The 90th Masters begun today but not without a bit more of Masters ceremony and tradition – the honorary starters
Jack Nicklaus, Tom Watson and Gary Player were the 2026 honorary starters. They are a well accomplished group . Here are some statistics for you that make the point
- 140 combined Masters appearances
- 11 Masters wins
- Jack has won 6 times
- Tom has won twice
- Gary has won 3 times
MASTERS WINS BY YEAR
| Tom Watson | 1977 | 1981 | ||||
| Gary Player | 1961 | 1974 | 1978 | |||
| Jack Nicklaus | 1963 | 1965 | 1966 | 1972 | 1975 | 1986 |
Oh, hold on there is more to their respective credentials. Look at their individual and combined professional wins.
| NAME | TOTAL PROFESSIONAL WINS | TOTAL MAJOR WINS |
| TOM WATSON | 78 | 8 |
| GARY PLAYER | 160 | 9 |
| JACK NICKLAUS | 126 | 18 |
| TOTAL | 364 | 35 |
Honorary Starters and Legendary Masters champions, Mr. Jack Nicklaus, Mr. Gary Player,
and Mr. Tom Watson.
UPDATE ON THE PLAYERS IN THE FIELD
| There are 108 invitees and a starting field of 91players for the 2026 Masters. There are 22 first-time players, consisting of six amateurs and 16 professionals. On the first two days of play, each amateur is paired in a group with a Masters champion. In addition, 39 Honorary Non-Participating Invitees are expected in attendance. |
My On Course Meetings
Cynthia and Natasha
Cynthia Austin of Aurora, Colorado, is retired from Ford Motor Company and is a member of the Greenseekers Golf Club. She and her friend Natasha Parks, who is from San Francisco, is retired from the San Francisco Fire Department and is a member of Sistas on the Links, were kind enough to spend a few moments with me. This is their first trip to the Masters. They secured their tickets through “a friend” and had specific players they planned to watch, in addition to visiting Amen Corner.
When I asked their opinion about the state of Blacks in golf, their response was, “We were on the up, but it seems like now we’re stuck.” I asked them to clarify, which they did by saying Tiger Woods brought much attention to the game, but since he stepped away, they don’t sense the same focus and attention. You be the judge.
The Greenseekers Golf Club, founded in the 1990s by a dedicated group of African American women, embodies the spirit of inclusivity and passion for the game. Established to increase opportunities for women in golf, the club has since flourished into a thriving and diverse community of golfers in Aurora, Colorado. It is one of 30 clubs sanctioned by the Western States Golf Association (WSGA). For more information visit Green https://www.cogreenseekers.com/about.
Sistas On The Links
Sistas On The Links (SOTL) stands as one of California’s oldest and largest African American women’s golf clubs, proudly uniting over 130 adult and 25+ youth members since our founding in 2008. We are more than a golf club—we are a supportive, inclusive sisterhood dedicated to introducing Black women and girls to the beautiful game of golf while creating a safe, accepting space where meaningful relationships flourish and shared experiences empower every member to thrive both on and off the course. For more information on Sistas On The Green visit https://www.sistasonthelinks.org/blank-1
Ryan Bedgood
While standing in line for my third trip to the gift shop (I will explain later), I struck up a conversation with the man in front of me after noticing the patron badge he had pinned to his cap. The badge is from 1986, the year of Jack Nicklaus’ last win here. He told me that his grandparents had been ticket holders since 1957, and now he receives them. He went on to tell me that his grandparents are actually buried right behind Amen Corner on a parcel of land belonging to the Augusta Country Club. Now, I cannot verify his story, but I do believe him. Folks, I can’t make this up!!
The Adams Family
Sandra Page Adams is originally from Sandersville, GA, but moved to Augusta. She is a 1982 magna cum laude graduate of Paine College, located in Augusta, where she majored in business and accounting. She retired from the Internal Revenue Service and is enjoying life with her husband, Eric.
She and her daughter, Erica Adams, who graduated from Spelman in 2006 and is an HR/compensation executive, were just taking in the ambience, as this was their first time, as well as Sandra’s birthday. They received tickets from “a friend.”
She summed up their day with a quote from Philippians 4:13, a popular Bible verse stating, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” You know they are also going to see Amen Corner.
Many players will need to say that same prayer before the tournament is over.
The Gift Shop
OK, I made my third, yes, third—and hopefully last—trip to the gift shop today. The good news is that it was only a 15-minute wait. The bad news is that more people in the gift shop know my name now.
So, I have an offer for you, readers. Please send your comments about my Masters series. State what you like or dislike. Send them to me at [email protected]. On Sunday, I will select the best comment and share it with everyone. The person selected will receive a free Masters cap—OK, I am going to the gift shop for a fourth time.
TOURNAMENT RESULTS
Rory is making an early statement that he would like to keep his green jacket. He is leading the tournament at 5 under tied with Sam Burns. As usual, Scottie Scheffler is just a few strokes back. No one is going to run away from the field. I expect some serious fireworks tomorrow.
Full results can be viewed herehttps://www.masters.com/en_US/scores/index.html
THE NO PHONE POLICY HERE IS SERIOUS
If you are lucky enough to receive a ticket to the Masters, I highly suggest you follow the rules. NO PHONES really means NO PHONES. Read further and you will see why. Former professional, Mark Calcavecchia was booted from 90th Masters in Augusta for using a phone. The full article is here: https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/golf/2026/04/08/mark-calcavecchia-ejected-masters-phone-use-augusta/89523955007/
Once again thanks to my sponsors please support them. See you tomorrow .
Support My Sponsors
Special Thanks to the sponsors of this report who are supporting the magazine’s efforts in covering the activities at the Augusta National Golf Course. DECISIVE MEDIA, EBONY GREENS, TOMMY BURNS GOLF CHALLENGE COINS, LLC
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