Masters patrons received a unique tribute to Arnold Palmer from Augusta National Golf Club on Thursday, in time for the ceremonial tee shot to start the tournament.
Augusta National chairman Billy Payne announced the club is paying tribute to Arnold Palmer, who won the Masters four times (1958, '60, '62 and '64) by handing out buttons that say "I am a member of 'Arnie's Army'" with the Masters logo, the phrase "Est. 1959" to mark the formal start of the use of the term "Arnie's Army" and the date, April 6, 2017.
Similar pins were distributed at the Ryder Cup in September 2016, just days after Palmer died at the age of 87.
In addition to winning the Masters four times as part of the seven majors he won in his career, Palmer was an honorary starter at the Masters from 2007 until 2016.
Palmer made his first Masters appearance in 1955 and played for the final time in 2004, never missing a Masters in that span. He has a plaque honoring him behind the tee on the par-3 16th hole.
Jack Nicklaus and Gary Player will remain the two Masters honorary starters, hitting the first tee shots on Thursday morning at 7:40 a.m.
