AUGUSTA, Ga. — Gary Player strolled up to the tee box at Augusta National Golf Club on Thursday morning, bright and early without a care in the world.
He tipped his hat to the crowd of fans packed around the ceremonial first tee shot that officially opened the 89th edition of the Masters, took one brief practice swing and fired. Happy with his shot, Player picked up his tee and then launched into a karate kick that sent his right leg higher than anyone at 89 years old probably should have.
Player, even decades removed from the dominant runs of his career, was back in his element.