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Augusta National is trademarking "Tradition unlike any other"
When Jim Nantz calls the Masters a "tradition unlike any other," he's now using a phrase trademarked by Augusta National Golf Club.
The home of the Masters filed in September for a pair of trademarks related to the phrase, according to an ESPN.com report. Nantz is believed to have concocted the phrase in the run-up to his first Masters in 1986. One of the filings claims the club first used it in 1989.
Not only has the club filed a trademark for the phrase, but also the use case of putting the phrase on merchandise. Augusta National is selling Masters shirts this year printed with that phrase.
You might be wondering why Nantz has never trademarked the phrase himself. After all, everyone has adopted it; he could make millions like ring announcer Michael Buffer has with "Let's get ready to rumble." Not so fast. As part of the contracts arranged between Augusta National and its broadcast partners for the Masters, Augusta National retains ownership of the broadcasts and what's said on the air. In other words, it owns the rights to whatever Nantz -- or any other Masters broadcaster -- says during the tournament.
A club official said Nantz would not be prohibited from using the phrase. However, it's unclear what permission Nantz would have to use it during speaking engagements and other public appearances.
Ryan Ballengee is a Yahoo Sports contributor. Find him on Facebook and Twitter.
