It’s time for a changing of the guard on the first tee of The Masters

The ceremonial first tee shot at The Masters is one of the most special moments at any Major. It’s almost time for another changing of the guard. Who will be next?

I’ll admit I’m a big softy when it comes to the ceremonial first shot at The Masters. I was raised on The Squire in his plus-fours, Slammin’ Sam and his straw fedora, and the always smiling Lord Byron. Who among us wasn’t thinking, “Do you need a fourth?”

Sarazen, Snead, and Nelson are each among the top ten American golfers of all time. As the years rolled by, that triumvirate gave way to one with even more star power – The King, The Golden Bear, and The Black Knight.

Can we just stop and revel in those nicknames for a moment? Just brilliant.

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Sadly, we lost Arnold a few years ago and Jack is starting to slow down. Gary Player, however, may be hitting ceremonial shots for the next 20 years. My word! The man is a machine. Just look at Jack and him from last year.

There weren’t always ceremonial staters at The Masters. It wasn’t until 1963 that Fred McLeod and Jock Hutchinson were given the honor. Strangely enough, neither was a Masters Champion nor an American. Both Scottish-born players, they had been in their fifties by the time The Masters was first contested in 1934.

Both were good, not all-time great, golfers. McLeod won the 1908 US Open. Hutchinson won the PGA Championship in 1920 and the US Open the following year. Nothing to sneeze at, but neither is a name that rolls off the tongue when discussing Golden Age golf icons.

It is in itself curious that Bobby Jones never hit a ceremonial first shot. I suppose as the host, he felt that might be unseemly and self-aggrandizing, but still – he was Bobby Jones!

For ten years, McLeod and Hutchinson had the honors. Jock stepped away in 1974, while McLeod continued alone until 1976.

Then we had the first gap.

This rhythm would repeat itself. After a four year hiatus, Nelson and Sarazen took up the mantle in 1981. In 1983, Sarazen and Ken Venturi did the honors; Venturi standing in for his friend Byron who was home attending to a sick wife.

Sarazen and Nelson were joined by Sam Snead in 1984 and for the next 15 years, this trio was a mainstay. By 2002, the trio was down to Snead. Then another four-year gap emerged without any ceremonial starters.

In 2007, Arnold rightly took his place on the first tee. He was joined two years later by Nicklaus and Player. A generation of fans watched as these three laughed, teased, and entertained each other on the first tee at Augusta until 2016 when we lost Arnie.

Now just Nicklaus and Player hold the honor. The time for incorporating the next generation feels like it may be upon us.

Who can possibly take over for Palmer, Nicklaus, and Player at the first tee of the Masters?

Tom Watson was allegedly asked about it, and demured, suggesting he felt unworthy. I suspect he’ll give way and embrace the honor before long. Tom has more Majors than Palmer, Snead, or Sarazen. Nicklaus, Player, and Tiger are the only living players with more than Watson’s eight.

Lee Trevino and Nick Faldo are the other two obvious choices. Both won six Majors. I’m not altogether sure why Trevino isn’t there now. He should be.

After Watson and Faldo, the choices get less obvious. Seve Ballesteros would have been a great pick. So might have Payne Stewart. Raymond Floyd has won four Majors. Ben Crenshaw is beloved and continues to give back to the game as one of its finest modern architects.

After that group, it quickly moves to modern players. Mickelson, Els, Woods, McIlroy, Koepka. All have at least four Major wins. McIlroy and Koepka are likely to add to their totals. But their ceremonial first shots are decades away.

As we all adjust to The Masters making a late debut this year, it’s comforting to know the unique traditions of that tournament remain untouched. No, there won’t be hordes of patrons munching on pimento cheese sandwiches and any azaleas we might see are likely last-minute transplants. But it will still be The Masters. It will still be Augusta. It will still be special.

I hope Jack is up for it this year – you know that Player will be. It would be nice to see Watson join them on the tee. Like the leaves changing in the autumnal Georgia hills, it’s the right time to start a changing of the guard at Augusta.

Certainly Nicklaus and Player have given more than most to the game of golf. I’m ready to see them joined by the next generation of greats and watch this wonderful tradition transform and bloom anew like the azaleas along Rae’s Creek we’ll be seeing in springtime.