Big Three hope others follow in service as ambassadors

They've grown old in front of our eyes, but the Big 3 have remained relevant for decades beyond their competitive days.

Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus and Gary Player were together again on the first tee at Augusta National on Thursday morning, each hitting center-cut drives up the fairway as the honorary openers to the 76th Masters Tournament.

But it was in the interview room, as it has remained for years, that the three golfing giants continued their roles as golf's biggest ambassadors.

Did they always feel a responsibility to do that and do they believe the game's current icons will follow in their footsteps decades from now?

"Well, I hope so," said Palmer. "I think this tournament kind of sets a pace for golf in America and in the world. And the fact that we are here and people that come back here each year set a precedent for the future. And I think these young people that are coming along will understand it if they see us do it. And I would hope that they would and I would hope that they would continue to endorse this golf tournament and what happens here the beginning of each golf season."

Nicklaus gave a thumbs up supporting that sentiment. Player added his own take.

"I think that there should be, which I think is a vital ingredient of one's life, a sense of gratitude and we must never forget where we came from and how we started and what this tournament has done for our lives.

"I think one of the great difficulties that we are encountering in the world today with young people is a sense of entitlement. There's no such damn thing as entitlement. You have to work for what you get today. So therefore, I think all three of us hold this tournament in such high esteem."

Said Nicklaus: "Both well answered."