A Tradition Like No Other

Ladies and gentlemen, the hiatus is over. It's amazing how not having an internet connection can slow you down in today's technological world. Nevertheless, it's time to get back into full swing, and truly no better way to do it then to talk about the greatest golf tournament known to man: The Masters. We're one week away.

The mystique that is Augusta National is as storied as the Constitution. Every first full week in April, Augusta, Georgia, is filled with out-of-towners. Sometimes WAY out of town. Tickets go for thousands of dollars. To say you have walked the grounds of Augusta National is every golfer's dream, both amateur and professional. The invitation to the tournament is extremely strict. This is NOT your average golf tournament. Here's what it takes to get an invite to play at Augusta:

1. Masters Tournament Champions (Lifetime)
2. US Open Champions (Honorary, non-competing after 5 years)
3. British Open Champions (Honorary, non-competing after 5 years)
4. PGA Champions (Honorary, non-competing after 5 years)
5. Winners of The Players Championship (Three years)
6. Current US Amateur Champion (6-A) (Honorary, non-competing after 1 year) and the runner-up (6-B) to the current US Amateur Champion
7. Current British Amateur Champion (Honorary, non-competing after 1 year)
8. Current US Amateur Public Links Champion
9. Current US Mid-Amateur Champion
10. The first 16 players, including ties, in the 2007 Masters Tournament
11. The first 8 players, including ties, in the 2007 US Open Championship
12. The first 4 players, including ties, in the 2007 British Open Championship
13. The first 4 players, including ties, in the 2007 PGA Championship
14. The 30 leaders on the Final Official PGA Tour Money List for 2007
15. Winners of PGA Tour events that award a full-point allocation for the season-ending Tour Championship, from previous Masters to current Masters
16. Those qualifying for the season-ending 2007 Tour Championship
17. The 50 leaders on the Final Official World Golf Ranking for 2007
18. The 50 leaders on the Official World Golf Ranking published during the week prior to the 2008 Masters

No sponsor exemptions, no exceptions. Numbers 6,7, 8 and 9 wet their pants every year because they get the invite. You are selected to play in this tournament because you have shown that you are good enough to play the game of golf. Interesting concept.

It all started in 1934 when Bobby Jones and Clifford Roberts wanted to sponsor a tournament. It was originally called Augusta National Invitation Tournament, but was changed in 1939 to The Masters. Much better. Every year on Wednesday a Par-3 tournament is held. There's a 9-hole course inside the grounds that spans 1,060 yards. The course record is 20. The tourney begins Thursday and always ends Sunday with two happy arms waiting to slip into the exquisite green jacket. The tournament begins next week and guess who's playing? That's right, the 1997, 2001, 2002, and 2005 champion: Tiger Woods.

So who will Zach Johnson put the jacket on this year? I think everyone wants to see Tiger because the win would be 1 down in his quest for 4 in one year. That would truly be a feat.

Who will win the 2008 Master's? I put it to you. If you're a betting man, it never hurts to bet on a guy by the name of Fred Couples. You never know.