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Posted April 8, 2011, 12:00 am
BY
Chris Gay
|
Staff Writer

75th playing starts with legends

Palmer, Nicklaus continue tradition
  • Article Photos
    75th playing starts with legends
    Photos description
    Honorary starters Arnold Palmer, shown, and Jack Nicklaus both landed their shots in the fairway on the first hole Thursday morning.
  • Article Photos
    75th playing starts with legends
    Photos description
    Honorary starters Arnold Palmer and Jack Nicklaus, shown, both landed their shots in the fairway on the first hole Thursday morning.
  • Article Photos
    75th playing starts with legends
    Photos description
    Honorary starters Jack Nicklaus and Arnold Palmer with chairman Billy Payne after teeing off on the first tee to open Thursday's first round of the Masters.

 

Arnold Palmer pumped his right fist in the air after striping his ceremonial tee shot down the left side of the fairway. Jack Nicklaus followed with a blast down the middle. With 10 Masters Tournament titles between them, the two golf legends showed Thursday morning that they still have it.

With their opening shots, The King and The Bear officially kicked off the 75th playing of the Masters at Augusta National Golf Club.

"Welcome to the 75th playing of the Masters," Augusta National and Masters Chairman Billy Payne said. "Our first starter has been golf's greatest ambassador the past 50 years."

The 81-year-old Palmer, wearing a red sweater, arrived at the course at 6:30 a.m. He hit between 15 and 20 balls on the practice range before heading to the first tee. He admitted to being nervous standing on the tee with driver in hand.

"When I stop getting nervous," he said, "I won't be here."

Palmer, who became an honorary starter in 2007, knocked his ball down the left side of the fairway. He watched for a moment before punching the air and then high-fiving Nicklaus.

"He was really hitting it well on the range this morning," said Cori Britt, Palmer's caddie and the vice president of Arnold Palmer Enterprises. "It was a great drive."

Payne then introduced Nicklaus, calling him a "true legend." The 71-year-old said to back up, then hit one of his vintage shots, launching his drive down the middle.

"I was quite happy to take my glove off after that shot," he said.

Nicklaus immediately relieved his grandson and caddie, Nick O'Leary.

"OK, Nick," Nicklaus said, "duties are over."

Nicklaus and Palmer put on their green jackets before departing the No. 1 tee box.

Fuzzy Zoeller, the 1979 Masters champion, was part of the crowd that numbered in the thousands.

"I came out to pay my respects for these two guys who have made this game so great," Zoeller said. "They haven't lost it. They may not hit it as far, but their form is still there."

Reach Chris Gay at (706) 823-3645 or chris.gay@augustachronicle.com.

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