For the second straight year, the galleries at Augusta National tried to prod three of golf's greats into performances beyond their years.

Seventy-one-year-old Arnold Palmer was discouraged after shooting 43 on the back nine to finish at 10-over 82. Jack Nicklaus, 61, was still mad about the 38 on the front that tainted his 1-over 73 in Thursday's first round of the 65th Masters.

Gary Player was the only member of the threesome who was excited about his score. The 65-year-old made par on 14 consecutive holes while carding a 73.

``Not bad for an old turkey, huh?'' said the three-time Masters champion.

Player, Nicklaus and Palmer are far past the glory days that saw them earn a combined 13 green jackets, but their competitive fire burns as hot as ever.

Palmer's miserable fortunes after the turn included a quadruple-bogey on the 13th and bogeys on the 11th, 16th and 17th holes.

Palmer wasn't willing to use age as comfort or as an excuse.

``I'm just not hitting the ball very well, and that's about all I can tell you,'' said Palmer, whose only birdie came on the par-3 12th. ``I just get a little discouraged.''

Nicklaus was irked by his short game. Citing reluctance to become a ceremonial golfer, the six-time champion didn't decide to play in his 42nd Masters until a few weeks ago.

``I was disappointed as I was going along, not being able to get anything to happen,'' said Nicklaus, who birdied the 14th and 15th holes on the way to a 1-under 35 on the back nine. ``I was making some stupid mistakes, not getting the ball close enough to the hole.''

By all three accounts, the day's highlight came early. On the par-4 first hole, Player's second shot landed in the rough right of the green. The pin was 60 feet away, past a mound and atop a shelf on the back left corner.

Player's chip was on target, but it appeared to have too much zip.

``If it traveled any farther,'' Player said, ``it would have needed a passport.''

But the ball hit the pin and dropped into the hole, providing Player a spark for his streak of pars.

``He played beautifully, he really did,'' Nicklaus said.

Added Player: ``What a miracle shot that was. Just from nowhere.''

Player could have done without the missed 5-foot putt for par on the 17th. It cost the South African a streak of 16 pars.

``When you get to 65, the course gets really long,'' he said. ``You start making comparisons: `What did I used to hit, and what am I hitting now?' ... You're aware of this all the time.''

But Player wasn't going to complain about a day that was beyond his years.

``Anytime you shoot 73 on this golf course, it ain't bad,'' he said. ``I was very pleased.''