How does this Ohio city have ties to Augusta's green jackets?

The most storied golf tournament, the Masters, is underway at Augusta National Golf Club, and what most people don't know is that Cincinnati has played a notable role in the tournament (even if it's a little secretive).

Hamilton Tailoring Co., historically located in a discreet, more than 150,000-square-foot building in Avondale, has for decades made one of the most sought-after awards in American sports: the Masters green jacket

But the making of the jacket is shrouded in mystery and exclusivity. So much so, it's hard to find a working number for the company. Last time The Enquirer spoke with the company, we were also met with unanswered questions.

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"We can't talk about it," late company chairman Ed Heimann told The Enquirer back in 2016. "I wish I could tell you more. It would be good for our business, but I can't."

The iconic green jackets were first made in 1937 by Brooks Uniform Co., based in New York City. However, members found the material to be "too thick and uncomfortable in warm weather," according to PGA.com, so Augusta changed suppliers.

Ed Heimann, an avid golfer who beat Jack Nicklaus at a young age, according to his obituary in The Enquirer, ran his family tailoring business and had a long list of celebrity clientele, such as Frank Sinatra, Bob Hope, Perry Como and legendary golfers Arnold Palmer and Greg Norman.

In 1967, Heimann reached a deal with the then-chairman of Augusta National Golf Club, Clifford Roberts, for Hamilton Tailoring Co. to take over the manufacturing of the green jackets.

More than 50 men have claimed Masters Tournament wins since the competition's inception, and from 1967 until at least 2024 (the last time the PGA Tour reported on it), each have received a Cincinnati-produced jacket. Historically, it took roughly a month to make a jacket for a new Masters champion, the name of whom is stitched into the inside label.

The Enquirer reached out to Augusta National Golf Club to confirm Hamilton Tailoring still makes the jackets.

The inside of Tiger Woods green jacket from winning the 1997 Masters Tournament shows a glimpse of the Hamilton Tailoring Co. tag.

Here's all about the Masters green jacket.

How did the green jacket tradition begin?

Although Augusta National opened in 1934, it wasn't until 1937 that the green jacket hit the scene. From then until 1948, only Augusta National members wore the green jacket.

As for how the tradition began, there are two stories.

A detailed view of The Masters logo on a members jacket.

The first story suggests Augusta National co-founder Bobby Jones attended a dinner at the 12-time Open Championship venue, Royal Liverpool, in England, when he noticed club captains wearing matching jackets. He was allegedly inspired to bring the same concept back to Georgia.

The other story says Augusta National co-founder Clifford Roberts gave the jackets to Augusta club members so they'd stand out as "reliable sources of information" to visiting non-members during the tournament, and according to PGA.com, "let waiters know who got the check at dinner."

When did Hamilton Tailoring Co. start making the green jacket?

Hamilton Tailoring Co. became the exclusive maker of the green jacket in 1967, per PGA.com.

And if you're thinking about trying to order one for yourself, don't. Hamilton Tailoring has not accepted orders from the general public for such an iconic piece of clothing.

Who won the first green jacket?

Sam Snead was the first winner to be honored with a green jacket.

He was presented with the green jacket after winning the 1949 Masters. Augusta National then retroactively awarded a jacket to each previous winner.

Sam Snead won three Masters Tournaments.

How much does it cost to make a green jacket?

It's been reported that it costs an estimated $250 to make the Masters green jacket. However, that figure has not been confirmed by Augusta National or Hamilton Tailoring Co., according to PGA.com.

Who puts the green jacket on a repeat winner?

One of the many great traditions of the Masters tournament includes having the defending Masters champion place the green jacket on the newly crowned champion.

However, the tournament ran into a dilemma in 1966 with back-to-back Masters winner Jack Nicklaus. He became the first player to win the Masters in consecutive seasons, but that doesn't mean he has two green jackets. Instead, Augusta National co-founders Jones and Roberts decided Nicklaus would put the jacket on himself.

It was later determined, should the dilemma arise, that the Masters Chairman would step in for the jacket ceremony.

The only other golfers to win back-to-back Masters are Nick Faldo (1989, 1990) and Tiger Woods (2001, 2002).

The hole flag on the seventh hole during a practice round for the Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club.

Do you get a green jacket for every Masters win?

No. Augusta National only awards one green jacket to a Masters champion, even if they've won multiple times. For each subsequent victory in the tournament, the golfer is presented with the same green jacket.

Do Masters champions take their green jacket home?

Only the current Masters winner may take it home ... and only for one year.

Once the victory tour is over, the previous winner must return it to the club at the following Masters tournament, where it will stay at Augusta National Golf Club forever.

No other member or former Master's champion is permitted to remove the jacket from the club's grounds. According to PGA.com, green jackets are kept on club grounds and "taking them off the premises is forbidden."

A somewhat exception to the rule is that former winners wear their jackets during the tournament and its festivities, but at the end of Masters week, club rules state the jackets must remain in a cedar closet on the lower floor of the clubhouse, per Bleacher Report.

Can I buy a green jacket?

You can buy almost everything from Amazon.

Except for the official green jacket from Augusta National, which does not sell them. Or even Hamilton Tailoring Co., which does not accept orders for one of the most famous sports wardrobe pieces.

The Enquirer's Pat Brennan contributed to this report.

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Who makes the Masters green jackets? The process is secretive