In professional golf, the Masters Tournament is one of the four major tournaments for men. The first major golf tournament of the year, the Masters, is scheduled for the first full week in April. In contrast to other major competitions, Augusta National Golf Club, a private golf course in Augusta, Georgia, is the permanent site of the Masters.
The Masters Tournament was started by investment banker Clifford Roberts and amateur golf champion Bobby Jones. After winning the 1930 Masters, Jones bought the previous nursery and collaborated with course architect Alister MacKenzie to build Augusta National.
The PGA Tour, European Tour, and Japan Golf Tour all recognize the Masters, which was held for the first time in 1934, as recognized money events. Also, since the Augusta National Golf Club is the host organization, the player field is smaller than for the other major championships.
Why is there an asterisk in golf?
The asterisk in golf indicates that the player teed off on the back nine holes.
Asterisks are used by the PGA Tour to denote a player's starting position at major championships and invitational events; however, they may or may not be used on scorecards for non-PGA tournaments held at other golf clubs.
On a golf leaderboard, an asterisk next to a player's last name indicates that the golfer started that day's play on the back nine of the course. You can tell which players teed off on the front nine compared to those who started on the back nine by quickly reviewing the leaderboard.
When looking at the overall rankings leaderboard, knowing if a golfer started on the front or back nine helps you understand his score. A golfer who began the round on the back nine, for instance, may still have nine more holes to attempt to get his number of strokes under par if he finishes the 18th hole with a score above par or even par.
The field would take longer to finish the round if groups had to start playing each hole individually due to how quickly the fairways would fill up at each hole. By starting half of the group on the tenth hole, the field can finish in nearly half the time.
Rough weather may have forced an earlier round to be postponed, thus half the group may start on the back nine. Likewise, if the weather report points to a storm on the horizon, half the field might begin on the back nine in an attempt to beat it.
FAQ's On Masters asterisk
A. In golf, an asterisk next to a player's name indicates that they started their round on the back nine holes of the course.
A. The PGA Tour uses asterisks to denote a player's starting position at major championships and invitational events.
A. Some players start on the back nine to speed up play, accommodate weather delays, or balance the flow of players on the course.
A. The Masters Tournament is one of golf's major championships held annually during the first full week of April at Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, Georgia.
A. The Masters Tournament was founded by investment banker Clifford Roberts and amateur golf champion Bobby Jones, and it was first played in 1934.
A. Unlike other major championships, the Masters Tournament always takes place at Augusta National Golf Club, and it has a smaller player field.
