Palmer: The man who brought home the green top from the Masters game

It's not easy to find something symbolic on a wall rack. But the green top awarded to the winner of the Masters is more than just a simple piece of clothing; it shows that the Masters is the golf tour, the most recognized piece of clothing in the game of golf, and in all sports. At the award ceremony, the winner is helped to put on the green top by the previous champion in front of an appreciative crowd and hundreds of flashing cameras. Even the most casual fan knows that each new Masters champion not only wins one of the most prestigious golf tours in the world, but also the green top. The Masters Tournament is based at Augusta National Golf Club. The green top is its fairway color, and it embodies the excellence, achievement, tradition and triumph that comes with playing on this most prestigious golf course.

　　Gary Player, 3-time Masters Champion, said, "The feeling is incomparable. The green top doesn't just mean winning the Masters, it symbolizes people like Bob Jones and his contributions to the game of golf. It also symbolizes Clifford Roberts, who gave his heart and soul to Augusta National and the Masters. It represents a great golf tour, the greatest golf course in the world, great people and great achievements. The Masters green top epitomizes golf perfection." Snyder travels to Augusta every year. He said, "When you go to the Champions Dinner and look around at everyone wearing a green top, you feel like you're among the most distinguished people in the world."

　　In his articles, Mr. Roberts usually refers to the green top as a "tunic" rather than a "top". But whatever the name, it is a single row, 3-button, rayon lined Masters garment made from a blend of 3 yards of wool and synthetic fibers, and it is stored in a shirred wood closet in the clubhouse. Over the past 50 years, four different manufacturers have produced the green top, but it has always retained its distinctive features: the green color, the brass buttons, and the Augusta National Golf Club logo embellished on the left breast pocket. Over the years, two logos have represented Augusta National, but only one has appeared on the green top: a circle around a U.S. graphic, complete with a flagpole and hole located directly on the location of Augusta National.

　　But the green tops started out humble. in 1937, the first green tops were worn by members of the Masters Tournament Club in order to make it easy for patrons to find members. At first, some members were not enthusiastic about wearing such bright green, only to get used to it later. No one can recall who first came up with the idea of awarding Masters winners green tops and honorary memberships to Augusta National Golf Club. But in 1949 Sam Snead became the first player to be so honored, winning the title by three strokes over Johnny Bulla and Lloyd Mangrum. Sam Snyder recalls, "All the players were surprised. None of us knew they were going to award a top." Snyder went on to win the Masters twice more, in 1952 and 1954, but multiple winners no longer received green tops unless their size changed significantly between victories. Snyder was an exception. He said, "Somehow my first green top got misplaced and I've been wearing Bob Jones' shirt ever since. I got a new one in 1994 because the sleeves were 4 inches shorter." While all members are required to buy green tops, the Masters champion is not awarded a green top until after he or she has completed the finals. It is customary for the winner to take the green top home for a year and wear it only at golf-related tournaments and rallies. Green tops are not allowed to be used for events related to commercial advertising. In addition, green tops could only be worn at clubs.

　　In 1961, Arnold Palmer, the 1960 Masters champion, helped a remarkable player put on the green top when the South African's feet had not long set foot on the ground. The player said, "I was very excited and happy to get the green shirt. I took it back to South Africa, covered it with a very nice plastic cover and hung it in the closet. Of course, I wasn't going to wear it. One day, a year or so later, I got a phone call from Mr. Roberts. He said 'Garry, I think you took the Celebrity Race Green top home. Nobody's allowed to do that.' I said, 'Yes, Mr. Roberts, I took it home. But if you want it back, you'll have to get it yourself.' We both laughed. He said, 'Please, please don't wear it anywhere else.' All these years later, the green blouse still hangs in my closet. I always see it whenever I change clothes."

　　The green top worn by the new Masters champion at the award ceremony was actually a properly sized member's top borrowed from the club's shirred wood closet.