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n addition to a cash award, the winner of the tournament
is presented with a distinctive green jacket, awarded since 1949, and
highly coveted among professional golfers. The green coat is actually
the official coat worn by members of Augusta National while on the club
grounds; each Masters winner becomes an honorary member of the club.
Winners keep their jacket for the first year after their first victory,
then return it to the club to wear during tournament week each following
year. The tradition that began in 1949, when Sam Snead was the winner.
The Green Jacket is only allowed to be removed from Augusta National by
the reigning champion, after which it must remain at the club. The only
exception to this rule is Gary Player, who failed to return his jacket
after his 1961 victory, despite the club's insistence that he do so.
By tradition, the winner of the previous year's Masters Tournament puts
the jacket on the incumbent at the end of the tournament. In 1966, Jack
Nicklaus became the first player to win in consecutive years and he
donned the jacket himself. When Nick Faldo (in 1990) and Tiger Woods (in
2002) became repeat champions, the chairman of Augusta National put the
jacket on them.
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