AUGUSTA, Ga. — Right from the very start of Masters play Thursday morn, tradition was bumping up against mutation.
On the first tee, the venerated threesome of Jack Nicklaus, Gary Player and Tom Watson loosened joints that somehow have seen them through a combined 243 years and 35 major championships. Their ceremonial tee shot is a little piece of reanimated history, like Michael Jordan shooting a free throw inside a packed United Center once a year.
At the same time, on the practice green just to their rear, Kevin Na plunked down his bag adorned with the logo of the Ironheads, the name given one of the “teams” within the new LIV golf tour. These LIV guys, 18 of them to start the week, have been doing all kinds of ambush marketing here, flaunting the designs of their rival tour all around the Augusta National property. Think Pepsi vendor working the World of Coke.
