With ceremonial tee shots from three of golf's greatest players, the Masters has started on an overcast day.

Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer and Gary Player — with 13 green jackets between them — each struck a ball off the first tee to begin the first major of the year Thursday.

Then they stepped aside for the first group: Sandy Lyle, John Peterson and amateur Nathan Smith. Lyle and Smith both left the opening hole with bogeys.

Four-time Masters champion Tiger Woods comes into the week as the overwhelming favorite. He already has three wins this year and reclaimed the No. 1 spot in the world rankings.

But Woods has gone eight long years since his last win at Augusta. He's scheduled to tee off at 10:45 a.m.

Tags: Augusta, golf, Masters, Tiger Woods, Augusta Masters, Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus, Gary Player, masters 2013