Jack NIcklaus, Tom Watson, Gary Player get 2026 Masters started
Former champions Jack Nicklaus, Tom Watson and Gary Player − with 11 green jackets among them − hit ceremonial first tee shots to open 90th Masters.
Follow along with live updates of all the first-round action at the Masters Tournament . The traditional tee shots from a trio of golf's legends kicked off the 2026 Masters Tournament on a sunny Thursday at Augusta National Golf Club. Honorary starters Jack Nicklaus, Tom Watson and Gary Player − with a total of 11 Masters titles among them − struck their drives down the first fairway to officially open the 90th edition of the Masters on April 9.
Well, sort of. More: 2026 Masters Leaderboard Player striped his drive down the middle and did a signature high kick in celebration. Then Nicklaus, who's won a record six green jackets, pulled his shot off to the left, sending the gallery ducking as the ball sailed overhead.
Jack Nicklaus kicks off the 90th Masters with the ceremonial tee shot… ONE OF US! pic. twitter.
com/8WJ2nEd4Mo — Fore Play (@ForePlayPod) April 9, 2026 As the golfers joked with the patrons, Watson hit his tee shot solidly down the middle. And with that, Augusta National chairman Fred Ridley delcared the 2026 Masters officially underway. The USA TODAY app gets you to the heart of the news — fast.