Jack Nicklaus, Gary Player and Tom Watson officially get the 2023 Masters underway as honorary starters at Augusta… as legendary trio continue to wow the crowds at a combined age of 243!
The 2023 Masters Tournament has officially teed off at Augusta – courtesy of legendary trio Jack Nicklaus, Gary Player and Tom Watson.
The golf heroes – who have a combined age of 243 – were once again chosen as honorary starters to get the competition underway on the first tee.
All three even managed to find the fairway, belying their ages to wow the packed crowd at golf’s most famous tournament.
Player, 87, got the proceedings underway with his 11st straight honorary starter tee shot, receiving a warm round of applause before drilling one down the center and celebrating with a kick of the leg.
Next up was Nicklaus – 60 years after winning his first green jacket – and at the age of 83. He was asked whether he needed assistance getting the tee in the ground, quickly responding, ‘I got it, I got it.’
Jack Nicklaus celebrates after finding the fairway with his tee shot on Thursday morning
Gary Player got proceedings underway and celebrated hitting the fairway with a leg kick
Player, Tom Watson and Nicklaus pose with their caddies at the Honorary Starter ceremony
And indeed he did, putting the peg in before turning to the crowd and joking: ‘That’s the hardest part, I promise you.’
He then proceeded to produce a bit of the old Nicklaus magic with a shot straight down the fairway, before putting both hands in the air in celebration.
Finally, two-time Masters champion Watson, 73, returned for his second straight honorary start – and he too fired his ball straight down the fairway to warm applause.
Augusta chairman Tom Ridley then told the crowds: ‘Ladies and gentlemen, the 2023 Masters is now officially underway – enjoy the tournament.’
Shortly after the legendary trio, Mike Weir and Kevin Na were the first current pros to head out onto the course, with players then beginning their rounds every 12 minutes through until 2pm EST.
The likes of Rory McIlroy, Dustin Johnson, Scottie Scheffler and Tiger Woods will all be at Augusta desperately hoping to win the green jacket.
Nicklaus had his wife Barbara on the bag as he played his tee shot at the age of 83 on Thursday
Watson – two-time Masters champion – showed off his impressive swing in front of the patrons
There were big crowds on show for the traditional start of the tournament at Augusta, Georgia
Player reacts with fans after playing his tee shot at Augusta National’s first hole on Thursday