Legends Entertain Fans at Insperity Championship


Four of golf's all-time greats regaled thousands of fans Saturday following the second round of the Champions Tour's Insperity Championship at the Woodlands Country Club in Texas.

Playing in a special 18-hole exhibition, Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus, Gary Player and Lee Trevino recalled their former glory. In the same threesome were Palmer, Nicklaus and Player - golf's former "Big 3." Palmer sank a 25-foot putt on the final hole, eliciting a loud and prolonged ovation by the crowd, estimated to be 40,000.

"I was so happy to see him do that," Player noted of Palmer's putt. "He got a little taste of what he did when he was young."

Trevino was in the threesome ahead in the nine-man scramble. Miller Barber, Don January, David Graham, Gene Littler and Dave Stockton also participated. Nicklaus, Palmer and Player posted 11 birdies for the victory.

"We enjoyed it," said Nicklaus. "We didn't make any bogeys, we made a few birdies and we hit a few nice shots and had a great time. And that's what this was all about . . . I'd do it again," he added. "I just don't play golf. I actually hit the ball pretty decently today. I putted very well, and I wouldn't have expected that."

Several active touring pros - including Steve Elkington, Ben Crenshaw, Peter Jacobsen and Andy Bean - were part of the gallery. "I love to see them," Crenshaw said. "We can't thank them enough. They've done it all for us. I have been so fortunate to have spent so much time with them, not only playing, but being together. They've been a great part of my professional life."

Nicklaus summed up the thoughts of the participants and the spectators, saying, "We had a blast today."