What was the Masters originally called?

The Masters was originally called the Augusta National Invitation Tournament.

The first tournament was played at Augusta National Golf Club in 1934 under that official name. Bobby Jones and Clifford Roberts created the event after Jones helped establish Augusta National, and Jones returned from retirement to compete in the inaugural tournament. Horton Smith won that first edition and received $1,500.

The shorter name “the Masters” was used informally almost from the beginning, even though Jones initially disliked it. Newspapers and fans gradually adopted the nickname because the event attracted many of the world’s leading golfers. Augusta National officially changed the name to the Masters Tournament in 1939.

This early naming history explains a common mix-up: “Augusta National Invitation Tournament” was not a different competition. It was the original official title of the same championship now recognized as one of golf’s four men’s major tournaments. The event has remained at Augusta National every year since its founding, apart from schedule changes such as the 2020 November edition.