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On an overcast morning at Augusta National, four-time champion Palmer, three-time winner Player and Nicklaus, who won a record six green jackets, hit the ceremonial first shots at the par-four opening hole.
Palmer struck a solid blow up the middle before fellow golfing great Player outdrove him by around 50 yards, his ball ending up above the crest of the hill on the right side of the fairway, some 250 yards from the tee.
Nicklaus hit the longest drive of the three, his ball rolling into the first cut of rough on the left before settling several yards ahead of Player.
“The only nerves you have are to make solid contact,” a smiling Nicklaus (73) told reporters afterwards. “It doesn’t matter diddly-darn where it goes.”
Palmer, however, was delighted with his effort
“It was my best drive of the year,” the 83-year-old quipped.
Ten minutes later, 1988 Masters champion Sandy Lyle of Britain struck the tournament’s first competitive shot by teeing off at the opening hole. Lyle was then followed by
Americans John Peterson and amateur Nathan Smith.
American left-hander Watson, who won last year’s title in a thrilling playoff with South African Louis Oosthuizen, was scheduled to tee off with Britain’s Ian Poulter and US amateur champion Steven Fox at 10.34 local time.
Four-time champion Tiger Woods, who has won three tournaments in just five starts on the 2013 PGA Tour, has been grouped with Englishman Luke Donald and American Scott Piercy.
Though world No 1 Woods has not triumphed at the Masters since 2005 and is hunting his first major crown in five years, he has been installed as a 4-1 favourite by British bookmakers Ladbrokes for the seaon’s opening major.
Woods and his playing partners start at 10.45, one group after Watson and company.
In other groupings, three-time champion Phil Mickelson sets off with Oosthuizen and Germany’s former world No 1 Martin Kaymer while 2011 winner Charl Schwartzel of South Africa has been paired with US Open champion Webb Simpson and Swede Peter Hanson.
Northern Irish world No 2 Rory McIlroy, American Keegan Bradley and Swede Fredrik Jacobson will tee off in the penultimate group of the day, behind Mickelson, Oosthuizen and Kaymer.
After having the thrill of winning the Masters a record six times, Nicklaus does not get terribly excited about joining Palmer and Player to hit the ceremonial first shots at the tournament.
“We kid around with each other,” Nicklaus said about his annual reunion with the other members of golf’s “Big Three”.
Told that golf fans look forward to watching them launch the championship, Nicklaus quipped: “We look forward to getting it over with every year.”
The Golden Bear cranked out the long drive of the trio, hitting his tee shot from the first tee about 250 yards out into the left rough on an overcast start to the Masters.
“Hitting an opening shot to open up one of the biggest golf tournaments in the world, the first major of the year, is a very nice honour,” he conceded, shedding his curmudgeonly air.
Of more interest to Nicklaus was the array of contenders amassed at Augusta National, which the 18-times major champion said showed a remarkable depth of talent.
“I’m glad to see Rory (McIlroy) playing better again because he really struggled this spring, and Tiger (Woods) is playing really, really well,” he noted. “Phil (Mickelson) is playing all right and he’s always going to be a factor here,” Nicklaus added about the three-time winner.
But Nicklaus was not through.
“Keegan Bradley has had a good spring and Nicolas Colsaerts, the golf course suits him pretty well. Some day he’s going to do very well here.
“(Lee) Westwood and (Luke) Donald have both knocked on the door here, and Adam Scott has knocked on the door here. Dustin Johnson, this should also be a good golf course for him. And there’s always a few guys you don’t think about. You probably don’t think a lot about KJ Choi, but KJ Choi is always right there,” Nicklaus said about the South Korean, who has had two top-fives and a tie for eighth at the Masters.
Nicklaus said the bevy of contenders pointed to a rousing tournament this week.
“The field is as deep as it’s ever been so I think that speaks well for the game, speaks well for international competition and growth of the game everywhere. You’ve even got 14-year-olds playing in the golf tournament,” Nicklaus said, with a nod toward China’s Asia-Pacific amateur champion Guan Tianlang, who on Thursday became the youngest competitor ever at the Masters.
“I think that’s pretty special.” – Reuters.
Online Reporter