The Face of Golf Saudi, Gary Player Kicks off 2024 Masters With Jack Nicklaus; Sends Fans Into a Frenzy

Three Legends of the Game started the first major of the season. This year’s honorary starters, Jack Nicklaus, Gary Player, and Tom Watson, arrived a little later than the initial schedule, for no fault of their own. The weather looked to play spoilsport, but thankfully there was only a slight delay in the tee times. Patrons lined up on both sides, and fans with eyes glued to the screen couldn’t be more thankful to witness the three elderly gentlemen at the Masters. 

Neither of the three is getting any younger, yet none shows any visible signs of aging in their enthusiasm. There was Gary Player, sporting a ‘Golf Saudi’ logo on his black polo, in his characteristic entertaining jovial self, throwing up his left foot at 88 years. The nine-time major winner was joking with the patrons as well. 

Then there was the six-time Masters champion, Jack Nicklaus. He somewhat grudgingly bent down to line up his tee shot. The 84-year-old labored his drive, his broad smile never fading from his lips. Waving at the cheering patrons on both sides, Nicklaus made way for the third and final member of the ‘grouping’.

Finally, there was Tom Watson. The ‘youngest’ member of the honorary starters. At 74 years old, the two-time Masters champion outdrove them all. Nicklaus has been the honorary starter since 2010 and a player since 2012. Watson was the latest addition after Lee Elder died in 2021. It’s a once-in-a-year, if not once-in-a-lifetime, opportunity, and netizens tipped their hats, albeit virtually. 

Fans loved the honorary starters at the Masters but wanted to watch more

Gary Player is golf’s biggest global ambassador, having won 150 global tournaments. Player, notably, is the first international winner of the Masters. The South African is also one of the most interesting and entertaining golfers of his era, and he never fails to spellbind the modern generation as well.

One fan wrote, “Is there a better human and ambassador for golf and life than @GaryPlayer.” Player defied his age by shooting a 200-yard drive. One fan wrote, “Gary Player ripping 200 down the middle of the fairway at 88 years old.” “Eighty bloody Eight. What a ledge. Fit as a fiddle,” wrote another commending Player’s unparalleled energy when the PGA Tour Champions posted a picture of the veteran golfer. 

It’s one of those rare occasions where the greats of the game tee up together. It’s more about the fun, though. Tom Watson hollered at Nicklaus, claiming he never hit the left on the opening hole during his playing days. One fan tweeted, “Always great watching Gary Player, Jack Nicklaus, and Tom Watson smash drives to start the greatest Major Golf Tournament.”  As for Nicklaus, there was only one word that filled the comment section on X: “LEGEND” (in all caps).

Some fans thought bemoaned the lack of broadcasting options for the Masters. Although the streaming options are plenty, the TV coverage was slated to start at 3 PM ET on Thursday. One user wrote, “it’d be cool if we got to watch that live. but instead i’m listening to 3 dweebs sitting on a patio while I watch some dude pick up range balls in the background.”

The Masters started with Jake Knapp hitting the first tee shot. Knapp, a rookie-winner on the PGA Tour was grouped with Erik Van Rooyen at 8 PM EDT.