On a glorious morning of bright sunshine at Augusta National, three-times victor Player and Nicklaus, who won a record six Green Jackets, hit the ceremonial first shots at the par-four opening hole while a frail Palmer, 86, looked on.
Advertisement
Player clipped Nicklaus with the honorary first tee shot, sending his drive down the middle of the first fairway about 20 yards past the Golden Bear, who did catch the left edge of the fairway.
Only four players have won back-to-back majors at the PGA and Masters – Phil Mickelson, Tiger Woods, Jack Nicklaus and Sam Snead.
Gary Player, the 80-year-old long-time golfing rival and friend of Nicklaus, had a much smoother day in the par-3 tournament, which is a semi-serious but mostly fun lead-up event on the Wednesday before the tournament proper.
“I think that everybody was happy to see Arnold out on the tee, and I think Arnold was happy to be on the tee”, said Nicklaus. The driver before him was the man had won the most major golf championships of all-time.He hit 5-iron into the par-3 16th and his vision wasn’t great.”The simplest solution is change the friggin’ golf ball”, Nicklaus said at a press conference. I said, ‘Arnold, when you’re out there, what if we just take you up and had you hit? Life has been very good for each of them.
“Although, I think we got let off the hook with the rain last night, still incredibly tough”.
He said Palmer told him he would think about it, and Nicklaus checked back with him Thursday morning. It’s something you think about when you’re on the range practicing or heading into a tournament- you’re just getting ready for your shot at a major.
Herman, a former assistant professional at one of the courses owned by USA presidential candidate Donald Trump, made a dream start when he holed from off the green on the first for birdie and picked up another shot on the par-five second.
Palmer, older than the other two giants of the game, is not as healthy as Player or Nicklaus but they were delighted to have him alongside them on the tee. I was not as aggressive on that tee shot as I would have liked to have been.. Day is the current world number one who’s running even hotter and who also has back-to-back wins. “And then I loved the game again”. “I enjoyed playing with Zach [Johnson] and Rickie [Fowler]”.Yet the left-hander recovered some ground over the closing holes and a second successive 75 ensured he was the 57th and last player to make the weekend. He said, I’m good.
Jack Nicklaus knew there was something particularly special about this year’s ceremonial tee shot at Augusta National. “I think Tiger’s going to win more tournaments”.
I hit it, absolutely hit it exactly the way I wanted to. Nicklaus stooped over to pick up his tee and said, “It is”. And it fascinated me to see how he played in holding off players like Dustin Johnson. Giving them my full focus and I think that’s what I’ve taken most from my mom and dad.
“Those golf courses are more to my liking, ” he said. I said look at how confident grandpa looks there.
And now, Michael Watson said, he needs to play his best just to have a chance to make the cut..
Advertisement
“I thought it was an inch outside the hole”.Is there anyone on Tour who’s really impressed you over the last couple years?
