I moved to Augusta in 1977 . A friend from my hometown called the next spring and told me his dad got 2 tix every year and didn't go , but we could use them on Thursday . So 1978 we go - I am so pumped - we get there and on our way to the gate I see a small building with the sign " Masters Badges " on it . I was in too big of a hurry to see the course , I figured I would apply next trip . Well , 1979 rolls around and my buddy and I go again on Thursday (we did it for 9 years) . This time I go to the building and on it is a small sign - "Waiting List Closed" . As it has been except for the brief lottery mentioned in another post . I have a couple of friends who got on the list in 1977 , and they started getting tickets about 6 years ago . It hasn't been too bad - I have been to at least 20 tournament rounds and more practice rounds . I got In the lottery and got tix for Tuesday the first year they did the practice rounds , but have never been lucky again .