The Tournament Begins, in Palmer's Honor
Some scenes are best captured with the eyes firmly closed and the heart wide open.
That is how attendees at the Honorary Starters ceremony stood Thursday while at attention in the brisk early-morning air at Augusta National Golf Club, and so the mind offered the image of a dashing young man hitching his pants, thrashing at his golf ball, craning his neck to follow the piercing flight of a low and hard draw, then offering a smile and a wink and a thumbs-up, saying: “Come with me, and we’ll share a beautiful ride.”
That the ride came to an end last September when Palmer, 87, passed from this world was cause for somber reflection at a place and time he cherished dearly – Augusta National and the start of the Masters Tournament.
That the ride ran for so long and provided endless love, guidance, character and humility was reason to give profound thanks. So, before the 81st Masters commenced with the Honorary Starters, Jack Nicklaus and Gary Player, there were smiles and tears for the spiritual starter.
“Arnold Palmer was more than The King,” said Billy Payne, Chairman of Augusta National and the Masters Tournament, to a large gathering of patrons at the first tee. “He was my friend. He was your friend. He always had time for all of us, which is why it still hurts and is so hard.”
It was here at Augusta National 58 Aprils ago that Palmer – then 29 and in defense of his first Green Jacket – discovered that his mystical humanness had put him in charge of an army. The size of said army was never numbered, though it was generally presumed to be just shy of infinite, and as Nicklaus, 77, and Player, 81, hit tee shots to start the 2017 Masters, thousands of patrons wore their love for Palmer in their hearts and on their chest.
“I AM A MEMBER of ARNIE’S ARMY,” is what was emblazoned on commemorative badges that were handed out to patrons as they came through the gates. The ground was moist from heavy overnight rain, the wind was sturdy, and the anticipation for the 2017 Masters was thick.
Marianna Massey/Augusta National
An "Arnie's Army" pin was handed out to all patrons Thursday at the 2017 Masters.
An "Arnie's Army" pin was handed out to all patrons Thursday at the 2017 Masters.
But, first … eyes were firmly closed and hearts wide open. One could almost see Palmer’s drive thunder up the fairway and his bold approach track the flagstick at Tea Olive, the demanding first hole at Augusta National. Stuffed to 8 feet. Thunderous roars. The Masters was under way.
The scene at the Honorary Starters ceremony never grows old, this prelude to the Masters. “I’ve been here for 55 or 56 of them,” said Butch Harmon, who is renowned as a swing coach but takes more pride in being the son of 1948 Masters champion Claude Harmon. “I missed one year. I’m not sure why I missed, but I really love watching this.”
Harmon recalls the days when Fred McLeod and Jock Hutchinson didn’t just serve as Honorary Starters. "They’d play nine holes,” he said. “Nice little compact swings, pop it out there, then walk fast.”
From Gene Sarazen, Byron Nelson and Sam Snead to Palmer, Nicklaus and Player, Harmon has watched them all and never lost his sense of appreciation. But this year? Well, it had a different feel, for obvious reasons.
Rob Brown/Augusta National
Chairman Billy Payne and Mrs. Arnold Palmer place a Green Jacket on a chair in honor of Mr. Palmer.
Chairman Billy Payne and Mrs. Arnold Palmer place a Green Jacket on a chair in honor of Mr. Palmer.
After escorting Kit Gawthorp, Palmer’s wife, to the first tee, Payne draped a Green Jacket over an empty chair. It was Palmer’s Green Jacket. He won four of them, but what defined Palmer is how many countless hearts he won in his most wonderful life.
That is why there was “an unbearable sadness,” Payne said. But he quickly added that “it is surpassed by our love.”
It was a tribute fit for a King, and players offered their respect to a man who opened not just doors, but massive highways of opportunity for them.
"Arnold Palmer was more than The King. He was my friend. He was your friend. He always had time for all of us, which is why it still hurts and is so hard." - Chairman Billy Payne
Though it was hours before his 11:29 a.m. tee time, U.S. Amateur runner-up Brad Dalke stood and watched the scene unfold. “I just wanted to see it,” he said. Ditto Masters rookie William McGirt, who had an 11:07 time, and Rickie Fowler, off at 10:12, and Victor Slesarew, the caddie for amateur Toto Gana, whose tee time wasn’t until 12:35.
Praise and love flowed and could have continued for hours, but it was as if Palmer himself signaled from above that the show he had been a part of for 62 straight years had to go on.
And so Payne introduced the great three-time Masters champion from South Africa, and Player delivered a splendid tee shot. Nicklaus, the six-time Masters champion, went next, but not before he tipped his hat to the crowd, lifted his eyes to the sky, and wiped tears from each eye.
Hunter Martin/Augusta National
Masters champion Jack Nicklaus raises his hat to the sky in memory of Arnold Palmer during the Honorary Starters tradition during the 2017 Masters.
Masters champion Jack Nicklaus raises his hat to the sky in memory of Arnold Palmer during the Honorary Starters tradition during the 2017 Masters.
Slowly, deliberately, the Golden Bear offered a tee shot into the fairway. It generated enthusiastic applause and was a signal that the 2017 Masters was about to commence.
And, at that moment, it was easy to imagine an “Augusta roar” from over at the 18th green. It was Palmer, converting one last birdie to win the 1964 Masters by six over Dave Marr and Nicklaus. He swipes the air with his putter, strikes a brilliant pose, flashes a radiant smile and oozes of an unmistakable aura.
Such a beautiful sight – when the eyes are closed and the heart is wide open.
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