Master’s peace

Arnie honored at first tee

AUGUSTA, Ga. — Other than perhaps the annual Tuesday night Champions Dinner, the moment at this first Masters since 1954 without Arnold Palmer that his absence was most deeply felt took place shortly after dawn on Thursday at the ceremonial opening tee shots.

While Jack Nicklaus and Gary Player took the annual shots on the first hole, an empty chair for Palmer, who died last year, sat on the first tee with his Green Jacket draped over the back of it.

Before Nicklaus and Player hit their shots, Augusta National chairman Billy Payne walked Palmer’s wife, Kit, out onto the tee and delivered some emo- tional words about The King.

“The almost unbearable sadness we feel at the passing of Arnold is surpassed only by the love and affection for him that will always reside in our heart,” Payne said, before asking the thousands of fans crammed around the tee to participate in a moment of silence.

Both Nicklaus and Player wiped away tears.

It was a powerful moment, with several of the players in the field present at the tee, including Rickie Fowler and William McGirt.

“There was never any question that I was not going to be there,’’ McGirt said. “I didn’t care if I was two groups, three groups, four groups off after that. I was going to go watch it.’

Nicklaus said, “I thought the ceremony was very nice. I know Billy, he said, ‘ How did I do? I was really nervous.’ He did a nice job, brought Kit out in Arnold’s jacket. It was done very nicely and in good taste.’’

Said Player: “I thought [Payne’s] talk was extremely eloquent, very touching. And also to have his wife come out, there was a lot of thought put into that, and to have the jacket over the chair.

Stewart Hagestad, the 25-year-old Manhattan financial analyst who got into the Masters as the Mid-Amateur champion, shot a 2-over 73 Thursday.

Though Hagestad would not admit it Wednesday, calling the Masters “just another tournament,’’ his parents said otherwise. They stood nervously at the back of the first tee, his mother saying that her son was petrified of the first tee shot because of nerves. Hagestad tugged the opening tee shot into the left pine straw, but rallied to play a solid round.

“Super tough day,’’ Hagestad said. “I told the guys that we’re staying with [Wednesday] night that if I shot 75 that was probably going to be a pretty good number. I’m really pleased with 74.”

Phil Mickelson knew the treacherous, gusty conditions that were in store for the opening round on Thursday and he embraced them.

“Man, I love it,’’ said Mickelson, who shot a 1-underpar 71. “I thought anything at par or better was going to be a great score and it is.’’