Confusion abounds about 2013 Masters dates

Make no mistake: This year’s Masters Tournament will be held April 8-14.

For some reason, there’s been a lot of confusion over when golf’s rite of spring will occur. I’ve taken a few calls, and I’ve heard of folks booking wrong dates for vacations and hotel rooms.

Part of the confusion is that most folks associate the Masters with the first full week in April. That’s OK, but it depends on whether you define the start of the week as Sunday or Monday.

The best way to remember the dates is that the Masters ends on the second Sunday in April. This year marks the latest possible end date, April 14.

The Masters has finished on the second Sunday each April since 1985. The formula goes back even further, but for some reason the 1979 and 1984 Masters ended on April 15, the third Sunday of the month.

Longtime observers know the first Masters was held March 22-25 in 1934. From 1935-38, the tournament was scheduled for the first week in April.

The 1939 Masters broke tradition and started March 30. Beginning with the 1940 event, the tournament has been played exclusively in April.

FUTURE DATES

2014: April 7-13

2015: April 6-12

2016: April 4-10

2017: April 3-9

2018: April 2-8

Source: 2013 Masters Media Guide