AUGUSTA, Ga. -- What felt like an incredibly long lead into the 2022 Masters has finally come to a close, and the 86th edition of this tournament is underway after Jack Nicklaus, Gary Player and Tom Watson participated in the Honorary Starters Ceremony on Thursday morning to start the event.
The tee shot was Watson's first as an Honorary Starter alongside Player and Nicklaus as he was asked to join the duo starting this year. That group of golfers has won a combined 35 major championships with 11 of those coming at Augusta National.
With 15 top-10 Masters finishes and a legacy that will last a lifetime, Tom Watson joins the Honorary Starters. #theMasters pic.twitter.com/AXMu9McRop
— The Masters (@TheMasters) April 7, 2022
It's a nice honor for Watson, who has been such an important part of the fabric of golf history for the last 50 years, and he seemed touched by the gesture. He also pumped his drive past both Nicklaus and Player, much to the chagrin of the latter.
It's the most normal a beginning to this event has felt in three years. The 2020 Masters was postponed because of the COVID-19 pandemic and featured just Nicklaus and Player after the death of Arnold Palmer. Last year's Masters -- featuring Nicklaus, Player and the first Black golfer to play in the Masters, Lee Elder -- was not at full capacity.
Patrons hugged the first tee box on Thursday morning -- like they have throughout the week in anticipation of watching Tiger Woods play his practice rounds -- and Augusta National chairman, Fred Ridley, declared this iteration of the event underway following the tee shots to a thunderous applause from all those in attendance.
