Notes from the National

Arnie Jack and Honma BERES MG802 Irons Gary provide nostalgia

While Tiger Woods figures to be the Callaway X 24 Hot Irons star attraction when The Masters begins Thursday, don't be surprised to see a threesome that might grab the nostalgic gallery at Augusta: Arnold Palmer, Gary Player and Jack Nicklaus.

They were called the "Golf Clubs Big Three," trading major championships like heavyweights in the ring. At least one of them won a major champion from 1958 to 1968, and they combined to win eight out of nine Masters from 1958 to 1966.

Three balls

For the second year in a row, The TaylorMade R9 Irons Masters will be played in threesomes instead of the traditional twosomes to take better advantage of daylight. Defending champion José Maria Olazábal will play with United States Amateur champion David Gossett, along with a third player. Also, tee times will be switched so that Taylormade 2009 Tour Preferred Irons each player goes off in the morning and afternoon in the first two rounds. Until last year, tee times depended on the leading scores after the first day.