Tom Watson - New Masters Honorary Starter

[Socrates]

I would have to think Crenshaw is a sure bet in a few years.

[stinger_gc]

1 hour ago, iBanesto said:

 

For sure.

 

Watson and Ballesteros would have been a good choice as they are both greats and rivals.

 

I would've loved that. Seve is probably one of my all time favorites

[Body_Visions]

Great honor for a class act!

[MattyO1984]

Pleased for Tom Watson to added to the list. Certainly his on course accomplishments warrant his place. Still wish he was heading there with 6 Open Championships to his name? Still never gotten over Cink winning. 

[iBanesto]

1 hour ago, MattyO1984 said:

Pleased for Tom Watson to added to the list. Certainly his on course accomplishments warrant his place. Still wish he was heading there with 6 Open Championships to his name? Still never gotten over Cink winning. 

 

I know what you mean.

 

One groove lower could have made the difference on this shot.

 

[Llortamaisey]

8 hours ago, Socrates said:

I would have to think Crenshaw is a sure bet in a few years.

Great point. My guess is that three is as many as they want for the first tee ceremony. I could see Crenshaw getting the call to join Watson once Gary or Jack aren’t available to attend anymore. Crenshaw just turned 70. Watson is 72. It would be a good pairing for the next decade or so. 

[Langlands]

Delighted for Tom Watson, one of my very favourite players when I was growing up. 

 

Would love to see a European-only honorary starter line-up one year in the future, as in the 80s and 90s they really did well at Augusta. Unlikely to ever happen but would be amazing.

 

Faldo, Langer and Olazabal would be something to see, 3 multiple winners of the green jacket. Langer would be in his 80s and still making the cut with 10 hybrids in the bag 😄 

[jmcm87]

4 hours ago, iBanesto said:

 

I know what you mean.

 

One groove lower could have made the difference on this shot.

 

That's a great 'what could have been' photo. 

[dokex]

19 hours ago, miamistomp said:

 Johnny never won the Masters

Neither did Lee Elder.

[Ferguson]

6 hours ago, Langlands said:

Delighted for Tom Watson, one of my very favourite players when I was growing up. 

 

Would love to see a European-only honorary starter line-up one year in the future, as in the 80s and 90s they really did well at Augusta. Unlikely to ever happen but would be amazing.

 

Faldo, Langer and Olazabal would be something to see, 3 multiple winners of the green jacket. Langer would be in his 80s and still making the cut with 10 hybrids in the bag 😄 

 

I think you'd see a Stadler / Couples line up before a Euro-only starter duo. 

 

 

[gvogel]

10 hours ago, MattyO1984 said:

Pleased for Tom Watson to added to the list. Certainly his on course accomplishments warrant his place. Still wish he was heading there with 6 Open Championships to his name? Still never gotten over Cink winning. 

I wish he had won at St Andrews when Seve was winning just in front of him.

[gvogel]

8 hours ago, iBanesto said:

 

I know what you mean.

 

One groove lower could have made the difference on this shot.

 

That's a great picture, right there.

[aenemated]

10 hours ago, MattyO1984 said:

Still never gotten over Cink winning. 

 

Pretty sure that's the only time I've been sincerely sad over who won a golf tournament. 

[Titleist99]

As far as Stewart Cink and Tom Watson goes.....haven't Tiger proved to us that you must stay in the game for seventy-two holes. Watson was pretty good for seventy-one ......not good enough in tournament golf. The best player that day won.

 

Well done, Stewart.....

[Hawkeye77]

4 hours ago, Titleist99 said:

As far as Stewart Cink and Tom Watson goes.....haven't Tiger proved to us that you must stay in the game for seventy-two holes. Watson was pretty good for seventy-one ......not good enough in tournament golf. The best player that day won.

 

Well done, Stewart.....

Actually Tiger could have skipped a few holes in some major final rounds and still won!

[dokex]

1 hour ago, Hawkeye77 said:

Actually Tiger could have skipped a few holes in some major final rounds and still won!

Heck, if I skipped enough holes, I could have won some majors!

[Hawkeye77]

21 minutes ago, dokex said:

Heck, if I skipped enough holes, I could have won some majors!

Haha, I had that backwards - he could have played a few more holes! 
 

What a stupid I am!

[mshills]

23 hours ago, Socrates said:

I would have to think Crenshaw is a sure bet in a few years.

Agreed. The city of Augusta gave him the key to the city about ten years ago. I’d be shocked if he is not up soon. 
 

Also, not having Nick Faldo in the next generation of honorary starters would be an absolute travesty. 

[Vardon Grip]

Go with  Zack Johnson and Trevor Immelman to ensure some long term continuity. 

[Shilgy]

14 hours ago, Hawkeye77 said:

Haha, I had that backwards - he could have played a few more holes! 
 

What a stupid I am!

It’s ok Roberto….🧐

[mocokid]

On 1/11/2022 at 7:01 PM, BobMorris said:

As would Crenshaw.

Definitely Crenshaw, he will be when they retire gp. 

[bscinstnct]

On 1/12/2022 at 1:27 PM, aenemated said:

 

Pretty sure that's the only time I've been sincerely sad over who won a golf tournament. 

 

 

[Go Cougs]

1 hour ago, bscinstnct said:

 

 

Bscinstnct, come on man, I'll take Ogilvy over FIGJAM on that one!

[bscinstnct]

1 minute ago, Go Cougs said:

Bscinstnct, come on man, I'll take Ogilvy over FIGJAM on that one!

 

Poor GO, he was actually practically apologizing for winning!

 

He was really good for a while there. 

[aenemated]

4 hours ago, bscinstnct said:

 

 

 

Eh, that was bad decisions. Phil could have won that just not being Phil for ONE tee shot. 

 

Tom got a bad bounce. 

[dcfas]

Congrats to Mr. Watson. It is an honor well deserved. 
 

I imagine it’s a bittersweet tap, though. On one hand it’s such an honor; yet, on the other hand it suggests your accomplishments are now undeniably in the past. 

[ezpz]

Very curious how this tradition will evolve. Watson is a fine choice, but who will they replace nicklaus and player with in time? Floyd? Crenshaw? Faldo? Langer? Olazabal?  Although all impressive players its just a hard act to follow truly legendary players like Nicklaus and Palmer in particular.

Edited January 17, 2022 by ezpz

[naval2006]

On 1/11/2022 at 2:30 PM, aenemated said:

Just saw the announcement from Jack on his Instagram. Pretty awesome - always been a fan of Tom, his "Strategic Golf" book was an absolute game changer for me back in the day (I had no clue what "course management" was till I came upon it in a book store when I was 15) and I've actually been watching his Golf Digest vids a lot recently. One of my favorite swings of all time. 

 

Congrats Tom! 

I fully agree with you.  Tom's swing is a beauty and the man is my all time hero.  He is humble in victory and chivalrous in defeat.  And Jack's his close friend, what else?

[naval2006]

On 1/11/2022 at 9:58 PM, PHILsThemannnn said:

Do you guys think Seve would've been an honorary starter if he didn't pass away so young?

The Masters  has never appointed international players for that position so far.  And I assume they must be adamant.

[stinger_gc]

41 minutes ago, naval2006 said:

The Masters  has never appointed international players for that position so far.  And I assume they must be adamant.