Legends Officially Begin 87th Masters at Augusta National

The ceremonial Honorary Starters—Jack Nicklaus, Gary Player and Tom Watson—hit their tee shots on the first hole at Augusta National Thursday morning, officially kicking off the 87th Masters tournament. 

Beginning at 7:40 a.m., the three legends of the game made their way from Augusta’s famed clubhouse down to the first tee box, accompanied by family, friends, and Masters Chairman Fred Ridley. Fans flocked to the site of the ceremony, a tradition that began in 1963, just to catch a glimpse of the Hall of Famers.

Nicklaus, Player and Watson have a total of 11 green jackets between them, as well as 140 appearances at the Masters across six decades. 

A nine-time major champion, Gary Player lead the group in his signature all-black attire with a confident strike off the tee. Player won the Masters three times—in 1961, 1974, and 1978. 

Nicklaus, with his wife Barbara at his side, was next on the tee. The Golden Bear first appeared as an Honorary Starter in 2010. The 83-year-old won six green jackets during his historic career, a Masters record. Immediately after the ceremonial tee shot, Nicklaus raised both his arms in triumph. 

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Next, Watson stepped up to the tee for just his second appearance as an Honorary Starter. The eight time major champion’s participation in the Masters tradition was up in the air when he underwent a shoulder replacement surgery in the fall after a go-kart accident. 

“That’s not the normal hand I tee it up with. You don’t ride go-karts at my age—yeah, you do” Watson said on the first tee. 

Watson sent his drive down the sweeping first fairway, and the 2023 Masters officially commenced. 

Erick W. Rasco/Sports Illustrated