Jack Nicklaus, the greatest golfer in history and winner of 18 major championships, stepped onto the first tee at Augusta National Golf Club on Thursday morning to officially open the 90th Masters Tournament. Alongside his old rivals Gary Player and Tom Watson, the 85-year-old legend delivered a moment that reminded the world why golf at Augusta is unlike anything else in sport.
Three Icons Tee Off the 90th Masters
The Honorary Starter ceremony has become one of the most beloved traditions in golf, and the 2026 edition carried extra weight given the milestone occasion. Nicklaus, Player, and Watson collectively hold 11 green jackets between them — a staggering testament to their dominance across the sport’s golden era. For the fifth consecutive year, all three men gathered at the first tee before dawn to send the tournament on its way.
Nicklaus, who has won the Masters six times — a record that still stands — drew laughter and applause when his ceremonial tee shot hooked left off the tee. True to the character that made him beloved beyond his trophies, the Golden Bear grinned broadly and gestured toward the errant ball, turning what could have been an embarrassing moment into a crowd-pleasing occasion. Nicklaus later quipped that he was simply giving the patrons something to remember.
Why This Moment Matters for British Golf Fans
In the United Kingdom, Jack Nicklaus holds a special place in golfing history that goes beyond Augusta. He is a two-time Open Championship winner, claiming the Claret Jug at Muirfield in 1966 and again at Turnberry in 1977 in the legendary Duel in the Sun against Tom Watson. British fans who watched those tournaments live still speak of Nicklaus with reverence, and seeing him at Augusta each spring is a reminder of a rivalry that transcended national boundaries.
Tom Watson, of course, was the man who edged Nicklaus that famous day at Turnberry. The pair have spent decades as both fierce competitors and close friends, and their banter on the first tee at Augusta each year has become appointment viewing for fans on both sides of the Atlantic.
Augusta’s 90th Masters: A Tournament Rich in History
The 2026 Masters marks the 90th staging of the tournament, a milestone that Augusta National has been celebrating throughout the week. From the tournament’s founding by Bobby Jones and Clifford Roberts in 1934 to the modern era dominated by Scottie Scheffler and Rory McIlroy, the Masters has evolved enormously while retaining the qualities that make it unique: the beauty of the course, the exclusivity of the field, the roar through the Georgia pines.
Nicklaus won his first Masters in 1963 and his last in 1986, a victory at age 46 that many still regard as the greatest performance in the tournament’s history. His six green jackets remain the most ever won by a single player, and the ceremony each year serves as a reminder of the standard against which all Augusta champions are measured.
The Field for 2026: Can Anyone Match the Legends?
With the ceremonial duties concluded, the competitive action got underway with a full field of the world’s best players. World number one Scottie Scheffler heads the market as the favourite to claim his third Masters title, while Rory McIlroy continues his pursuit of completing the career Grand Slam — the one achievement that still eludes the Northern Irishman despite multiple near-misses at Augusta.
Shane Lowry, Seamus Power, and other European challengers hope to carry their form from the European Tour into contention on the back nine on Sunday. British fans will be watching closely, knowing that Augusta tends to favour the patient and the precise.
Nicklaus Reflects on the Tournament’s Legacy
In recent years, Nicklaus has spoken openly about the joy he takes from returning to Augusta each spring, even as age makes the journey more difficult. The course, the traditions, and the patrons are things he has described as irreplaceable. The Honorary Starter ceremony, which began with Arnold Palmer, Sam Snead, and Byron Nelson in the early 1980s, has evolved into one of sport’s great rituals.
For golf fans in the UK and around the world, watching Nicklaus, Player, and Watson at the first tee is not merely nostalgia — it is a genuine connection to a time when golf produced figures who changed the sport forever. The 90th Masters is a fitting stage for that reflection.
What to Watch for in Round 1
As the first round unfolds, keep an eye on the scoring conditions at Augusta. The course has undergone subtle changes in recent years to challenge the modern game’s power players, and the early morning groups will test players before the greens firm up in the afternoon heat. With the Masters in full swing and history hanging in the air, the 90th edition promises to be one for the ages.