April 07, 2016: There are certain moments in sport when even time stands still, swayed by the piety of the occasion and the power of the high priest. At five minutes past eight in Augusta this morning, as a mild mannered Sun shone light on the first tee box in front of the clubhouse, we stood respectfully, awed by the timeless beauty of one such moment at the Augusta National Golf Club.
The three great men gave golf an aura of spirituality with their manner of playing and unprecedented accomplishments. Several other golfers might eventually overtake their numbers, but clearly not their aura. For the record, Nicklaus’s collection of six Green Jackets remains unsurpassed to this day.
Player struck the first shot, landing in the centre of the climbing fairway. Nicklaus drove slightly left, but at 80 and 76 respectively, their act also underlined why golf is a lifelong pursuit of joy and health.
The morning seemed indescribably beautiful. From the moment Palmer walked out of the clubhouse door, time stood still, leaving us soaked in a sparkling bubble of iridescent joy.
Oddly enough, as the first starters – Jim Herman and Steven Bowditch made their way to take their place at the first tee, the real event felt far less important than the ritual that preceded it.
