Masters winners 'can't talk about' rare award they receive for winning the competition no matter what

The Masters Tournament reaches its climax this weekend, with the victor of golf’s most prestigious individual competition set to claim one of the sport’s prized possessions.

Rory McIlroy and Bryson DeChambeau are the two men at the top of the leaderboard who are the favourites to win at the golf tournament in Augusta.

McIlroy has a score of 12-under-par, while DeChambeau is two shots behind him at -10 ahead of the finale today.

Northern Irishman McIlroy has won four golf majors including the US Open, The Open and two US PGA Championships, but is yet to claim victory at the Augusta National and has not won a major title since 2014.

McIlroy is aiming to become only the sixth player in golf history to complete a career grand slam through winning all four PGA Tour majors.

He would join legends of the game including Tiger Woods, Jack Nicklaus, Gary Player, Ben Hogan and Gene Sarazan.

His opponent DeChambeau is seeking his third majors title, having already won the 2020 and 2024 US Opens.

The victor of the contest will win $4.2m in prize money - or £3.2m - as well as the iconic green jacket bestowed to winners at Augusta.

But whoever wins the tournament and claims a famous green jacket, neither McIlroy or DeChambeau will be able to talk about the new addition to their wardrobe.

25 years ago, Tiger Woods won his first Green Jacket.

The game would never be the same. #themasters pic.twitter.com/3TJ9FarDbs

— The Masters (@TheMasters) April 4, 2022

That is because the green jacket and how it is made is one of the most closely guarded secrets in all of sport, and next to no detail is in the public domain about it.

It is so seriously guarded that not even those who manufacture the green jackets are permitted to talk about it.

According to a report from the Cincinnati Enquirer, repeated attempts to gain information from the tailor which makes the green jacket have yielded little as they are barred from discussing it.

Hamilton Tailoring makes the clothing items and tailor Ed Heimann has been very guarded when asked about it.

He said: “We can’t talk about it. I wish I could tell you more. It would be good for our business, but I can’t.”

And on previous occasions, Heimann had said: “It's a really big deal because of the tradition and prestige associated with owning one.

“They (Augusta National) don't want us to (talk about it). You can call them but they won't tell you anything.”

The sight of a Masters winner donning the famous green jacket is an iconic image, but whoever ends up wearing it will be able to comment little on anything beyond its prestige, colour and fit.