Even Masters traditions must come to an end. Arnold Palmer’s status in golf, let alone at the Augusta National venue where he was presented with a Green Jacket four times, will for ever remain as legendary.
Palmer’s health has been in decline for some time, meaning he stood as an onlooker on the 1st tee here on Thursday morning rather than hitting a ceremonial opening drive. Jack Nicklaus and Gary Player played at 8.05am as normal but all attention was on Palmer, who was visibly frail and emotional.
For a few moments, Nicklaus in particular was clearly moved. The concept of hauling an ill 86-year-old man on to a golf course first thing in the morning might appear needless, or even poor taste, to some but the mutual affection between Palmer and the Masters is such that it was impossible to criticise. As Palmer offered a thumbs up for the cameras, the sense of poignancy was unavoidable.
“I think that everybody was happy to see Arnold out on the tee,” said Nicklaus. “I think Arnold was happy to be on the tee. I think he would have preferred to hit a golf ball.
“I talked to him at the Masters champions’ dinner. I said: ‘Arnold, when you’re out there, what if we just take you up and had you hit, I don’t care if you putt it off the tee, I think everybody would love to have you do anything.’ He said: ‘Let me think about it.’ I said: ‘OK.’
“So this morning I talked to him and I said: ‘What do you want to do?’ He said: ‘I’m good.’ I said: ‘Fine, let’s leave it alone.’ So I think probably the right thing. Arnold’s balance is not good and that’s what they were worried about.
“But I think he was delighted to be out there. I think we were delighted to have him there. I think both Gary and I felt it was more about Arnold this morning than anything else and I think that was just fine.”
Between them, Palmer, Nicklaus and Player claimed 34 majors. Their competitive instincts were famous, the friendship the trio built up equally so. Both aspects remain firmly in place; after a one-hour warmup session, Player outdrove Nicklaus this time.
“I think that we had a very unusual friendship among competitors,” said Player. “It was so fiercely competitive and we made it very clear we wanted to beat the hell out of each other. When we did, we looked the other man in the eye and said: ‘Well done.’ So we built a friendship, travelling extensively around the world.
“We won something like 50 major championships – senior and regular tour – and we must have won over 350 golf tournaments. And to have longevity has been a special gift.
“To come here today and to be on the tee with Arnold being a part of us, it was gratifying and sad, because everything shall pass. But it was nice to have him on the tee. I dedicated my first tee shot to him in respect.”
Player delighted galleries when recording a hole in one during Wednesday’s par-three contest. Tom Watson made up an illustrious three-ball for that, with Nicklaus admitting this may become the norm. “My guess is that Tom will probably join us for several years to come,” said the 18-time major champion.
Billy Payne, the Augusta National chairman, claimed it was “premature” to suggest Watson may assume 1st tee duties from Palmer. This Masters marks Watson’s last as a player. “We will deal with that when the time comes,” said Payne. Time, sadly, is Palmer’s enemy.
