No matter whether you’re a contestant or a fan, everyone seems to have their own Masters tradition.
It could be as simple as playing the Par-3 contest or skipping it across the pond at 16. But part of what makes the Masters so special to so many of us is it is the same course every year and we know it like the back of our hand and we count the days until the week of the Masters in April so that we can enjoy all the things that make the Masters matter to us. To each his own, right? Here’s a list of traditions unlike any other for more than two dozen pros.
Keegan Bradley
Keegan Bradley on a green with his wife Jillian Stacey and son Logan James during the Par 3 Contest prior to the 2019 Masters at Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, Georgia. (Photo: Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)
Now, with my family, it is getting excited for the par-3. This year, one of the first things I talked about is how my 2-year-old Cooper is going to be able to go in the par 3. It’s a special thing for families.
Sam Burns
Sam Burns plays a shot from a bunker on the 16th hole during the first round of the 2022 Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, Georgia. (Photo: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports)
Last year was my first as a player but growing up Masters Sunday we’d go to church and get on the couch as soon as the TV coverage started for the final round.
Stewart Cink
Stewart Cink walks on the second hole during the third round of the 2022 Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, Georgia. (Photo: Michael Madrid-USA TODAY Sports)
It’s pretty lame, but just driving over. I don’t get to drive to many tournaments, just taking I-20 from our home in Atlanta. It’s so anticipatory. And every year I like the last one to register on Monday afternoon. If there’s 90 people, I’m 89.
Corey Conners
Mike Weir, Corey Conners and Mackenzie Hughes pose at the Ben Hogan Bridge during a practice round ahead of the 2022 Masters Tournament at Augusta Nationa Golf Club in Augusta, Georgia. (Photo: Charlie Riedel/Associated Press)
I play a practice round with Mike Weir every year.
Harris English
Harris English and caddy Eric Larson on the second fairway during the first round of the 2021 Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, Georgia. (Photo: Michael Madrid-USA TODAY Sports)
We rent a house for family and friends. Living three hours from Augusta and having gone to school in Athens [Georgia]it’s one of the tournaments where I look in the crowd and see a bunch of familiar faces.
Tony Finau
Tony Finau hits out of a bunker on the 13th green during the third round of the 2022 Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club. (Photo: Rob Schumacher/USA TODAY Sports)
I usually have family with me and we get a house and a chef for the week and give him a menu of items we like to eat. We like to eat well. Last year, we had about 12 with us and we’re anywhere between 10-15. I try to play nine holes Monday-Wednesday and do the Par 3. I love it. The other is we’ll hit Waffle House two or three times during the week.
Matt Fitzpatrick
Matthew Fitzpatrick and his caddy at the Par 3 Contest ahead of the 2022 Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, Georgia. (Photo: Andrew Redington/Getty Images)
I like to play the par-3 tournament. I’ll never miss that.
Max Homo
Max Homa plays a shot on the second hole during the final round of the 2022 Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, Georgia. (Photo: Rob Schumacher-USA TODAY Sports)
Four of my friends come with me. It’s nice to have them there. We play board games at the house and it’s really fun. That never happens in a normal week.
Tommy Fleetwood
Tommy Fleetwood approaches the No. 13 green during a practice round ahead of the 2022 Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club. (Photo: Rob Schumacher-USA TODAY Sports)
Family is there. It usually coincides with one of my stepson’s birthdays so we always have breakfast in the library.
Jim Furyk
Jm Furyk hits his tee shot on the third hole during the second round of the 2015 Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, Georgia. (Photo: Rob Schumacher-USA TODAY Sports)
We rented a home for a week and always had a bunch of friends come by. It wasn’t the same ones every year. We always brought people in because it’s such a unique experience and it’s so hard to attend the Masters. It was a way to bring people we really care about together.
Billy Horschel
Billy Horschel with his daughter Skylar and wife Brittany at the Par 3 Contest ahead of the 2016 Masters. (Photo: Harry How/Getty Images)
Playing the par-3 tournament with my wife and kids.
Trevor Immelman
Tim Clark, Trevor Immelman and Adam Scott at the Par 3 Contest ahead of the 2012 Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, Georgia. (Photo: Jamie Squire/Getty Images)
There have been a few over the years; the most recent is drinking and enjoying some good bourbon with Adam Scott at the Champions Dinner.
Viktor Hovland
Paul Casey and Viktor Hovland point to Hovland’s caddy Shay Knight after he successfully skipped a ball across the pond on No. 16 during a practice round ahead of the 2022 Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club. (Photo: Davis Tucker Andrew Davis Tucker-USA TODAY Sports)
Skipping it across the pond at 16 during practice rounds.
Zach Johnson
Zach Johnson waves after finishing the 18th hole during the final round of the 2007 Masters Tournament at the Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, Georgia. (Photo: David J. Phillip/Associated Press)
If I don’t play the week before, I take a guest and always buy that individual a tie. My wife and I try to make the week ultra-special and have a chef from back home who cooks for us every night.
Matt Kuchar
Matt Kuchar at the Par 3 Contest ahead of the 2019 Masters at Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, Georgia. (Photo: Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
I’m one of the last players to arrive on Tuesday afternoon and try to get one of the last par-3 times.
Collin Morikawa
Collin Morikawa and his fiancee Katherine Zhu smile during the Par 3 Contest ahead of the 2022 Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, Georgia. (Photo: Keyur Khamar/PGA Tour via Getty Images)
I watched as much of it as I could growing up.
Gary Player
Gary Player on the ninth tee during the third round of the 1957 Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, Georgia. (Photo: Associated Press)
My first Masters was in 1957 and my father wrote to Clifford Roberts after I won a tournament in England inquiring about an invitation. He replied, “Pack your bags.” I had heard so much about the ethos of Augusta National, so when I arrived, I got out of the car at the top of Magnolia Lane and walked down to the clubhouse taking it all in. I still make that walk every year to show my gratitude.
Jon Rahm
Jon Rahm and Tiger Woods walk to the seventh tee during the second round of the 2019 Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club. (Photo: Rob Schumacher-USA TODAY Sports)
We always rent a house in the same neighborhood because we like it.
Adam Scott
Adam Scott plays a shot from the edge of Rae’s Creek during the third round of the 2014 Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, Georgia. (Photo: Jack Gruber-USA TODAY Sports)
As a past champion, I’m allowed to bring a guest and I play with my dad the Sunday beforehand.
Jordan Spieth
Jordan Spieth and caddy Michael Greller during the final round of the 2021 Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, Georgia. (Photo: Michael Madrid-USA TODAY Sports)
Monday afternoon, I normally have a whiskey with (caddie) Michael (Greller) in the Champions locker room on the upstairs balcony.
Kevin Streelman
Kevin Streelman, Ernie Els, Branden Grace and Jerry Tate skip their tee shots across the 16th hole during a practice round ahead of the 2016 Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club. (Photo: USA TODAY Sports)
Growing up it was me and dad’s thing. I was eight years old watching the first one in 1986 when Jack won. We’ve made pimento cheese at home. We’ve gone to Brian Urlacher’s and he sends out invitations and does a green jacket ceremony for the winner of his backyard par-3 course and mini putt-putt.
Justin Thomas
Justin Thomas hits out of the bunker on no. 18 during the final round of the 2022 Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, Georgia. (Photo: Adam Cairns-Augusta Chronicle/USA TODAY Sports)
I usually invite three of my best friends to come. Unfortunately, with our age and life changing they can’t always come but I ask them.
Gary Woodland
Gary Woodland walks with Gareth Kenneth Johnstone, caddy for Takami Kanaya, after eagleing No. 10 during the second round of the 2022 Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Course in Augusta, Georgia. (Photo: Danielle Parhizkaran-Augusta Chronicle/USA TODAY Sports)
I like to get there early and get my work in early to make the week a little less stressful than it can be. It’s a nice week because it’s the one week that I have the whole family in the house. I look forward to that. Outside of that, the Par 3 Contest is the only thing I do the same every year.
Will Zalatoris
Will Zalatoris hits his approach shot to no. 15 during the third round of the 2022 Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, Georgia. (Photo: Adam Cairns-Augusta Chronicle/USA TODAY Sports)
Having dinner with my wife the day before we leave.
Story originally appeared on GolfWeek