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Augusta National chairman Billy Payne announced on Tuesday that Gary Player would be invited to join contemporaries Jack Nicklaus and Arnold Palmer as honorary starters for the 2012 Masters Tournament.

“I couldn’t think of a greater place in the world for the three of us hitting off together,” Player said. “I just love the Masters. It’s special, special, special. And we’re all going to be there together, as comfortable as old friends can be, enjoying each other’s smiling faces.”

The three Masters champions have graced the famed Georgia Jewel in recent years playing in the Par-3 Contest on Wednesday of tournament week. However, Palmer became the first of the “Big Three” to be named an honorary starter, beginning in 2007. Last year, in 2010, Nicklaus joined Palmer hitting the ceremonial opening tee shots.

It only felt right to have Player join the duo.

“I am delighted that Gary is joining Arnold and me. As an international champion and someone I have said might be, pound for pound, the best player in the game’s history, Gary has done so much to grow the game around the world,” Nicklaus said on his Facebook page. “His success at the Masters just over 50 years ago opened eyes and hopefully opened doors for many aspiring young players from other countries. So it is only fitting that Gary have an opportunity to step on the first tee and be celebrated and thanked by the appreciative Augusta National patrons.”

The Big Three won every Masters tournament from 1960-1966 and won eight of nine starting in 1958.

Player won the Masters in three times; first in 1961 beating Palmer by one stroke, second in 1974 and finally in 1978.

“I’m already looking forward to it, particularly being with my two good friends,” Player said. “We were always fierce competitors, we wanted to beat each other and that was a healthy thing. But it was more than just golf. It was a great friendship and respect for each other as well. It still is.”