Gary Player, Jack Nicklaus, and Tom Watson made their way across the dew-covered grass outside the Augusta National clubhouse, greeted by warm applause. As they reached the first tee just after sunrise on Thursday, patrons who had already claimed their spots in front of the course stood up, offering their respect to these golf legends.
The three golfing icons turned the ceremonial tee shots into a humorous moment, poking fun at their aging bodies. When Masters chairman Fred Ridley handed the tee to Nicklaus, he responded, “Maybe, if I don’t fall down putting this (tee) in the ground.” Once Nicklaus successfully placed the ball, he celebrated with a fist pump and joked, “Oh boy. Woo! Watch out.”
The 85-year-old Nicklaus confessed that his main concern was not accidentally hitting someone with a wild shot. He made solid contact, sending the ball to the left edge of the fairway on the Tea Olive, the scenic opening hole. Player, who is 89, kicked his leg after hitting his tee shot, while Watson, 75, outdrove both of them with a smooth swing that still held up after all these years.
Augusta National staff quickly collected their ceremonial golf balls, and the Masters officially began, with the first official pairing consisting of Davis Riley and Patton Kizzire.
Nicklaus, who last won the Masters 39 years ago, was joined by his wife, Barbara, known as the “First Lady of Golf.” She wore a white caddie bib and carried her husband’s small bag with a single purple-shafted driver, which he used for the ceremonial shots.
The tradition of honorary starters at the Masters began in 1963 when Bobby Jones invited Fred McLeod and Jock Hutchinson to lead off the opening round. Over the years, other golfing greats such as Gene Sarazen, Byron Nelson, Sam Snead, and Arnold Palmer took on the role. Nicklaus and Player joined the honorary starters group in recent years, and Watson became part of the trio in 2020. Together, the three men have earned 11 green jackets and 35 major championships.
After the honorary tee shots, the three legends donned their green jackets and participated in a lively and sometimes awkward news conference. Player shared a personal tidbit, saying, “I’ve got a young girlfriend who’s changed my life. How about that, at 90, finding a girlfriend. Tom’s not as old as me, but he’s also found a new one.”
Nicklaus, Player, and Watson agreed on a few things: They believe Rory McIlroy is set to win this year’s Masters and complete the career Grand Slam, and they all think that players should be required to speak to the media after their rounds, even if they didn’t play well. This opinion came up after McIlroy’s decision to avoid reporters following his disappointing finish at last year’s U.S. Open.
Player praised McIlroy’s talent, saying, “He has the best swing in golf, without question. He’s the fittest golfer. He does a deadlift of 400 pounds. It’s just the right time for him to win now.” Nicklaus added that he recently had lunch with McIlroy, who detailed his strategy for playing the Masters. “I wouldn’t change a thing. That’s exactly how I would try to play the golf course,” Nicklaus said.
The trio also shared their thoughts on players who avoid media interviews. While some, like Collin Morikawa, have said they don’t owe reporters anything, Nicklaus and Player expressed that players should be required to speak with the press. Player went further, suggesting that there should be a PGA rule mandating that golfers attend press conferences after their rounds, regardless of how they perform.
