Augusta National co-founder Clifford Roberts was a master of innovations | 2022 Masters
Breaking news
 
R4   
1 Scottie Scheffler   -10 F
2 Rory McIlroy   -7 F
T3 Cameron Smith   -5 F
T3 Shane Lowry   -5 F
5 Collin Morikawa   -4 F
    Full Leaderboard
Read our extensive coverage of the Masters »
Posted March 6, 2020, 9:00 am |
Staff Reports

Augusta National co-founder Clifford Roberts was a master of innovations

  • Article Photos
    Photos description

    President Dwight Eisenhower leans over to say a few words to his host, Clifford Roberts, Chairman of the Augusta National Golf Club as they leave Bush Field to journey to the "Little White House" at Augusta National Golf Club on Nov. 12, 1959. (AP Photo)

Clifford Roberts, the co-founder of Augusta National and the longest-serving chairman of the Masters, was born on March 6, 1894 on a farm in Morning Sun, Iowa.

He was the brains behind most of what is the Masters Tournament today and joined with golfer Bobby Jones to organize the club and start the invitational tournament.

Known for his gruff exterior and no-nonsense approach to tournament administration, Roberts set the bar high. Through numerous innovations implemented under Roberts, the Masters is considered the premier sporting event in the world.

See more photos of Clifford Roberts

Innovations included roping the fairways to keep patrons and players separated, mounds for spectators to view play, leaderboards throughout the course and bringing television to the tournament in 1956. He also devised the "over-and-under" scoring method to show the cumulative score for each player.

Roberts enjoyed a close relationship with Dwight D. Eisenhower, and helped the general in his successful bid for president. Eisenhower also became an Augusta National member.

Roberts served as chairman from 1931 to 1976 and died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound on the grounds of Augusta National on September 29, 1977. He was later named Chairman in Memoriam by the club's board of governors. 

 

 

 

 

 

2021 Invitees