By Travis Puterbaugh, Curator
The tradition of Honorary Starter at the Masters has had several iterations over the 85-year history of the tournament. Originally implemented in 1963, Jock Hutchison and Fred McCleod were the first to serve in this capacity, despite neither having been Masters champions. Following McLeod’s death in 1976, there were no Honorary Starters again until 1981 when Gene Sarazen and Byron Nelson were given the honor, who were later joined by Sam Snead in 1984 to round out a trio with serious Masters pedigree.
After Snead’s death in 2002, the tradition again went dormant for several years.
In 2007, Billy Payne, Chairman of Augusta National Golf Club, revived the tradition by enlisting Arnold Palmer to serve as the Honorary Starter for the Masters. It was the perfect choice.
Few golfers were so closely associated with a golf course and tournament as much as Palmer was to Augusta National and the Masters. Winning his first Green Jacket in 1958, Palmer dominated at Augusta National for a seven-year stretch, winning four times with his last victory in 1964 when he won by six strokes over Dave Marr and defending champion Jack Nicklaus. His dominance, coupled with the rise of TV coverage of the Masters, sealed the connection between Palmer and the tournament. It didn’t hurt that Palmer participated in 50 consecutive Masters, starting with his first in 1955.
“We are absolutely delighted that Arnold Palmer will once again be on the first tee at Augusta, a place where he belongs, and among thousands who traced their love of the game to his inspiration,” Payne said when announcing Palmer’s return as Honorary Starter.
Palmer would soon be joined on the first tee by the rest of the Big Three, with Nicklaus in 2010 and Gary Player in 2012. It was not uncommon to see other past champions or even Masters participants observing these legends, who combined for 13 Green Jackets, during what for years became a singular moment of nostalgia, celebration and excitement to open the Masters.
Payne and Palmer developed a friendship over the years, which began with Payne’s first visit to play at Augusta National before he even became a member. Payne cited Palmer as having a “profound influence” on his life.
“I was fortunate to get close to him as a consequence of his return, both as a member and as a former champion,” Payne says. “I’m not sure I ever met a man who was more giving than Arnold Palmer.”
As Chairman, it landed on Billy Payne to offer opening remarks each year at the Honorary Starters Ceremony. On April 6, 2017, Payne would be tasked with addressing the absence of Palmer, who passed away on September 25, 2016. Escorting Palmer’s widow, Kit, to the first tee, Payne laid Palmer’s Green Jacket over an empty white lawn chair in tribute to the King.
“The almost unbearable sadness we all feel at the passing of Arnold Palmer is surpassed only by the love and affection for him which will forever reside in our hearts,” Payne said. “Arnold Palmer was more than a King, a title he justifiably deserved by virtue of his four Masters victories and more than 70 PGA TOUR and Senior Tour wins. Arnold Palmer was my friend. He was your friend. Despite all of his fame and fortune, he always had time for all of us. A smile, an autograph, a photo — he was always giving.”
Nicklaus and Player wiped away tears thinking about their dear friend, while Payne asked for a moment of silence so everyone could say their own goodbye to Palmer. It was a fitting and final public goodbye orchestrated by Payne in one of his finest moments as Chairman of Augusta National.
