Off the wire
• Russian FM urges constructive efforts to settle Syria crisis  • Reforms proposed for Swiss referendum system  • Spanish stock market rises 0.68 pct, closes at 11,734 points  • IMF chief warns of mediocre growth becoming "new reality"  • Urgent: Oil prices edge up after selloff  • Paper production in Finland to decline rapidly: research institute  • NATO conducts exercises in Czech Republic  • 1st LD Writethru: Gold down as Greece makes payment  • Lithuania invited to negotiate on OECD membership  • Botswana seeks victory against South Africa in All Africa Games qualifier  
You are here: 　 Home

"Big Three" hit ceremonial tee shots in 2015 Masters

Xinhua, April 10, 2015 Adjust font size:

Golf legends Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus and Gary Player reunited here on Thursday morning as each hit a drive off the first tee to open the 79th Masters.

Palmer, 85, Player, 79, and Nicklaus, 75, have grabbed 13 Masters titles in total. During the span from 1960 to 1966, the big three combined to win seven straight Masters.

"We do the best we can with what we've got," Nicklaus said of him and his fellow Honorary Starters. "Nobody enjoys the alternative, so we go out and do the best we can."

The tradition of having golfers kick off the Tournament, which Payne said is "a fun and wonderful way to start the Masters every year", began in 1963 with Scots Jock Hutchison and Fred McLeod in the role.

"The 2015 Masters is officially under way and have fun," Payne told the patrons after the ceremonial tee shots. Endite