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December 3, 2024
The 2021 Masters golf tournament

The 2021 Masters golf tournament

Lee Elder acknowledges applause as he joins Gary Player and Jack Nicklaus as honorary starters at the Masters golf tournament in Augusta, Georgia. In 1975, Elder became the first African American to ever play in the Masters.

Matt Slocum/AP

Updated 3:22 PM ET, Thu April 8, 2021

Lee Elder acknowledges applause as he joins Gary Player and Jack Nicklaus as honorary starters at the Masters golf tournament in Augusta, Georgia. In 1975, Elder became the first African American to ever play in the Masters.

Matt Slocum/AP

The Masters tournament is back — and so are the fans and the iconic azaleas.

Golf’s first major began Thursday in its traditional spot on the calendar, a year after it was pushed all the way to November because of the coronavirus pandemic.

No spectators were on the course last year, but this year a limited number of people are permitted to attend.

Things aren’t completely back to normal yet; the face masks are proof that we still have a long way to go with Covid-19. But the course is as gorgeous as ever.