Byron Nelson was short and to the point before teeing off Thursday to start the 65th Masters Tournament.

``OK, ball, one more time,'' Nelson said as he addressed his golf ball.

And, with the familiar swing that made him one of the game's all-time greats, Nelson launched his tee shot down the right side of Augusta National's first hole.

It was a bittersweet moment for the 89-year-old Nelson, who said this would be his last time as an honorary starter. Sam Snead, like Nelson a part of the opening ceremony since the 1980s, ripped his tee shot down the middle of the fairway.

Nelson, the Masters winner in 1937 and '42, told Augusta National chairman Hootie Johnson earlier this year that this would be his final time as an honorary starter. Age and anxiety over the shot were his reasons.

``As you know, this is Byron's last year as an honorary starter,'' Johnson told the huge gallery that gathered around the first hole for the 8 a.m. ceremony. ``I'm happy to report Byron and (wife) Peggy will continue to come to the Masters and Byron will preside over our Champions Dinner.

``The tournament has no greater friend than Byron, and we will always be indebted to him.''

Among the notables lined up to see the two legends were two-time Masters champion Tom Watson and former U.S. Open champion Jerry Pate. Nelson and Snead posed for numerous photos.

``One more,'' said Watson as he joined the pair for a picture.

Nelson took time to thank the fans who braved the chill of the morning air to see him tee off.

``This makes my 67th year to be here,'' said Nelson, who began playing at the Masters in 1935. ``I've enjoyed all of it, and you're the greatest gallery in the world.''

Although it was Nelson's day, the 88-year-old Snead was the first to arrive on the tee. He warmed up the crowd with an assortment of one-liners.

``Do you have my bed ready?'' asked Snead, a three-time Masters champion. ``If I were you people, I'd take a walk and see what's going on.''

Later, Nelson said that he had hit only eight balls this year before practicing with a new driver Wednesday.

``I hit that pretty good, didn't I,'' Nelson said.

Nelson retired from competitive golf in 1946, a year after he set records for total victories (18) in a season and consecutive wins (11). But he kept coming to Augusta, where he often was paired with the leader in the final round.

He said he had no regrets about retiring early. It helped him become one of golf's first television commentators and allowed him to play host for the PGA Tour stop that bears his name in Dallas.

``I think I've only missed one (Masters) tournament,'' Nelson said. ``It has helped keep me alive in golf.''