Why do caddies wear white jumpsuits at the Masters?
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The Masters really is a tournament unlike any other when it comes to traditions. Here’s the reason caddies wear white jumpsuits at Augusta National.
It’s one of the many things that makes the tournament unique in the world of golf, but why do Masters caddies wear white jumpsuits?
When people think of Augusta National, they likely think of the pristine nature of the venue, the treacherous greens, beautiful azaleas, Amen Corner, or a certain green jacket, but the sight of a caddie striding the fairways in a white jumpsuit is another standout tradition of an event like no other.
And it all began in the late 1940s when Masters co-founder Clifford Roberts suggested caddies were not distinguishable enough from the patrons and that they should have to wear uniforms so as to stand out against the green fairways.
It is a policy that has stood the test of time and one of the many reasons the Masters feels so special when it rolls around every April. Even players’ partners and children don the iconic white overalls during the much-loved Wednesday par-3 contest.
As well as the boiler suit, Masters caddies are also required to wear a green cap, while each caddie is assigned a number for the week of the tournament, allocated based on the order in which their player registers. (The only exception here is that the number one is always reserved for the defending champion.)
Augusta National has always done things slightly differently. In fact, it wasn’t until the 1983 Masters when players were allowed to bring their own caddies to the tournament.
However, even after changing that particular rule, the club still insisted that all caddies continue to wear the all-white uniform.
Fortunately for the loopers lucky enough to make an appearance at the Masters, the modern boiler suits of the 21st century are made from a cotton and polyester blend far lighter than the original herringbone material.
Speaking about the boiler suits, veteran Augusta caddie Carl Jackson once said: “I wore it with pride. It was a uniform that showed you were a professional. Mr Roberts wanted everything to look the best that it could – the golf course, the players and that included the caddies.
“We wore those uniforms to look uniform.”
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It's been a tradition for many years, by why do caddies wear white jumpsuits at the Masters?
