Editing Masters Tournament (section)

===Opening tee shot===
Since 1963, the custom in most years has been to start the tournament with an honorary opening tee shot at the first hole,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.elmens.com/health/sports/the-masters-tournament-the-golf-event-of-2024-and-the-years-to-come/ |title=The Masters Tournament: The Golf Event of 2024 and the Years to come |publisher=ELMENS |access-date=April 15, 2024 }}</ref> typically by one or more legendary players. For a number of years before 1963, [[Jock Hutchison]] and [[Fred McLeod (golfer)|Fred McLeod]] had been the first pair to tee off, both being able to play as past major championship winners. However, in 1963 the eligibility rules were changed and they were no longer able to compete. The idea of honorary starters was introduced with Hutchison and McLeod being the first two. This twosome led off every tournament from 1963 until 1973 when poor health prevented Hutchison from swinging a club. McLeod continued on until his death in 1976. Byron Nelson and Gene Sarazen started in 1981 and were then joined by Sam Snead in 1984. This trio continued until 1999 when Sarazen died, while Nelson stopped in 2001. Snead hit his final opening tee shot in 2002, a little over a month before he died.

In 2007, Arnold Palmer took over as the honorary starter. Palmer also had the honor in 2008 and 2009.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.golftoday.co.uk/tours/2007/The_Masters/preview_2.html |title=Arnold Palmer to hit opening Masters tee shot |publisher=Golf Today |access-date=February 4, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080725112744/http://www.golftoday.co.uk/tours/2007/The_Masters/preview_2.html |archive-date=July 25, 2008 |url-status=dead}}</ref> At the [[2010 Masters Tournament|2010]] and [[2011 Masters Tournament]]s, [[Jack Nicklaus]] joined Palmer as an honorary co-starter for the event.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/more_sports/2011/04/08/2011-04-08_arnold_palmer_jack_nicklaus_kick_off_2011_masters_as_honorary_starters_with_tee_.html |title=Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus kick off 2011 Masters as honorary starters with tee shots at Augusta |first=Hank |last=Gola |newspaper=New York Daily News |access-date=April 8, 2011 |date=April 8, 2011 |archive-date=April 14, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110414152054/http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/more_sports/2011/04/08/2011-04-08_arnold_palmer_jack_nicklaus_kick_off_2011_masters_as_honorary_starters_with_tee_.html |url-status=live}}</ref> In 2012, [[Gary Player]] joined them. Palmer announced in March 2016 that a lingering shoulder issue would prevent him from partaking in the 2016 tee shot.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.timesunion.com/sports/article/Palmer-to-skip-opening-tee-shot-at-Masters-6891129.php |title=Palmer to skip opening tee shot at Masters |first=Doug |last=Ferguson |newspaper=Albany Times Union |access-date=March 20, 2016 |date=March 16, 2016 |archive-date=March 31, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160331124002/http://www.timesunion.com/sports/article/Palmer-to-skip-opening-tee-shot-at-Masters-6891129.php |url-status=live}}</ref> Palmer was still in attendance for the ceremony.<ref name="guardian-palmer16">{{cite news |title=Masters 2016: Arnold Palmer makes poignant appearance on 1st tee |url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2016/apr/07/masters-2016-arnold-palmer-nicklaus-player |newspaper=The Guardian |date=April 7, 2016 |access-date=April 9, 2017 |archive-date=April 10, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170410052526/https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2016/apr/07/masters-2016-arnold-palmer-nicklaus-player |url-status=live}}</ref>

Following Palmer's death in 2016, the [[2017 Masters Tournament|2017]] ceremony featured tributes; his green jacket was draped over an empty white chair, while everyone in attendance wore "Arnie's Army" badges.<ref name="guardian-palmertribute">{{cite news |title=Gary Player and Jack Nicklaus join Masters tribute to Arnold Palmer |url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/blog/2017/apr/06/masters-arnold-palmer-jack-nicklaus-gary-player |newspaper=The Guardian |date=April 6, 2017 |access-date=April 9, 2017 |archive-date=April 8, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170408012318/https://www.theguardian.com/sport/blog/2017/apr/06/masters-arnold-palmer-jack-nicklaus-gary-player |url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="golf-palmertribute">{{cite web |title=Fit for a King: Arnold Palmer honored in moving tribute at Augusta National |url=http://www.golf.com/tour-news/2017/04/06/arnold-palmer-honored-perfectly-thursday-morning-masters |website=Golf.com |date=April 4, 2017 |access-date=April 9, 2017 |archive-date=April 14, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190414111700/https://www.golf.com/tour-news/2017/04/06/arnold-palmer-honored-perfectly-thursday-morning-masters |url-status=live}}</ref>

In 2021 [[Lee Elder]] joined Nicklaus and Player as an honorary starter. He was invited to join them as he was the first African-American to take part in the Masters in [[1975 Masters Tournament|1975]]. Despite bad health preventing Elder from hitting a shot, he was still present and received a standing ovation from the crowd.

Two-time Masters champion [[Tom Watson (golfer)|Tom Watson]] joined Nicklaus and Player, starting in 2022.<ref>{{cite news |title=Tom Watson accepts invite to join Jack Nicklaus, Gary Player as honorary starters at the Masters |url=https://www.espn.com.au/golf/story/_/id/33042476/tom-watson-accepts-invite-join-jack-nicklaus-gary-player-honorary-starters-masters |work=ESPN |date=January 11, 2022 |access-date=January 11, 2022}}</ref>