Associated Press
 Thursday, April 5
AUGUSTA, Ga. -- Byron Nelson teed off for the last time at The Masters on Thursday, joining with Sam Snead for the ceremonial start at Augusta National.

 Nelson Snead
The board at the first tee shows the ages of Byron Nelson and Sam Snead as they started the 2001 Masters.
Nelson, 89, walks with a cane because of an ailing left hip and decided to give up his duties as an honorary starter after this year. A two-time winner, he last played the event in 1966.

"OK, little ball," Nelson said as he lined up his shot, surrounded by fans at the first tee box. "One more time."

Nelson, who first played The Masters in 1935, faded his shot about 150 yards down the right side of the fairway while the gallery roared.

"Sure, I was still nervous," he said. "I was worried if I would even get it off the ground."

Snead, 88, followed with an even longer shot, then said he was sorry to lose another honorary playing partner. Gene Sarazen died shortly after the 1999 tournament.

"I hope I'll have another one," Snead said. "I don't know who they're going to get now unless it's Arnie (Palmer). But he keeps playing on in the tournament."

After Nelson and Snead completed their duties, Charles Coody, Billy Casper and Doug Ford formally started the tournament, heading off down the first fairway under cloudy skies with temperatures in the mid-50s.

Ford didn't last long, however, withdrawing after the first hole with a sore hip.




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