Indulging In Hyperbole

Early this morning in Augusta, Georgia, the three gentlemen pictured above opened the 2014 Masters Tournament with their honorary tee shots on Tea Olive, Augusta National's first hole. Since 1963, the opening tee shot of The Masters has been carried out by the game's living legends. Typically, I desperately attempt to avoid hyperbole such as 'living legends', but when it comes to The Masters and the three gentlemen pictured above, I find hyperbole impossible to resist.

As ludicrous as it sounds, to me the term living legend somehow seems woefully inadequate when describing both Augusta National and the grouping of Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus, and Gary Player. Amongst them, they hold 13 Green Jackets and represent the very foundation of the modern-day game of golf.

The Masters often defies description as well. Not only is it the first of four Major tournaments in golf, but it is the only Major that is hosted on the same course, Augusta National, every year. As a result, the course and tournament are steeped in a unique history and tradition that serve as a ghostly yardstick by which players of today can be measured against all those who walked those fabled links before.

I find sentimental joy in pondering the unique history of Augusta National; its traditions and steadfast devotion to its history and golf course represent something quite unique. It brings me a strange comfort to know that in 40 years, we will see a similar picture to that above, but with an elderly Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson opening The Masters.

This morning's ceremony was particularly endearing as it reminded us that this year marks the 50th anniversary of Arnold Palmer's last Masters victory. Perhaps Jack Nicklaus captured the essence of the moment perfectly however as he walked up to address his tee shot and muttered "Oh boy … if only we could do this for real again."

Therein lies why Augusta National and The Masters is so special - legends, like mere mortals, may only have a finite amount of time in this existence, but we can all rest assured that this will always go on for real again.

To see the Big Three open The Masters this morning, be sure to check out:
http://www.masters.com/en_US/videos/features.html?id=YYS08M6_B36FQABG5D69O3ERG2MJ6ING