Masters honorary starter Jack Nicklaus tears up with Arnold Palmer on 1st tee
The ceremonial tee shots from the Masters honorary starters is one of the great traditions at Augusta and this year’s was the most emotional in a long time.
Arnold Palmer took on the Masters tradition of honorary starter in 2007 and has been a fixture on the first tee on Thursday mornings ever since. In 2010, Jack Nicklaus joined him in the role and Gary Player, the third member of golf’s original “big three,” was added in 2012. All three were down there again this year, but this was the first time Palmer was not able to make a swing (he was asked about it last year and memorably responded “You’re damn right I will!”).
Palmer has had shoulder problems for awhile now and announced last month that he would not be making a swing. But he was still the star and his good friend and rival, Nicklaus, got emotional.
Most emotional Honorary Starter ceremony of all time. @jacknicklaus was crying before he teed off. #BigThree
— Scott Michaux (@ScottMichaux) April 7, 2016
You can be cynical about many things about the Masters and Augusta National, but Arnie and this tradition is not one of them. Here’s video of this year’s official start to the 80th Masters.
Watch the Honorary Starters hit their tee shots to open #themasters.https://t.co/fMG8WZ87hj
— Masters Tournament (@TheMasters) April 7, 2016
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