Who are the honorary starters at the Masters? Jack Nicklaus headlines legendary trio set to open tournament

Who are the honorary starters at the Masters? Jack Nicklaus headlines legendary trio set to open tournament

The Masters is riddled with tradition, right down to food prices and ticket lotteries. One of the best is arguably how the tournament starts.

Golf legends have long participated in the ceremonial opening tee shots on Thursday morning in Augusta, and the 88th Masters will again see three greats step up to the tee before any of the competitors start their first round.

This year’s ceremonial tee shots might not be the most picturesque, as rain is in the forecast for Thursday morning. Fortunately, the rain is expected to clear out ahead of the weekend, but it could be a bit messy when the tournament gets underway.

Here’s a look at the honorary starters for the 2024 Masters.

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Who are the Masters honorary starters?

Jack Nicklaus, Gary Player, and Tom Watson are returning as the honorary starters at the 88th Masters, hitting the ceremonial tee shots to begin the prestigious event.

Nicklaus has been an honorary starter since 2010, the longest of the current trio. Player joined him in 2012, but the group dwindled to two after the great Arnold Palmer passed away in 2016.

Lee Elder, who broke the Masters color barrier, joined Nicklaus and Player in 2021 but died later in the year. Watson rounded out the trio in 2022.

Nicklaus, Player, and Watson have a combined 11 Masters wins. Nicklaus is a six-time champion, while Player won three times and Watson earned two victories at Augusta National. It’s hard to find a more star-studded group for the occasion, outside of some of the golfers still actively participating in the Masters.

What time does the Masters start?

Nicklaus, Player, and Watson will hit the ceremonial tee shots at 7:40 a.m. ET on Thursday. The tournament begins at 8 a.m. ET with the first official tee times of the day.

Jon Rahm, Scottie Scheffler, and Bryson DeChambeau are some of the biggest names teeing off in the morning on Thursday, while other stars such as Tiger Woods, Brooks Koepka, and Jordan Spieth will tee off in the afternoon.

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How old is Jack Nicklaus?

Nicklaus turned 84 in January. He last competed in the Masters in 2005, at age 65.

At this point in his life, the occasional ceremonial tee shot is about all Nicklaus is doing on a golf course. Nicklaus told The Palm Beach Post in October that he hadn’t swung a golf club since his opening tee shot at the 2023 Masters in April

“I play so poorly anymore it’s just not really any fun,” Nicklaus said. “People always say they want to play how I do. Well, now they can.”

Nicklaus snapped that drought in November when he celebrated the opening of his new golf course in Florida. The ball went where he wanted it to go, and he pumped his fist in the air to acknowledge the moment.

Nicklaus will again step up to the tee at hallowed Augusta National Golf Club on Thursday, and his presence alone will bring excitement to an event that already captures the full attention of the golf world.