As far as Jack Nicklaus is concerned, it's over.

Break up the Big Three.

Nicklaus, Gary Player and Arnold Palmer - with 13 combined Masters titles - played possibly their last round together in the Masters on Friday. Nicklaus birdied No. 18 for a 3-over-par 75 and a 4-over total of 148.

``I hope they don't do that again,'' the 61-year-old Nicklaus said. ``We see each other all the time and play a lot of practice rounds together. I've always felt that when you come to the Masters that all the young kids and amateurs always traditionally played with the Masters champions. When I was a young kid, I really looked forward to that. To take Arnold, Gary and I out of that pool, I think disappoints a lot of kids that come here.

``I've played with (James) Driscoll, and I've played with (Mikko) Ilonen, and they seem to get a big kick out of playing with us. It's a great experience for them ... I don't think we should play every year because I think that would be good for the kids. And I'd enjoy that. I always enjoy playing with the young kids. I play with these old guys enough.''

Nicklaus said he thought putting the three together was becoming something of a gimmick.

``They put us on now as a sideshow or ceremonial round or whatever you want to call it,'' said Nicklaus. ``What they're saying is, `Here are three guys they don't expect to compete.'''

After an opening-round 82, Palmer rebounded with a 76. Player shot a first-round 73, but his bid to become the oldest competitor to make the cut failed as he bogeyed four holes on the back nine for a 76.

Nicklaus, Palmer and Player were paired together for the second straight year. The 71-year-old Palmer had no problems playing with his younger partners.

``They're old, but it doesn't get old,'' he said.

``Jack and Arnie are great to play with,'' Player said. ``We all have played a long time. We motivate each other, and we are competitive. We want to beat each other, yet we are friendly.''

Galleries seem to like the ``old guys'' playing together. On No. 18, the Big Three received a standing ovation coming off the green.

But the biggest thrill for the gallery came at the green at the par-4 18th. Nicklaus left his approach 25 feet short and right of the pin. From the fringe, he rolled his putt into the side of the hole.

``That was after the fact,'' he said. ``That didn't mean anything. The one at 17 ... I needed a birdie to make the cut. I tried to make a putt at 17, but I misread the speed and ran it by the hole eight feet and missed it coming back. That killed me for playing tomorrow.

``I played decently, but nothing happened. I just cluttered up the field.''

In fact, Nicklaus played an inconsistent front nine, posting just two pars en route to a 1-over 37. He then double-bogeyed No. 11 and couldn't recapture any green jacket magic over the next seven holes.

Palmer shot a 37 going out and bogeyed three of the final four holes. Palmer hasn't made a cut since 1983, but he quelled rumors about becoming an honorary starter anytime soon.

``I'm not too seriously thinking about that yet,'' he said. ``One day, maybe.''