A breakfast with champions

Here in 2015, these redoubtable men who need no introduction - they get announced as simply the 'Big Three' in the interview room - were together again performing their usual ceremonial duties that get the Masters underway. Old Arnie, 85, managed to hoik one on to the ninth fairway but mercifully didn't clatter anybody clustered round the first tee. "I just said to myself 'don't fan it'," he said with a chortle. "I don't think he's kidding," added 75-year-old Nicklaus. "He said the same thing to me."

Player, the 79-year-old fitness fanatic who probably wolfed down a breakfast of twigs, soil and organic elixirs before teeing off, smacked a corker right down the middle but refrained from an encore of 70 press ups. Nicklaus, meanwhile, did his best to match him but his classy dunt trundled up 10 yards short of Player's ball. The competitive spirit has not been diminished by the passing years and the bragging rights belonged to the Black Knight.

A trinity with a combined age of 239 got the 79th Masters up and running. And then it was time for a blether. Perched together in a row, these ageing legends bounced off each other like giggling bairns on an inflatable castle. That 1965 tussle was first up on the agenda as they reflected on a magical Masters. "Well I remember what the third round was," chuckled Nicklaus, who romped away from his rivals with a shimmering 64 en route to a second Green Jacket. "I remember it too ... and the wrong man won," piped up Player. "I don't remember anything," mumbled Palmer with great comedy timing.

These golden oldies from a golden era have stuck together like glue. In a collective 147 Masters appearances they racked up a wardrobe of 13 jaickets among them. They were friends but fearsome golfing foes. "The biggest disappointment I ever had in my life was in 1962 and I was two shots head of Arnie with three holes to play and had the opportunity to be the first player to win successive Masters," reflected Player. "I hit first on the 16th and put it to about 12-feet from the hole. Arnold missed the green to the right and the flag was bottom left. Nobody has ever two-putted from there so I said to my caddie 'can you believe it? We've won'. Well, he hit this putt all the way round the bend, it hit the flag and went in. I still had one shot on him. On 17, Arnold hits the Eisenhower Tree with his drive and I was hoping it would stick in the tree but it came down. Well I hated that tree. He takes a 5-iron, knocks it to 25-feet and slots it. We tie for the tournament and he beats me in the play-off. I've never forgotten that in my life. Just before I die, I'll say 'Arnold, you son of a ...".

Respect and rivalry, comradeship and competitiveness; these were some of the ingredients that made for an enthralling, enduring and endearing relationship among three of this Royal & Ancient game's most iconic figures.

"We always wanted to beat the living hell out of each other but our friendship has been fantastic," said Player. "They have been to my farm, we have been down gold mines, I've slept at Arnie's house, I've slept at Jack's house. The food was lousy. We have travelled and been together all around the world for a long, long time. It's been unique really. I was staying with Jack one time and we were sharing the lead going into the final round of the PGA. Now Barbara, his wife, is doing breakfast and I'm thinking 'hell' I'm a bit worried about this, we are tied for the lead'. She puts the eggs on the table, goes to the kitchen and I swap them round. But it didn't help because Jack beat me anyway. But it's hard to express what I feel about them. You can have love for a woman and you can have love for a friend. It's the greatest word that exists and I think that is what we've had for each other."

And what do you think about that Mr Palmer. "I'm ready to go home," he said wearily. The golf writers who were up at the crack of dawn nodded in agreement.