(CNN) -- U.S. Masters -- April 9-12, 2009 2007 Masters champion Zach Johnson puts the green jacket on 2008 winner Trevor Immelman. While The Open Championship at St Andrews, Scotland may rival it for history, few would argue that the U.S. Masters tournament is unrivalled in terms of beauty and exclusivity. Played at the prestigious Augusta National Golf club in the city of Augusta, Georgia, the first "major" of the golfing year is a strictly invitational event controlled by the club itself. The top 50 golfers in the official world rankings are all guaranteed an invite. The dramatic azalea-draped course -- the brainchild of golfing great Bobby Jones -- provides a tough test for the world's elite golfers, particularly since it has been lengthened or "Tiger-proofed" in recent years.
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U.S. Masters is always held at prestigious Augusta National, Georgia, U.S.
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2009 U.S. Open at Bethpage State Park's Black Course in Farmingdale, NY
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Open Championship is the only major held outside the United States
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U.S. PGA Championship is only major not open to amateur golfers
It remains to be seen whether the recently-injured @placeholder can tame the course once again.
First held in October, 1860, @placeholder was mostly played in Scotland during its early years.