Gary Player

Tom Watson said he was "truly humbled" to make his first appearance as an honorary starter of the Ma...

It was interesting yesterday in his press conference, he said the only really issue is walking; that his golf swing's fine. I would have probably taken some pretty high odds a few weeks or a few months ago, even a few weeks ago, whether or not he would be here. "And I thanked him for his courtesy in letting me know. "I know that Phil has been a real fixture here at the Masters for many, many years. "Well, certainly not anything we anticipated. That was by way of a text.

The tee shot was Watson's first as an Honorary Starter alongside Player and Nicklaus as he was asked to join the duo starting this year. That group of golfers ...

He also pumped his drive past both Nicklaus and Player, much to the chagrin of the latter. It's the most normal a beginning to this event has felt in three years. The tee shot was Watson's first as an Honorary Starter alongside Player and Nicklaus as he was asked to join the duo starting this year.

Check out the best photos of honorary starters Tom Watson, Jack Nicklaus and Gary Player beginning the 2022 Masters at Augusta National.

Jack Nicklaus, Gary Player and Tom Watson struck ceremonial tee shots to signal the start of the 86th Masters tournament at Augusta National.

Jack Nicklaus, Gary Player and Tom Watson struck ceremonial tee shots to signal the start of the 86th Masters tournament at Augusta National. Photo: Twitter @TheMasters Jack Nicklaus, Gary Player and Tom Watson struck ceremonial tee shots to signal the start of the 86th Masters tournament at Augusta National. Jack Nicklaus, Gary Player and Tom Watson struck ceremonial tee shots to signal the start of the 86th Masters tournament at Augusta National. Photo: Twitter @TheMasters

Honorary starters Jack Nicklaus, Gary Player and newcomer Tom Watson struck ceremonial tee shots Thursday to signal the start of the 86th Masters golf ...

The late Arnold Palmer had joined Nicklaus and Player for many years in the starters' role and last year, the late Lee Elder -- the first black golfer to compete in the Masters -- was among the ceremonial starters. They met for a group hug and took photos after their work was done. Spectators crowded around the first tee for a glimpse of the former Masters champions.

AUGUSTA, Ga. – Mist fell over Augusta National as Tom Watson joined Gary Player and Jack Nicklaus as the newest honorary starter at the 86th Masters ...

Turning more serious, Watson said he isn’t in the same league as the other two honorary starters and pronounced himself “humbled” to be given the role. With Joaquin Niemann and Louis Oosthuizen for the first two rounds, he’s making his first official start in 18 months. AUGUSTA, Ga. – Mist fell over Augusta National as Tom Watson joined Gary Player and Jack Nicklaus as the newest honorary starter at the 86th Masters Tournament.

AUGUSTA, Ga. — For the second straight year the Masters' Honorary Starters ceremony created a discussion beyond simply the opening tee shots.

Player was named an ambassador of Saudi Golf in April 2021. In 2021, Lee Elder was recognized on the first tee for breaking the tournament’s color barrier in 1975. Companies attaching themselves to Honorary Starters is not new; fellow starters Jack Nicklaus and Tom Watson were adorned with plenty of advertisers.