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AUGUSTA, Ga. - Jack, Arnie and Gary.

For those uninitiated with the history of golf in the last half of the 20th century, that would be Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer and Gary Player.

Combined, the trio has won 34 major titles, including 13 championship victories at Augusta National Golf Course, the home of the Masters.

That's where the three were joined Wednesday.

Nicklaus, Palmer and Player were playing partners in the Masters 50th Annual Par 3 Contest.

Known as "The Big Three," each were major players in generating widespread interest in the game.

Until Tiger Woods came along, the 18 major titles accumulated by Nicklaus made him undeniably the best player to ever pick up a club.

Palmer gave golf working-class appeal. His emotional, swashbuckling style made him an icon just as television helped golf gain popularity in the 1950s.

Player won a career grand slam, taking nine majors in total.

He will be playing in his record 52nd Masters starting today and has already announced the record-breaking start will also be his last.

Despite the fact that the members of golf's Big Three average 74 years old, they're still capable of making a solid par.

Or in Player's case, a spectacular par.

Teeing off on the final hole, Player hit his opening shot into Ike's Pond. He dropped and took his third shot from the tee box, landing it on the middle of the green. The ball slowly rolled back to the pin, gaining momentum with the help of the sonic blast coming from the crowd sitting behind the green.

The ball dropped in, giving Player an improbable par.

Player finished the day at 1-under with the help of a handful of other high-quality shots.

After pulling his tee shot on No. 4, the South African chipped in for birdie. On No. 7, he landed on the green in regulation and made another birdie.

Not to be outdone, the Golden Bear finished 2-under. Nicklaus rolled in a long putt for birdie on No. 2 and added another birdie putt on No. 6.

Palmer was the only one of the legends who struggled Wednesday.

Palmer, who won the Par 3 Contest in 1967, had a case of the pulls for much of his round and finished at 5-over. Palmer may have saved his best for today, when he will act as honorary starter.

Maybe 2010 will lead to better luck for Tim Clark at the Masters. Clark, with the help a hole-in-one on No. 9, won the event with a 5-under.

Unfortunately for Clark, no player has ever won the Masters after taking the Par 3 Contest.

The Shark was on the prowl Wednesday, as Greg Norman aced No. 6 in the Par 3 Contest. John Merrick made it three aces on the day by dropping his first shot in the hole on No. 2.