The history of the Masters

The Augusta clubhouse was constructed in 1932

BBC Sport Online's Pranav Soneji looks at the history of one of golf's most prestigious events - The Masters.

It is staggering to think that one of the world's most famous and beautiful golf courses was nothing more than 365 acres of farming land not so long ago.

But thanks to the foresight of two men, Bob Jones and Clifford Roberts, Fruitlands Nurseries, purchased for the grand total $70,000 in 1931, is now home to the Augusta National Golf Course.

After completion, both men came up with the idea of organising an annual tournament drawing all the best players from across the country.

Initially, for the first five years of the tournament, it was called the Augusta National Invitation Tournament because Jones believed the name "The Masters" sounded too "preposterous".

However, he eventually relented and in 1939, the name changed to The Masters.

Gene Sarazen won the second ever US Masters

At the outset the duo insisted on only the player and his caddy being allowed access to the playing area and pairing the field instead of playing in threesomes.

And after successfully negotiating all the necessary paperwork, the inaugural tournament was hosted on 22 March 1934 - won by Horton Smith with a one-stroke lead over Craig Wood.

Jones, who was persuaded to enter as a player, finished in 13th place - his best finish in the nine pre-war tournaments.

The following Masters was remembered for Gene Sarazen's double eagle on the par five 15th, often described as "the shot heard round the world".

Sarazen forced his way into a 36-hole play-off courtesy of his remarkable feat and beat the unlucky Wood into second place by five shots.

The Masters was already causing headlines and only into its second year.

Wood finally won at his eighth attempt in 1941, but the momentum of the event was abruptly stopped for three years during the Second World War.

However, in 1946 the Masters was back in full swing when Herman Keiser held off Ben Hogan for a one-stroke victory.

In the intervening 60 years the event has gone from strength to strength and has thrown up a host of celebrated champions from Arnold Palmer and Jack Nicklaus through to Tiger Woods.

Palmer won the first of his four Masters titles - becoming the youngest winner of the Green Jacket since Keiser in 1946 - with victory in 1958.

Jack Nicklaus is part of Augusta history

Three years later, South Africa's Gary Player became the first overseas player to break the American stranglehold, holding on for a one-stroke victory over Palmer and Charles Roe.

Then in 1965 and 1966, Jack Nicklaus etched his name forever in Masters folklore.

The "Golden Bear" became the first golfer to successfully defend his Green Jacket.

He also holds the record for the most titles won at Augusta with six, his last coming in 1986 at the age of 46.

The 1970s saw the Americans dominate save for Player, who won in 1974 and 1978.

But that trend began to reverse after Seve Ballesteros won in 1980.

The Spaniard's victory heralded a period of European dominance that saw 10 wins in 17 years.

Bernhard Langer and Jose Maria Olazabal also enjoyed wins as did Sandy Lyle, Nick Faldo and Ian Woosnam in a golden four-year British spell.

However, after Faldo's third win in 1996 the tables turned in favour of the home players once again.

In the ensuing six years Olazabal has been the sole European winner in an era dominated by Tiger Woods.

At the age of 21 Woods became the youngest player to ever win the title in 1997 with a phenomenal display.

Woods is set to be a dominant figure for years to come

He finished 12 shots clear in a record score 18-under 270, beating Ben Hogan's 44-year scoring record in the process.

Ever since Woods has gone into the first Major of the year as the pre-event favourite.

It took Woods four years to secure his second title, but again he produced a scintillating performance last year when he became the first player to secure a Grand Slam.

Augusta has since undergone its first major overhaul. Holes have been extended and teeing positions have been altered.

Experts predict that Augusta may play as many as three shots more following the changes.

A new era is set to unfold at the famous course, but despite the changes Jones and Roberts would wholeheartedly approve of testing the best in the game with the best, and most challenging, course.