A Golden Moment: Jack and Arnold Palmer treat
thousands to opening tee shot of the 2010 Masters

Even before the sun crept over the Georgia pines, the patrons had lined up at the gates of Augusta National as if they were lining up at one end of a street in Pamplona, Spain. Only this time, they were not about to be chased by a bull. Instead, they were chasing a Golden Bear and yet another moment in history.

When the gates of Augusta National opened at 7:25 a.m. Thursday, thousands sprinted to and surrounded the first tee in hopes of getting an ideal spot to watch Jack Nicklaus, when the Golden Bear joined Arnold Palmer for the first time as an Honorary Starter of the 2010 Masters Tournament.

“I've never been up this early at Augusta,” Jack said to a room full of laughter from media. “I have never had the tee at 7:40 before, but now I have, so I have run the gamut.”

Minutes before his tee time, Jack and Arnold were escorted by Chairman Billy Payne through a parted sea of patrons, making the walk from the clubhouse to the first tee amid a shower of adulation and applause. Players lined the rope that separated the clubhouse area from the tournament grounds. Tom Watson stood atop a chair to get a better view of his friends and two golf legends.

“Walking up to the first tee of Augusta National, with the people clapping and saying such nice things, you couldn’t help but get some butterflies,” Jack admitted.

Palmer took his swing to thunderous applause, and then up stepped the Golden Bear. Reminiscent of the many years in which Jack was not just one of the players to beat but was THE one to beat, he pounded a drive down the right side of the first fairway and the 2010 Masters was officially underway.

“Arnold and I joked that the main objective was to make certain you could hear the ball hit the club,” Jack said with a grin. “I said, ‘As long as we don’t hear it land, we are both in good shape.’ And that was what we did.”

The custom of having Honorary Starters began in 1963 with Jock Hutchison (1963-1973) and Fred McLeod (1963-1976) performing the duties. Byron Nelson (1981-2001, non-consecutive), Gene Sarazen (1981-99), Ken Venturi (1983), Sam Snead (1984-2002) and then Palmer (2007-present) continued the practice. The Golden Bear was invited last year by Chairman Billy Payne to join this legendary group.

“It's a nice tradition,” Jack said, “and I hope that I'm invited back to do it again.”