Tom Watson accepts invite to join Jack Nicklaus, Gary Player as honorary starters at the Masters

11:25 am

Jack Nicklaus and Gary Player will be joining two-time Augusta National winner Tom Watson as an official starter at the Masters this year.

The chairman of the Masters said he was honored that Tom had accepted the invitation. He will be remembered for his love for the game and impact on the Masters with his millions of fans across the globe as he hits a tee shot alongside two of the tournament's other all-time greats, Jack Nicklaus and Gary Player.

In 1977 and 1981 he won green jackets, as well as finishing runner-up three times. His career scoring average on the Augusta National course is 72.74, which is fifth all time, and his 58 rounds under par is second only to Jack.

"Augusta National is one of my favorite places to visit in April," he said. I am honored to join my friends and fellow competitors, Jack and Gary, as an official starter in the upcoming Masters, because of the many fond memories I have of watching the Masters as a youngster and then competing in the tournament for many years.

Jack was on my heels in both of my victories. I helped Gary put on the green jacket after he won his third tournament. There are moments in my career that stand out.

Since 1963, the Masters has had a few people start it. Arnold Palmer, Gene Sarazen, Ken Venturi, Sam Snead, and Lee Elder have all been involved in the role.

Elder, who broke down racial barriers as the first Black golfer to play in the Masters, was one of three people who were invited to start the Masters last year. He died in November.

Since 2010, both Player and Nicklaus have been an official starter at the Masters.

While the club was not specific, it is likely that the club will have a regular on the first tee each Thursday morning, a simple act that draws thousands of fans around the tee and spilling down both sides of the fairway.

The next great one in golf was a generation behind the "Big Three" of Palmer, Nicklaus and Player. The only major win that he didn't win was the PGA Championship. He beat the Golden Bear twice for a green jacket, chipping in to beat him at the U.S. Open and winning the "Duel in the Sun" at Turnberry.

He played the Masters as an amateur in 1970 and returned in 1974 to win the Western Open. The last time he missed a Masters was in 2016

The Masters starts on April 7.

The Associated Press contributed to the report.