Celebrating 90 years of Masters: A look at every decade

With the cheers for his 1930 Grand Slam still echoing, Bobby Jones was shown a piece of property some two hours east of his Atlanta home.

The long-ago indigo plantation had more recently been a sprawling nursery, home to a wide variety of plants and trees across its undulating acreage.

“Perfect!” Jones said. “And to think this ground has been lying here all these years waiting for someone to come along and lay a golf course upon it.”

His dream course opened in 1933 to wonderful reviews, but what’s a great golf course without a great championship? Using his influence and connections, in 1934 Jones debuted a golf tournament he’d scarcely recognize today, aside from the familiar property and stately clubhouse.

The Masters turned 90 this year. Along the way, it became recognized as one of golf’s four professional major championships. There was no formality about such things — befitting the host course’s previous life, it happened organically.

Unlike the other three majors, the Masters is played on the same golf course every year. Many say the year-to-year familiarity gives the Masters an advantage in terms of cementing memories and legacies. Assuming there’s truth to that, you have to agree the advantage hasn’t been squandered.