Why caddies at the Masters wear white jumpsuits

(NEXSTAR) — The most prestigious week of golf is upon us: The Masters. From its venerable green jackets to its beloved concessions and sought-after garden gnomes, the Masters are unlike any other sporting event.

Despite its occasionally playful allure, the Masters Tournament is also well known for its strict adherence to the rules. Among those, as some have learned the hard way, is the strongly enforced attire rule at Augusta National.

Caddies, clad in their white boiler suits, are no exception to the rule.

As with many facets of the Masters, the white caddie suits are rooted in tradition.

Caddies were not wearing the white suits when the Masters began in 1934. Through the 1930s, tournament caddies typically wore attire akin to those in the gallery, an article from the Masters explains. Others “dressed like a farmer’s hand,” the tournament said.

It wasn’t until 1940 that tournament co-founder Cliff Roberts penned a letter that to suggest the idea of uniformed caddies in order to reflect Augusta National’s excellence. Later that decade, caddies at Augusta National began wearing not white but bluish denim uniforms with a green hat and yellow button.

Within a few years, though, caddies found themselves wearing the white jumpsuits that have since become as synonymous with the Masters as the rye green jackets. 

“The jumpsuits were traditionally worn by painters or for jobs in clean environments, but the pristine white jumpsuits cut a stark figure on the golf course,” the tournament explains. “The look of the white jumpsuit with a green hat projected a subtle yet professional contrast to the typical garb of caddies of the past.”

Those jumpsuits are now made of a “lightweight polyester and cotton blend,” yet those who have worn them say they can be uncomfortable on the muggy days that often plague Augusta. 

“It’s the only outfit that you will complain about and still want to wear more than anything else in the entire world,” Michael Collins, a former professional caddie turned ESPN golf analyst, previously told The Los Angeles Times. “You might complain about putting it on, but you really complain the year you don’t get to put it on.”

You’ll also notice a name and number attached to each jumpsuit — those, as you may have guessed, are the name and number of the golfer the caddie has been paired with. 

One pair may stick out: the defending champion, Scottie Scheffler, and his caddie, who are given the No. 1. 

Unofficial caddies also get the chance to put on the white suits.

During the traditional Par 3 Contest, Masters players are allowed to get the white jumpsuits for the friends or family members who serve as their caddies.

Last year, several golfers tapped their families to serve as caddies for the Par 3 Contest. That brought some of the youngest caddies to the course:

While it may not be as esteemed as the green Masters jacket, the winning caddie can request their uniform be sent their way after the tournament.