I guess it's a combination of a lot of things. The golf course, the history , the tradition, the selective field. Take your pick. All I know is that the Masters is the one tournament that I can watch every minute of for all 4 days.

For me, the long held tradition of golf being a gentlemen's game. Courteous people, spectators that behave, sharing of an incredible private club for the week and amazing history.

If there were a course in Heaven, it would look like Augusta. I used to video tape all the tournaments, (that date's me eh?), starting with the 1981 Tom Watson victory. I'd do the Open Championship, PGA, and US Open too. I'd record all 4 rounds when they started showing them on ESPN, or some other channel. Remember, no Golf Channel back then, and being addicted to the game, I needed these tapes to get through the "lovely" New England winters, and start watching them after the holidays were done to try to make it through to Spring. I always saved the Masters for last. Nothing beats the Masters. If I were a pro, it would be the tournament I would most want to win. No offense at all the my Countries Championship, the US Open, but, I don't think anything could beat becoming an honorary member of that Club and being invited back each year for the festivities, Champions Dinner, playing or not for the rest of your life....... as an honorary southern gentlemen with the rest of those who are by being born into it or invited into it.

For me it is the official start of spring and golf season. I love the civility and well behaved patrons. I love what must be a million flowers in perfect bloom. But one thing I don't love is thinking about how much their annual fertilizer bill must be.

I guess, having walked those sacred grounds many times over the years answers your question for me. Knowing that all the greats in the game of golf had walked there before me and the week that I attended. That is Mecca for any golfer. If you have been there and seen the course, observed how well it is cared for, how the patrons respect it during the week of the tournament it is easy to understand why it is loved by all who know this game. I took my wife one year who has no interest in golf and as we were leaving the course she admitted that that was the most beautiful place she had ever seen. She loved it. There is magic and a respect that surrounds THE MASTERS and you if do not love it, how you cannot love the very game of golf? With respect. =)

Tradition.
From the practice rounds, Champions Dinner, Par 3 tournament, to the defending Champion putting the green jacket on the new champion. And the fact it is hosted at Augusta National, with the Butler Cabin, Magnolia Lane and who could forget the Eisenhower Tree.

If there is golf in heaven, I hope its Augusta National.

It is just loaded with classic traditions. So impressive on TV but even better in you attend live. Every golfer should put on their bucket list, even if it is just a practice round.

Its the unofficial start of the season in Ohio.

Becuase it meands that golf is officially in full swing and the rest of the country can finally join in. It's like our sports opening day!

1st Major and I love seeing the best having to create shots to save their round!

As the name suggests: The Masters

What goes in the name- why is it called...?
How does anyone qualify? All of its players would have already been proven as a champion.

....Validation? ....Best of the best? ....Who?

It is to me, and there's so much more that goes on within The Masters tournament itself, more than any other.

For me, residing in the state of the "Frozen Tundra" The Masters is the official start of spring. As a younger man, I remember watching The Masters with 6" to 8" of snow on the ground and wondering when I'll be able to play my first round of golf. The visual of millions of flowers and the Azalea's in bloom warmed my heart.

One of the most amazing golf courses, always in perfect condition, being played by the best players in the world. All the history that goes along with the tournament. The wonderful stories of Bobby Jones and Clifford Roberts, Gene Sarazen, Ben Hogan and Byron Nelson, back in the day. Jack Nicklaus winning in 1986, the 50th Masters at the age of 46, with his son on the bag. Greg Norman's collapse on the final day in 1996 and Nick Faldo overcoming a six stroke deficit to win his third Green Jacket, by five strokes. Bubba Watson's shot on 10, from the trees, Mickelson's shot on 13' and of course, Tigers chip on 16. That is just a few reasons why......

Please don’t forget Dr Alister MacKenzie who designed the course, along with Cypress Point and numerous more around the world, and not forgetting Moortown Golf Club in Leeds, England where the first Ryder Cup was played on British soil in 1929, sorry about the history lesson

The history that goes along with it and it marks the beginning of golf season.