The Masters officially opened Thursday morning with Gary Player and Jack Nicklaus, the nine green jackets between them, striking the first tee shots of the tournament.
Player, at age 82 and with three Masters titles, and Nicklaus, at age 78 and with six Masters titles, carried on the long-standing tradition.
“That hurts this early,” Nicklaus joked as the took several practice swings.
For the record, Player out drove Nicklaus.
Player and Nicklaus spoke to the media following the opening shots. It was noted that Player played in 52 Masters and 164 rounds and Nicklaus played in 45 Masters and 163 rounds. The one round difference did not go unnoticed by the competitors.
“You’ve got to be kidding me,” Nicklaus said laughing.
“Life is full of surprises,” Player said.
“That’s one I didn’t know about,” Nicklaus added.
The ceremonial tee shots were the second by the pair after the death of Arnold Palmer. Palmer hit the opening shot from 2007, ending four years without the tradition, until 2016. Nicklaus joined Palmer in 2010 and Player reunited the Big Three in 2012.
Following the tee shots, Fred Ridley, the new Chairman of Augusta National Golf Club, declared the 82nd Masters under way.
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