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Those of us of a certain age could wallow in nostalgia during the Par 3 tournament at Augusta National last week. The Wednesday afternoon ritual is a phenomenally popular pre-Masters attraction featuring not just players from the major tournament, but past champions as well.
And so the Big
Three had a game together - again. Back in the 1960s they were the golfing greats. Arnold Palmer, Gary Player and Jack Nicklaus won 13 Masters between them and 34 major championships in all. Those wins were spread over the best part of 20 years but their heyday was the 60s when they were so dominant there were even TV programmes, The Big Three, and my favourite, The Big Three in Britain.
Player is the only one still competing in the Masters. This is the 50th anniversary of his first appearance and, as has been the case for most of his career, he's loving the limelight. Nicklaus stopped playing here two years ago and now comes to Augusta just for the Par 3 tournament and to renew friendships. Palmer signed off as a competitor, finally, three years ago and is now the honorary starter. He hit a ceremonial shot down the first fairway on Thursday morning just before the first pairing started.
That was just one moment, one shot. During the Par 3, the huge crowds gathered in the amphitheatre of Augusta National's second course hooted and hollered as today's stars hit a series of spectacular shots.
But the stars were the Big Three. From the time they hit off till they putted out, the applause and cheering rumbled and patrons maintained a standing ovation.
These golfing legends still display the idiosyncrasies I remember from their prime. Player always took a step with his right foot in his follow through as if putting some extra effort to gain more distance from his tiny frame. At 71, he's still wearing clothing combinations that should never be seen in public. Palmer's putting stroke remains a short wristy stab while Nicklaus, at the age of 67, retains that unique open, crouching putting stance. They're techniques which coaches wouldn't instruct in a hundred years, but they sure did work back in those days.
The time the Big Three spend on their respective games these days was sadly too obvious. Player is the only one still playing tournaments and it showed. Poor old Arnie even finished off on the last hole with an inglorious shank into Ike's Pond.
It didn't matter. These legends have nothing more to prove. They represent a time my generation views through rose-tinted glasses and on the course I often overheard parents telling their kids just what these guys meant to the game over 40 years ago.
I'm sure the Big Three will become the Masters honorary starters together, the way Sam Snead, Byron Nelson and Gene Sarazen used to hit the opening shots in the 80s and 90s.
But if this is the last time Palmer, Nicklaus and Player share a few holes, I'm glad I was there to see it.
