No trio of players has ever dominated the game of golf like the Big Three: Arnold Palmer (Stats | Bio) , Jack Nicklaus (Stats | Bio) and Gary Player (Stats | Bio) .

Their dominance was most evident at Augusta National Golf Club, where they won all but one of the Masters Tournaments from 1958 to 1966.

"We did have a big rivalry, and we were all close friends," Palmer said. "That was something that was kind of good for the game and good for the three of us."

Although Palmer was the first four-time Masters winner, Nicklaus eclipsed his record with six wins. But they never went head-to-head at Augusta National with the Masters on the line.

"Arnold and I have been linked at the hip with Augusta, and I'm sure we always will be," Nicklaus said. "What's amazing is the combination of 10 Masters between us and we never really went down to the wire to decide the tournament.

"I was second to him in 1964 and finished six shots back. He was second in 1965, and I was nine shots ahead. That's about as close as we got, and it was strange the way that worked out."

Player, on the other hand, had some memorable battles against Palmer in 1961 and 1962.

"I have such fond memories of competing against Arnold at Augusta. There were no crowds in golf that loved Arnold more than the patrons at Augusta National," Player said. "I remember the final round in 1961 like it was yesterday. It was coming down to the wire against Arnold on Sunday, and I remember thinking that there wasn't a soul there that wanted me to beat Palmer except my wife.

"The roars in the gallery were deafening when Arnold made a move. You could hear them echo through the pines, and it would send shivers up your spine," Player said. "For me, those shivers helped me to excel. Although the patrons at Augusta are the most well-behaved galleries in golf, there was no mistaking who the King was in their eyes. While I managed to win in '61, Arnold returned the favor in '62 and got his army what they wanted most, a Palmer green jacket."

Now they compete most often away from the golf course and in the business world. All three have multifaceted operations that include golf design companies.

The Champions Retreat at Riverwood Plantation in Columbia County features holes designed by each of the three.

"We enjoyed each other's company and enjoyed playing against each other," Palmer said. "We had a lot of fun doing it, and we still compete on the links. We're driven hard, all three of us. That's part of us."