Golf Legends Nicklaus, Player, and Watson to Kick Off 2026 Masters

The trio of Masters champions will serve as honorary starters for the 90th edition of the tournament.

Apr. 8, 2026 at 6:50am

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting the overlapping, fragmented movements of three elderly golfers swinging their clubs on the first tee of the Masters Tournament, conceptually representing the passing of the torch to a new generation of players.Three golfing legends come together to kick off the 90th edition of the Masters Tournament with their ceremonial first tee shots.Augusta Today

The 2026 Masters will feature a familiar trio of golf legends as honorary starters - Jack Nicklaus, Gary Player, and Tom Watson. Nicklaus and Player have served in this role for over a decade, while Watson will be making his fifth appearance. The honorary starters will hit the first shots of the tournament at 7:25 a.m. ET on Thursday, April 9th, before the first group tees off at 7:50 a.m. ET.

Why it matters

The honorary starter tradition at the Masters dates back to 1963 and is a cherished part of the tournament's rich history. Having three of the game's all-time greats - Nicklaus, Player, and Watson - kick off the 90th edition of the event adds to the prestige and pageantry of the occasion.

The details

Jack Nicklaus, a 6-time Masters champion, will be making his 17th appearance as an honorary starter. Gary Player, a 3-time Masters winner, will be doing so for the 15th time. Tom Watson, a 2-time Masters champion, will be making his 5th appearance in this role, after replacing the late Lee Elder in 2022.

  • The honorary starters will hit their ceremonial first shots at 7:25 a.m. ET on Thursday, April 9th.
  • The first group of players, consisting of John Keefer and Haotong Li, will tee off at 7:50 a.m. ET.

The players

Jack Nicklaus

A 6-time Masters champion and one of the greatest golfers of all time, Nicklaus will be making his 17th appearance as an honorary starter at the Masters.

Gary Player

A 3-time Masters champion, Player will be serving as an honorary starter for the 15th time, continuing a tradition he has been a part of for over a decade.

Tom Watson

A 2-time Masters champion, Watson will be making his 5th appearance as an honorary starter, after replacing the late Lee Elder in 2022.

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What they’re saying

“It's always an honor to be asked to hit the first shot at the Masters. I've been fortunate to do it for many years now, and it's a tradition I look forward to every April.”

— Jack Nicklaus

“The Masters is such a special tournament, and being able to start it off with my good friends Jack and Tom is something I cherish. We've all had our fair share of success here, and it's great to pass the torch to the next generation of players.”

— Gary Player

What’s next

Fans will be eager to see how the current crop of top players, including Bryson DeChambeau, Rory McIlroy, Jon Rahm, and Scottie Scheffler, perform in the opening rounds of the 2026 Masters after the ceremonial first shots from the legendary trio.

The takeaway

The honorary starter tradition at the Masters is a cherished part of the tournament's history, and having three of the game's all-time greats - Nicklaus, Player, and Watson - kick off the 90th edition of the event adds to the prestige and pageantry of the occasion. It's a fitting way to honor the past while also looking forward to the future of the sport.