Who Puts the Green Jacket on a Repeat Winner at the Masters?
If a defending Masters champion wins again, the Augusta National chairman places the green jacket on the winner's shoulders — not the previous year's champion as in a typical ceremony. With Rory McIlroy tied for the lead at 11 under par heading into the final round of the 2026 Masters on April 12, 2026, this rare protocol is suddenly front of mind for millions of golf fans. Augusta National's current chairman is Fred Ridley, meaning if McIlroy completes a back-to-back victory, it's Ridley who will perform the honors — just as three chairmen before him have done over the tournament's history.
The Normal Green Jacket Ceremony — And Why This Year Is Different
Under typical Masters tradition, the previous year's champion places the green jacket on the new winner during a ceremony that takes place first inside Butler Cabin for the television broadcast, then outside near the clubhouse for Augusta's patrons and members. It's one of golf's most iconic rituals — that moment when champion passes the torch to champion.
But what happens when no torch needs passing? When the same golfer wins twice in a row, there's no "previous champion" in the room who isn't also the current champion. Augusta National's solution to this elegant problem is equally elegant: the chairman steps in. It's a protocol that has only been invoked three times in the Masters' nearly 90-year history, which tells you just how rare back-to-back victories truly are.
McIlroy, who won the 2025 Masters to complete his career grand slam, is now chasing a place in that extraordinarily short list. According to PGA Tour reporting, six players entered Sunday's final round separated by just three shots, making this one of the most competitive Masters finishes in years.
The Three Times a Chairman Has Done It: A Historical Breakdown
Only three golfers in Masters history have successfully defended their title. Here's how each ceremony played out:
Jack Nicklaus (1965–66): The Self-Dressed Champion
Nicklaus became the first back-to-back Masters champion when he won in both 1965 and 1966. His ceremony is the most unusual of the three: Nicklaus actually slipped the jacket on himself, with chairman Clifford Roberts standing by and looking on. Whether this was improvised on the day or simply a looser pre-set protocol isn't entirely clear from the historical record, but it remains an anomaly — no repeat champion since has self-dressed. Roberts, who co-founded Augusta National alongside Bobby Jones, was a notoriously exacting figure; the visual of Nicklaus doing it himself while Roberts watched is oddly fitting for a ceremony still finding its formal footing.
Nick Faldo (1989–90): The Chairman Takes Over
By the time Nick Faldo won back-to-back titles in 1989 and 1990, the protocol had solidified. Chairman Hord Hardin placed the jacket on Faldo's shoulders in 1990, establishing the chairman's role as the definitive answer to this ceremonial question. Faldo's consecutive wins were especially impressive given how brutally competitive Augusta had become by then — and his 1990 victory came in a playoff, adding even more drama to the occasion. Yahoo Sports notes that this is the ceremony most golf historians point to as setting the modern template.
Tiger Woods (2001–02): The Defining Modern Example
The most famous back-to-back in the modern era belongs to Tiger Woods, who won in 2001 and then again in 2002 — a feat that at the time felt like it might become a trilogy or more. Chairman Hootie Johnson performed the jacket ceremony for Woods in 2002. This is the example most contemporary golf fans will recall, and it remains the clearest visual reference point for what Fred Ridley and McIlroy would re-enact if history repeats. Golf Digest's breakdown of the ceremony's evolution is worth reading for the full context.
Why the Chairman? The Logic Behind the Protocol
Augusta National's decision to have the chairman step in isn't arbitrary — it reflects the club's deep-seated philosophy about the tournament and its traditions. The Masters isn't just a golf tournament; it's an institution with its own internal hierarchy and ceremonial logic.
The chairman represents Augusta National itself, not any individual competitor. By having the chairman bestow the jacket when no eligible predecessor exists, the ceremony reinforces that the green jacket ultimately belongs to Augusta — it's on loan to the champion for a year. In normal years, the outgoing champion is essentially Augusta's representative in the ceremony. When that's impossible, the club's leader fills the role directly.
It also preserves the ceremony's meaning without diluting it. Having the winner dress themselves (the Nicklaus precedent) felt incomplete. Having a random past champion do it would be confusing. The chairman is the cleanest solution — authoritative, institutional, and visually coherent.
The Ceremony Itself: Inside Butler Cabin and Out
Most fans see only the outdoor ceremony near the clubhouse, but the green jacket presentation actually happens twice. The first takes place inside Butler Cabin, the small white building near the 18th hole that serves as CBS's on-course broadcast studio. This is where the intimate, seated presentation occurs — the one where the new champion is typically flanked by Augusta officials and the outgoing champion, and where the most emotionally raw interviews happen.
The second presentation is the more public-facing moment: outside, with Augusta's patrons (the club's word for spectators) and members gathered to witness it. Both ceremonies follow the same protocol regarding who does the draping, but the outdoor version carries the weight of tradition more visibly.
According to MSN's coverage, Fred Ridley has been Augusta National's chairman since 2017, having previously served as USGA president. If McIlroy wins, Ridley will become the fourth Augusta chairman to perform this rare duty.
Why It Matters Beyond the Ceremony
The green jacket question is a window into something larger: just how hard it is to win the Masters even once, let alone twice in a row. Of the 89 times this tournament has been played, only three men have defended successfully. That's a rate of roughly 3.4%. Even the greatest players in history — Arnold Palmer, Gary Player, Sam Snead, Ben Hogan, Phil Mickelson — never managed it.
What makes back-to-back wins so difficult isn't just the competition, though Augusta's field is always stacked. It's the specific demands of Augusta National itself: the course rewards course knowledge and experience, but also punishes overconfidence. Defending champions arrive with a target on their back, greater media scrutiny, and the psychological weight of expectation. The fact that Woods, Faldo, and Nicklaus all cleared that bar says something profound about their dominance.
For McIlroy, a 2026 win would also carry unique narrative weight. His 2025 victory completed the career grand slam — one of golf's ultimate achievements. Back-to-back Masters titles would cement him not just as a major champion but as a generational Augusta figure. Yahoo Sports describes the moment as potentially the most significant in Masters history since Woods' 2002 defense.
What to Watch For in the Ceremony
If McIlroy wins, here's what the ceremony will likely look like:
- Inside Butler Cabin: Fred Ridley will place the green jacket on McIlroy's shoulders in the television broadcast setting. Expect a measured, formal moment — Augusta ceremonies are choreographed carefully.
- Outside near the clubhouse: The public-facing ceremony will follow, with McIlroy in the jacket addressing patrons and the broader audience.
- No self-dressing: The Nicklaus precedent of 1966 won't be repeated — the Faldo and Woods ceremonies made clear the chairman handles it.
- Fred Ridley's role: Ridley has been a relatively low-profile chairman compared to some predecessors, but this would be one of the most-watched moments of his tenure.
FAQ: Green Jacket Ceremony and the 2026 Masters
Who normally puts the green jacket on the Masters winner?
In a standard year, the previous year's champion places the green jacket on the new winner. This is one of Augusta National's most cherished traditions, symbolizing the continuity of the Masters and the fraternity of past champions.
Has a Masters champion ever put the jacket on himself?
Yes — once. Jack Nicklaus slipped the jacket on himself after winning in 1966, the first successful title defense in Masters history. Chairman Clifford Roberts was present but did not perform the honors. This informal approach was not repeated in the two subsequent back-to-back victories.
Who is Fred Ridley?
Fred Ridley has served as Augusta National's chairman since 2017. Before that role, he was president of the United States Golf Association (USGA) and is a former U.S. Amateur champion. If McIlroy wins the 2026 Masters, Ridley will join Hord Hardin and Hootie Johnson as chairmen who have performed the rare back-to-back jacket ceremony.
How competitive was the 2026 Masters entering the final round?
Extremely competitive. Six players were separated by just three shots heading into Sunday's final round, with McIlroy tied for the lead at 11 under par. Russell Henley's 66 was among the rounds that kept the leaderboard tightly bunched and made the outcome genuinely unpredictable heading into the final 18 holes.
What other major records could McIlroy set with a 2026 Masters win?
A 2026 victory would make McIlroy only the fourth back-to-back Masters champion in history, joining Nicklaus, Faldo, and Woods. It would also mean he's won the Masters in consecutive years after completing the career grand slam in 2025 — a combination that has no historical precedent. In terms of legacy-building at Augusta, it would be one of the most significant stretches any player has ever produced at a single major venue.
