By Guy Heveldt at AugustaJack Nicklaus wiped away tears before piercing the first fairway to officially open the 2017 Masters. The tears, of course, were for close friend and Masters icon Arnold Palmer who passed away last year. It's the first time in 60 years Palmer is absent from Augusta National for the year's first major. With "Arnie's" green jacket draped on a chair, Payne said, "It is a wonderful but in one respect difficult day. Nicklaus and Player had been building up to the moment, with some ribbing about who would be able to drive the furthest.

Source: New Zealand Herald April 06, 2017 21:56 UTC