oversized 44 long-sized jacket.