Why is The Masters Green Jacket green?

Everyone knows the winner of The Masters dons a green jacket. But why is the jacket green?

Winners of The Masters tournament are bestowed a green jacket: single-breasted, single-vent suit jacket that is very, very green. It features the Augusta National logo on the left chest pocket and shiny brass buttons. Again, it is very green. Specifically, a shade called “Masters Green” that is a “brilliant rye green” — Pantone 342. The reason the Masters green jacket is green mostly seems to be because green is a very golf-y color for the most coveted prize in golf.

There is plenty of tradition involved with the green jacket. The defending champ typically helps the new winner into his new jacket after the final found. Typically, green jacket holders are not allowed to take the jackets off the August National grounds, however, the winner of The Masters gets to take the jacket home for the year they are victor. At the subsequent tournament, they must return their green jacket to be kept on the grounds. Under no circumstances should a green jacket be photographed in public off the Augusta National premises.

Members of the Augusta National golf club also receive green jackets without having to win The Masters to do so. The same ground rules apply.

According to PGA.com, the green jacket has two potential origin stories:

"One is that it was actually borrowed from 12-time Open Championship venue, Royal Liverpool in England. Augusta National co-founder and one of golf’s greatest champions, Bobby Jones, attended a dinner at Royal Liverpool where club captains were wearing matching jackets to denote their position. Jones liked that. The other story is that Augusta National co-founder Clifford Roberts figured it was a way to identify club members as “reliable sources of information” to visiting non-members — and to let waiters know who got the check at dinner."

Neither of these explain the green — except for, of course, the theory that green is just a good color for golf things on account of grass being green and golf courses being designed with grass.

Next: 10 best shots in The Masters history

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