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Follow along with live updates of all the first-round action at the Masters Tournament.

The traditional tee shots from a trio of golf’s legends kicked off the 2026 Masters Tournament on a sunny Thursday at Augusta National Golf Club.

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Honorary starters Jack Nicklaus, Tom Watson and Gary Player − with a total of 11 Masters titles among them − struck their drives down the first fairway to officially open the 90th edition of the Masters on April 9.

Well, sort of.

More: 2026 Masters Leaderboard

Player striped his drive down the middle and did a signature high kick in celebration.

Then Nicklaus, who’s won a record six green jackets, pulled his shot off to the left, sending the gallery ducking as the ball sailed overhead.

As the golfers joked with the patrons, Watson hit his tee shot solidly down the middle.

And with that, Augusta National chairman Fred Ridley delcared the 2026 Masters officially underway.

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See photos from the Masters Par 3 Contest full of kids and smiles

On Wednesday at Augusta National, the Par 3 Contest replaces routine with play, as kids wander onto the greens and smiles outnumber swings before the Masters gets underway.

These images capture the lighthearted moments that define the Par 3 Contest each year, when players share the course with their children and the focus shifts from preparation to pure joy.

Above, Jordan Spieth and his wife, Annie Verret, crouch down on the ninth green as their son, Sully, crawls across during the Par 3 Contest at the Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club. Spieth’s oldest child, Sammy, clings to his back.

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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: 2026 Masters underway with tee shots from Nicklaus, Watson, Player

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