Masters diary: Competitive juices still flowing for Nicklaus and Player

They may be old men now, but the competitive spirit remains strong in both Jack Nicklaus and Gary Player.

Nine-time major champion Player, 81, prepared for yesterday morning’s ceremonial opening tee shot at Augusta National by tweeting his 77-year-old fellow Honorary Starter Nicklaus a reminder that he had outdriven the Golden Bear at the 2016 Masters.

On Tuesday, Rory McIlroy revealed he had come across Nicklaus on the practice range at the Bear’s Club in Florida as the 18-time major winner was testing drivers for the Masters ceremony.