Jack Nicklaus cracks up patrons with three-word declaration after opening Masters
Legendary golfer Jack Nicklaus expressed his sheer delight at making contact with the ball after he got the 2024 Masters underway.
Legendary golfer Jack Nicklaus cracked up patrons by expressing his sheer delight he managed to make contact with the golf ball as he got the 2024 Masters underway.
Six-time Masters winner Nicklaus is now 84 years old and he was made to wait for the cherished tradition.
Ordinarily you'd have to get up pretty early to bear witness to one of the great Masters traditions.
But Nicklaus and his fellow honorary starters Tom Watson and Gary Player were made to wait to hit their drives down No. 1 at Augusta National because of a storm delay.
Nicklaus, Watson and Player all hit the fairway.
After finding the short stuff once again, Nicklaus yelled: "I hit it!"
He was also similarly delighted after managing to get his tee into the ground.
Player celebrated his drive with his traditional leg kick.
Watch the 2024 Masters get underway here:
The 88th Masters Tournament begins with ceremonial tee shots from Gary Player, Jack Nicklaus and Tom Watson. #themasters pic.twitter.com/Ts7glAYOhW
— The Masters (@TheMasters) April 11, 2024
A history of the tradition...
The tradition of having honorary starters hit the first tee shots began in 1963.
Here is a list of the golfers and their year(s) serving the role...
Jock Hutchison, 1963–1973
Fred McLeod, 1963–1976
Byron Nelson, 1981-2001 (nonconsecutive)
Gene Sarazen, 1981–1999
Ken Venturi, 1983
Sam Snead, 1984–2002
Arnold Palmer, 2007–2016
Jack Nicklaus, 2010–present
Gary Player, 2012–present
Lee Elder, 2021
Tom Watson, 2022–present
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