Jack Nicklaus, Gary Player hit honorary tee shots to start Masters

Gary Player has bragging rights.

Sure, Jack Nicklaus will forever own double the number of green jackets, but Player out-drove the six-time winner Thursday to kick off the 82nd Masters Tournament.

“I told Jack, ‘Don't worry, I out-drive you now but you out-drove me for 50 damn years,’” said Player, 82. “We've had a healthy competition. Jack is my best friend in professional golf.”

PHOTOS: Honorary Starters

Thousands flocked to the No. 1 tee for the honorary starters ceremony, as Player blasted his drive down the left side of the fairway. Nicklaus’ drive also went up the left side, settling around 15 yards behind the South African.

Prior to their shots, first-year Augusta National Chairman Fred Ridley incorrectly stated that the two combined for 10 Masters victories, prompting Nicklaus to joke that Player earned his fourth jacket for his impressive drive.

“We’re on the first tee and Fred says, ‘10 Masters (victories),’ ” Nicklaus, 78, said. “I look over at Gary and say, ‘Did you win four?’ Gary said, ‘I won three.’ I say, ‘I didn't win seven.’ So you could tell what that tee shot meant today. Got (Gary) another green jacket.”

After last year’s ceremony was dedicated to the late Arnold Palmer, there was no mention of the King on Thursday morning. However, during a news conference that followed the ceremony, both Nicklaus and Player addressed Palmer’s palpable absence.

Palmer, Nicklaus and Player — known commonly as the Big Three — shared a role as honorary starters until Palmer’s death in 2016.

“We all miss Arnold,” Nicklaus said. “Arnold has been part of our three amigos for a long time. We obviously miss him greatly.”

Player added: “First of all, I was aware that Arnold was not there this morning, obviously, and greatly missed. He was probably the most charismatic golfer that ever lived.”

Fuzzy Zoeller, the 1979 Masters winner, watched the ceremony from Augusta National’s clubhouse, and made a point to congratulate Nicklaus after the shot.

“Great drive,” Zoeller said.

“Mine?” Nicklaus responded. “Right off the end of the toe.”

The ceremony formally began in 1963 with Jock Hutchison and Fred McLeod. And while Hutchison and McLeod began the tradition, it flourished in the 1980s with Gene Sarazen, Sam Snead and Byron Nelson all hitting opening tee shots. Ken Venturi, a former Masters runner-up, filled in one year.

The ceremony went on hiatus from 2003 to 2006, before former club and tournament Chairman Billy Payne persuaded Palmer to hit the tee shot in 2007, and Nicklaus joined him in 2010. The addition of Player in 2012 brought golf’s Big Three full circle.

“We watch our balls go halfway up the hill and say, ‘Oh, my gosh. That's as far as we can hit it,’ ” Nicklaus said. “But that's all right. Time moves on.”