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Masters 2016: Track first round of play from Augusta via SN leaderboard

And so it begins: With Jack Nicklaus and Gary Player delivering ceremonial first shots and Arnold Palmer watching, the 80th Masters golf tournament starts Thursday.

Jim Herman and Steven Bowditch answer the call to the tee box for the 8:20 a.m. ET start of competition. Behind them, a flow of threesomes arrives through 2:01 p.m. ET.

It's the opening round of the year's first major golf tournament and a rite of spring. Each morning over the next four days, the crack of club head on ball will echo through park-like Augusta National Golf Club in Georgia.

Viewers will be serenaded by reminders that this is a tournament like no other.