Golfing legends Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer and Gary Player hit the ceremonial first shots to get the Masters underway on Thursday morning.
Nicklaus (L), Palmer (C) and Player
Palmer teed off first, straight down the middle, before Player outdrove him by about 50 yards, his ball ending up above the crest of the hill on the right side of the fairway.
Nicklaus was last, and his drive was the longest of the three, rolling into the first cut of rough on the left.
"The only nerves you have are to make solid contact," 76-year-old Nicklaus said afterwards. "It doesn't matter diddly-darn where it goes."
Palmer was delighted with his effort.
"It was my best drive of the year," the 83-year-old said.
Ten minutes later, it was time for the real action to start, and Sandy Lyle struck the tournament's first competitive shot, followed by Americans John Peterson and amateur Nathan Smith.
Defending champion Bubba Watson was scheduled to tee off with Britain's Ian Poulter and US amateur champion Steven Fox at 10:34 local (15:34 UK time).
Tiger Woods will tee off at 10:45 (15:45) alongside Luke Donald and Scott Piercy.
Rory McIlroy, Keegan Bradley and Fredrik Jacobson will tee off in the penultimate group of the day late, behind Phil Mickelson, Louis Oosthuizen and Martin Kaymer.
golf365.com