Tom Watson will join two other golf legends as Honorary Starter at this year’s Masters
Tom Watson had 15 top-10 finishes at the Masters in his career, including three second-place finishes and winning the green jacket in 1977 and 1981.
During those tournaments at Augusta National, Watson often dueled against Jack Nicklaus and Gary Player.
This year, those three will come together to kick off the Masters.
Fred Ridley, Chairman of Augusta National Golf Club, announced Tuesday in a news release that Watson, Nicklaus and Player will be Honorary Starters at the Masters on April 7.
“Augusta National in April is one of my favorite places to be,” Watson said in a news release. “With the many fond memories of both watching the Masters as a youngster and then competing in the Tournament for so many years, I am greatly honored to join my friends and fellow competitors, Jack and Gary, as an Honorary Starter in this upcoming Masters. In both of my victories, Jack was on my heels. And when Gary won his third Tournament in 1978, I was there to help him put on the green jacket.
“Moments like those stand out in my career, and the opportunity to share the Honorary Starter tradition with Jack, Gary and the Masters patrons will be very special.”
Honorary Starters take a ceremonial tee shot ahead of the opening round of The Masters. This year’s tournament is April 7-10.
Watson last played in the Masters in 2016, which was the end of a streak of 42 straight years of playing in the tournament.
“I am honored that Tom has accepted our invitation,” Ridley said in a release. “I look forward to commemorating 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 his career, Nicklaus won 18 majors, including the Masters six times. Player won the Masters three times.
This story was originally published January 11, 2022 at 12:41 PM.
