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Masters Tournament Underway

AUGUSTA, Ga. (CBS4) – Early Thursday morning, Jack Nicklaus and Arnold Palmer made their way to the first green at the Augusta National Country Club to hit the ceremonial first tee shot that starts the annual Masters Championship.

"I saw all those shadows and said, 'I don't know if we can hit out of our shadows," Nicklaus said.

Palmer, 81, has won four green jackets at Augusta. He teed off and hit the ball into the fairway. Then Nicklaus, a six-time Masters winner hit his shot about 30 yards past Palmer.

Palmer hit his first shots at Augusta in 1955, while Nicklaus first played there in 1959 as an amateur.

"That's 56 and 52 years; that's a long time," Nicklaus said. "I guess it's still kind of fun to lop it off the first tee and be part of a great event."

Just don't expect Nicklaus to be there when the Masters finishes.

"I'm not going to sit around and watch a golf tournament," said Nicklaus. "I can go sit in an office and wait for no phone calls, or go fishing. And that's what I'm going to do."

Retief Goosen held an early lead at noon Thursday. Tiger Woods, a multiple time Masters winner, is at even par through 5 holes.

For more on the Masters, check out the following links:

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