Gary Player to join Jack Nicklaus and Arnold Palmer in the Masters starter for 2012
The organizers at the Augusta National and the Masters have announced that Gary Player, the former three-time Masters winner, will be the third honourary starter of the event alongside Arnold Palmer and Jack Nicklaus for the 2012 episode of the event here
at the Magnolia Lane.
Often known as “The Big Three”, Player, Nicklaus, and Palmer contributed immensely to the popularity of the sport and guided it into the modern era of live telecasting across the world. South African Player was visibly pleased with the organizers' decision
and expressed his appreciation for being honoured in such a way.
“I couldn’t think of a greater place in the world for the three of us hitting off together,” Player was quoted as saying. “I just love the Masters. It’s special, special, special. And we’re all going to be there together, as comfortable as old friends can
be, enjoying each other’s smiling faces.”
Player is the ninth golfer to join the honourary starters of the event with Nicklaus, who has been one of the starters since last year. The tradition of honourary starters kicked off in 1963 when Jock Hutchison and Fred McLeod tee-ed off for the inaugural
18-hole round.
Billy Payne, Chairman of Augusta National Golf Club and the Masters, announced the decision on Tuesday July 5, to bring Player in the coveted trio, who would be starting off the event next year.
“As an Honorary Starter, his legacy will be rightfully celebrated alongside two of the Tournament's other all-time greats, Arnold Palmer and Jack Nicklaus,” Payne said.
Player recalled the glorious moments of history when he won his first event in 1961. He went over to win two more trophies in 1974 and 1978 but holds his last Masters victory as the most special of all. He carded seven consecutive birdies in the last holes
to finally lift the title with a 64. Player also held Bobby Jones in the highest of regards and admitted that he was one of the greatest players of that era.
Player started off his Masters bid in 1957 and made a staggering 52 appearances in the event to become the only player to have played the event so many times. He missed just one event in 1973 due to his knee injury and kept on playing all the way till 2010.
Player was also the first international player to win the coveted title in 1961.
The undisputed “King” of the sport, Palmer also hailed the decision and said that it was certainly appropriate for Player to be kicking off the Masters with them.
Nicklaus and Palmer have led the American golf from the front and both of them are among the few golfers who laid the foundation for the American golf. The duo now run their separate course design companies and several other multi-million business ventures.
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