Who are the honorary starters at the Masters?
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It’s the traditional curtain-raiser on the opening day at Augusta National. But who are the Masters honorary starters, and who held the position before them?
It’s one of the many traditions of a tournament inundated with them. The Masters, an event that probably transcends golf more than any other, officially begins when the honorary starters nudge their tee shots down the first hole.
It has become a ceremony extremely well attended, with patrons, media members and tour pros eager to glimpse living legends of the game while they can.
The origin of this particular tradition can be dated back to 1963 when major champions Jock Hutchison and Fred McLeod were granted the honour.
Hutchison continued in the role through 1973 when he was 88, while McLeod carried on solo until 1976 when he was 93.
It was not until 1981 when McLeod and Hutchison were properly replaced, with former Masters champions Byron Nelson and Gene Sarazen taking over.
That pair were joined in 1984 by another legend of the game in Sam Snead, transforming it into an unmissable part of the tournament.
Sarazen sadly passed away shortly after the 1999 Masters, while Nelson and Snead hit their final ceremonial drives in 2001 and 2002, respectively.
There was another break in proceedings, but the mantle was picked up by four-time champion Arnold Palmer.
A figure whose significance in growing the game into what it is now can’t be understated, Palmer competed in his last Masters in 2004 before eventually agreeing to become an honorary starter in 2007.
The King was joined by Jack Nicklaus in 2010 before Gary Player made up the ‘Big Three’ in 2012.
That continued until 2016, when Palmer informed the club was no longer physically able. He was still there to watch Nicklaus and Player in one of the most emotional first-tee scenes in the tournament’s history and would pass later that year.
Lee Elder was given the honour of joining Nicklaus and Player in 2021, although he was unable to hit the tee shot, before two-time champion Tom Watson took over from 2022.
“It’s such a great honor to tee it up with Jack and Gary,” Watson said in January 2022. “They are icons in the game of golf.”
Masters honorary starters
Jock Hutchison (1963-1973)
Fred McLeod (1963-1976)
Gene Sarazen (1981-1999)
Byron Nelson (1981-2001)
Sam Snead (1981-2002)
Arnold Palmer (2007-2015)
Jack Nicklaus (2010-present)
Gary Player (2012-present)
Lee Elder (2021)
Tom Watson (2022-present)
More from the Masters…
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Jack Nicklaus is one the three current Masters honorary starters.
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