Jack Nicklaus and Arnold Palmer, as well as their respective caddies, had a great time Thursday morning kicking off the 74th Masters. (Getty Images)
Nicklaus, Palmer kick off Masters in grand style
After being greeted with generous applause and genuine affections, Jack Nicklaus and Arnold Palmer officially started the 74th Masters Thursday morning with inspirational opening tee shots.
By Helen Ross, PGATOUR.COM Chief of Correspondents
AUGUSTA, Ga. -- Jack Nicklaus had never been up so early. Not at the Masters, anyway.
There's a first time for everything, though, so the six-time Masters champion dutifully reported to the first tee at 7:40 a.m. ET Thursday morning to join Arnold Palmer as an Honorary Starter.
Big Three set for televised charity event in June
Honorary starters Jack Nicklaus and Arnold Palmer will join with Gary Player this summer to make a rare competitive appearance together in support of the Mountain Mission School when they compete in The Big Three for the Mountain Mission Kids tournament on June 8, 2010, at The Olde Farm in Bristol, Va. This tournament aims to be the biggest charitable golf tournament associated with the PGA TOUR with a goal of generating more than $12 million for the benefit of the Mountain Mission School, a live-in facility that had cared for more than 20,000 children, with more than 95 percent enrolling in college in recent years.
The Big Three, whose series of televised matches was seen by millions in the 1960s, last played together in competition at the 2000 Masters. The Big Three for the Mountain Mission Kids tournament is sponsored by Johnson & Johnson. PGA TOUR Entertainment is producing a one-hour special on the event, the participants and the Mountain Mission School, which will be broadcast this summer on CBS.
Honorary starters Jack Nicklaus and Arnold Palmer will join with Gary Player this summer to make a rare competitive appearance together in support of the Mountain Mission School when they compete in The Big Three for the Mountain Mission Kids tournament on June 8, 2010, at The Olde Farm in Bristol, Va. This tournament aims to be the biggest charitable golf tournament associated with the PGA TOUR with a goal of generating more than $12 million for the benefit of the Mountain Mission School, a live-in facility that had cared for more than 20,000 children, with more than 95 percent enrolling in college in recent years.
The Big Three, whose series of televised matches was seen by millions in the 1960s, last played together in competition at the 2000 Masters. The Big Three for the Mountain Mission Kids tournament is sponsored by Johnson & Johnson. PGA TOUR Entertainment is producing a one-hour special on the event, the participants and the Mountain Mission School, which will be broadcast this summer on CBS.
Doubt he'll have to worry about getting another invitation. After all, who could ask for anything more than to have the two greatest players in the game kick off the 74th Masters?
For his part, Palmer, who is now 80, was pleased to have his long-time friend and rival join him for one of the unique traditions at Augusta National. The two also played together in Wednesday's Par 3 Contest.
"(It was) great," the four-time Masters champ said. "What can you say? No one has played Augusta and done any better than he has."
The two were greeted by generous applause and genuine affection as they walked from the sprawling white antebellum clubhouse to the first tee. The fairway was defined by their fans, and Palmer called the experience a "great feeling.
"(It) just typifies Augusta and what happens here, the politeness of the crowds, it's just overwhelming," the King said.
Nicklaus, who estimated he's played a year's worth of rounds with Palmer during their Hall of Fame careers, said he thinks Jock Hutchinson and Freddie McLeod hit the ceremonial tee shot when he played in his first Masters in 1959.
"I was a young player and I didn't have a clue who they were now and I'm sure that the young players have no clue who Arnold and I are," Nicklaus said, adding that he never saw Gene Sarazen or Sam Snead hit the first tee shot either.
"As I said, I've never been up that early, not at the Masters," said the Golden Bear, who was headed to the Bahamas for a fishing trip on Friday.
Even though he hasn't played in the Masters since 2004, Palmer said he still get's nervous thinking about that first tee shot. "So you know what it was like when I was playing," Palmer said, noting that he was just happy to make solid contact on the drive.
"Arnold, when he hit it, he said, 'That wasn't too bad,'" Nicklaus said. "I said, 'Yeah, we heard it.' That's what we were trying to do is hear the ball hit the club. I said, as long as we don't hear it land, we are both in good shape, and that was what we did."
Asked whether he was inspired enough to tee it up again, Palmer didn't hesitate. "No," he said.
PGA.com is part of Turner - SI Digital, part of the Turner Sports & Entertainment Digital Network
