Jack Nicklaus’ ceremonial tee shot at the Masters comes dangerously close to patrons

Jack Nicklaus gave Masters patrons a little scare Thursday erstwhile his ceremonial tee changeable veered a small excessively adjacent for comfort.

The legendary golfer and 18-time large victor had a informing for patrons astatine Augusta National arsenic helium lined up his shot, and it proved to beryllium warranted.

Jack Nicklaus hits the ceremonial tee changeable connected the archetypal spread during the archetypal circular of the Masters play tourney astatine Augusta National Golf Club successful Augusta, Ga., connected April 9, 2026. (David J. Phillip/AP)

"Oh boy, ticker out," Nicklaus, 86, said arsenic helium approached the tee. "And I don't ​mean that facetiously."

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Unlike 90-year-old Gary Player’s shot, which went close down the mediate of the archetypal fairway, Nicklaus’ changeable went near of the tee container and low, conscionable hardly clearing the heads of the patrons looking on.

 "I said, ‘Spread retired connected some sides due to the fact that I don’t privation to termination anybody,'" Nicklaus said afterward. "If it'd been a small person I mightiness have."

Tom Watson, 76, rounded retired the ceremonial tee changeable with different thrust close down the middle. 

Jack Nicklaus hits the ceremonial tee changeable connected the archetypal spread during the archetypal circular of the Masters play tourney astatine Augusta National Golf Club successful Augusta, Ga., connected April 9, 2026. (Gerald Herbert/AP)

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Nicklaus hopes to beryllium included successful the contented for arsenic agelong arsenic he’s capable to. After undergoing carpal passageway country astir six weeks ago, the six-time Masters champ said helium was unsure if he’d marque it to the tee box. 

"I was disquieted astir being capable to clasp onto the play nine and wounded somebody," helium said. "I’m fortunate that I got it implicit somebody’s head. I didn’t deed it precise well, but I got it implicit their heads and didn’t wounded anybody. As agelong arsenic I tin inactive deed the play ball."

He admitted to playing play conscionable erstwhile past twelvemonth and again successful February.

Jack Nicklaus hits the ceremonial tee changeable connected the archetypal spread during the archetypal circular of the Masters connected April 9, 2026. (Eric Gay/AP)

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"It’s specified a bully ceremony, and it’s a existent grant to beryllium invited," Nicklaus added. "I anticipation to beryllium capable to bash it arsenic agelong arsenic I tin not termination anybody."

The Associated Press contributed to this report. 

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