The American Tom Watson, winner of 8 Grand Slams (two Masters, one US Open and five British Open), has accepted the invitation of the Augusta National to be this year ‘Honorary Starter’ and thus join his compatriot Jack Nicklaus (18 ‘majors’) and the South African Gary Player (9) in the honor shot of the tournament on Thursday of the second week of April first thing in the morning. It is an old tradition that was established 59 years ago and that serves as the official opening of the first Grand Slam of the year.
Tom Watson won the Masters twice, 1977 and 1981. This last year was Seve Ballesteros who put on the Green Jacket that distinguishes the champion. The one from Kansas, a living legend of world golf, has played 42 times in a row (from 1975 to 2016) the Masters, has achieved 15 top 10s, three second places and accumulates an average of 72.74 strokes, the fifth lowest of all the times. He also holds the record for the most consecutive years signing at least one card under par: 21, between 1975 and 1995.
The ‘Honorary Starters’ ceremony began in 1963 with John Hutchinson and Fred McLeod, who stayed until 1973 and 1976 respectively. Other illustrious people who gave the coups of honor were Byron Nelson, Gene Sarazen, Ken Venturi, Sam Snead, Arnold Palmer, the already mentioned Jack Nicklaus and Gary Player, and the deceased at the end of 2021 Lee Elder.
