Arnold Palmer defied his age and a shoulder injury to hit the ceremonial opening drive of the 79th Masters and provide the first storyline at Augusta National this year. Palmer, the seven-time major champion and now 85 years old, has been struggling in his recovery from a dislocated shoulder, which kept him out of the Par 3 Contest on Wednesday. But he ignored the pain to take his place alongside Jack Nicklaus and Gary Player as the honorary starters on Thursday morning. That he hooked his shot a short distance towards the ninth fairway mattered not. Arnold Palmer hits the ceremonial opening drive of the 2015 Masters at Augusta National . The 85-year-old legend, who won seven majors, defied an injury to hit his tee shot . Palmer hit his shot low and left but the crowds will have been thrilled to see the legend in action . Palmer, who won four Masters titles in his glittering career, watches his tee shot . Nicklaus has a record six Masters wins, Palmer four and Player three, meaning they have 13 victories at Augusta between them. But it was Player who was able to claim bragging rights among the trio, formerly known as golf's 'Big Three'. The 79-year-old fitness fanatic produced the longest drive on the par-four first hole. Nicklaus, 75, who recorded his first ever hole-in-one at Augusta during the Par 3 Contest, was around 10 yards behind Player. Both men split the fairway on a hole ranked the third hardest on the course last year. With that the trio retired to the clubhouse and allowed the tournament proper to begin, with conditions perfect for the early starters. South African Gary Player split the fairway with a glorious drive that belied his 79 years . Jack Nicklaus, who won a record 18 major championships, hits his drive on Thursday morning . Player, dressed all in trademark black, congratulates his friend and old rival on his drive . Palmer enjoys the occasion with his old sparring partner Nicklaus . Nicklaus (left) shakes hands with Player during their heyday at Wentworth in 1966 . Palmer unleashes a drive in the Ryder Cup at Royal Lytham & St Annes in 1961 .
Arnold Palmer has been struggling with a shoulder injury . But the 85-year-old legend hit the first drive of the 2015 Masters . Gary Player, 79, and Jack Nicklaus, 75, also hit ceremonial opening drives . Player took the bragging rights with a 240-yard tee shot . CLICK HERE for the Masters 2015 leaderboard .