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The Big Three – A Brief History of Golf’s Most Dominant Threesome

Sep 6, 2011 | Filed Under: General News   Share

On Thursday April 5, 2012 Gary Player, Jack Nicklaus and Arnold Palmer will step onto the first tee at Augusta National to officially start play at the 2012 Masters.  It will be the first time The Big Three will share this honor and will be a reminder of what is arguably the most dominant threesome in golf’s history.

The careers of Player, Palmer and Nicklaus have been intertwined for more than 50 years.  In the early 1960’s Mark McCormack launched IMG by signing Player, Palmer and Nicklaus.  The Big Three® competed against each other in every major tournament for more than two decades and were the three best golfers in the world during that time.  In the 70’s The Big Three TV-series was launched and still airs on The Golf Channel today.

As each progressed in their careers and grew their ancillary businesses, golf course design became their new competitive arena.  Player, Palmer and Nicklaus each have over 300 design projects to their credit and are considered three of the leading designers in the industry.  Although competition is fierce in the design industry, every once in a while competition gives way to a truly unique project.  The three legendary designers have agreed to the soon to be announced first ever project featuring three (3) 18-hole championship courses each designed separately by Player, Palmer and Nicklaus (Champions Retreat in Augusta, Georgia, USA features 9-holes designed by each of The Big Three®). 

The one area where The Big Three® have never competed against each other is philanthropy.  Raising funds for those in need has been a significant part of each of their lives and careers and that commitment has not waned.  Each year The Black Knight hosts The Gary Player Invitational Series of four (4) charity golf events held in the USA, Europe, China and South Africa as well as the Saadiyat Beach Classic in Abu Dhabi, UAE; Arnold Palmer is still heavily involved in major hospital programs in his home town of Latrobe, Pennsylvania, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and in Orlando Florida; and Jack Nicklaus supports and operates The Nicklaus Children’s Health Care Foundation which provides funds for activities that advance and enhance the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of childhood diseases and disorders.  The power of The Big Three’s® commitment to charitable causes was best demonstrated in 2010 when they joined together to help raise funds for the Mountain Mission School in Virginia.  The event set a world record for a single day’s funds raised with an incredible $15 million dollars.

Player, Palmer and Nicklaus teeing off together is a fitting tribute to three of the greatest of all time, both on and off of the course.  As the Roman philosopher Cicero stated “Gratitude is not only the greatest of virtues, but the parent of all others.”  Thank you Gary, Arnold and Jack.

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