Jordan Spieth does not get to present himself the green jacket if he wins the Masters

After his late Saturday collapse and with a slew of contenders in hot pursuit of first place, it’s far too early to crown Jordan Spieth the back-to-back winner of the Masters. But with last year’s wire-to-wire champion holding a one-shot lead over Smylie Kaufman through 54 holes and in the position to succeed himself, some fans have posed an amusing question: Does Spieth present himself the green jacket and slip into it on his own?

It’s hardly an all-consuming issue and it’s one that has come up, if only three times, in the decades since Sam Snead earned the first green blazer in 1949.

Tradition -- and what is the Masters if not a tradition unlike any other? -- mandates that the last year’s victor smilingly put the new jacket on the man who dethroned him. Bubba Watson had the privilege of assisting young Jordan in 2015.

The jacket-dressing ceremony went smoothly for years until Jack Nicklaus succeeded himself in 1966. Bobby Jones himself diverted what could have been an awkward situation when, after chewing it over with fellow Augusta National co-founder Clifford Roberts, he made the pronouncement.

“Cliff and I have discussed the problem,” Jones said, according to Augusta lore, “and have decided you will just have to put the coat on yourself.”

Nicklaus, whose 30th anniversary of his 1986 Masters win at the age of 46 has been celebrated all week, was reportedly fine with the decision.

“He didn’t seem to mind it a bit,” wrote the Augusta Chronicle’s Jim Martin.

Since then, however, the sitting Augusta National chairman has held the jacket open for the two repeat winners, Tiger Woods and Nick Faldo. Should Spieth prevail Sunday night, Billy Payne will do the honors for the 22-year-old two-time Masters winner, who has traveled frequently with his current jacket and made it clear he wants to retain title to it.

The rules -- and what is Augusta if not a stickler for the most ridiculous of rules? -- decree that all jackets of the green variety must be left at the club. The reigning champion, however, may pack it up when he departs Magnolia Lane and keep it for one year.

If he does succeed in his quest, Spieth will get to take his new jacket home and keep it for another year before surrendering it to the next champion — or go back-to-back-to-back and at that point, heck, any chance he doesn’t just hang onto it?