AUGUSTA, Ga. – The marquee threesome at the Par 3 Contest has just teed off and between them, Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer and Gary Player have 13 Masters titles.

Of the Big Three, Nicklaus has the most recent win in the season’s first major -- and that came 25 years ago when he was 46 years old. In fact, he’s playing the Par 3 Contest with a replica of the oversize MacGregor Response ZT putter he used in 1986.

* Kevin Streelman, who is playing in his first Masters, gave his caddie, Michael Christensen, the afternoon off. He will have his father on the bag at the Par 3 Contest instead.

* And so far, there’s only been on ace at the Par 3 and that came on the 130-yard first hole by Craig Stadler. It was the 73rd hole-in-one in the competition, which began in 1960.

* And don’t look now – but Luke Donald, who is ranked No. 4 in  the world, is leading the Par 3 after shooting 5 under.

The Englishman is one of the pre-tournament favorites. So maybe Donald can buck the trend that no Par 3 winner has gone on to win the Masters in the same year.

At least the winner walks away with a crystal bowl.

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Kevin Streelman made the turn in 2 under in the second round.

DORAL, Fla. – Kevin Streelman is trying to become the sixth player to win his first PGA TOUR event at a World Golf Championships event.

The former Duke standout started on the back nine at TPC Blue Monster and just birdied the 18th hole to turn in 34. Coupled with his opening 68, Streelman is now 6 under and tied for second with Martin Kaymer and Rory McIlroy, three strokes behind Hunter Mahan.

Streelman had never played in a World Golf Championships prior to this week.

Four of the first-timers picked up their first TOUR wins at the Accenture Match Play Championship – Darren Clarke (2000), Kevin Sutherland (2002) , Henrik Stenson (2007) and Ian Poulter (2010). Craig Parry’s win at the Bridgestone Invitational in 2002 was also his first on TOUR.

A win at the HSBC Champions counts as an official PGA TOUR win only if the player is a member. Francesco Molinari was not a TOUR member when he won last year. – Helen Ross

D.A. Points turned in the wedge shot of the year so far on TOUR at the AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am, using a 52-degree Ping Tour-W wedge for his Sunday holeout eagle on the 14th at Pebble.

Suffice to say, his gap wedge delivered better last week than he remembered on a similar shot a few years prior.

“It was a couple years ago, I was playing pretty well here and I was in the Top-10 and I was making a lot of

Jacobsohn/Getty Images

A 52-degree Ping Tour-W wedge made D.A. Points' Sunday at Pebble Beach.

birdies,” Points said. “I came down there and I had a gap wedge, similar kind of shot and I spun it left off the green and rolled down the hill under the tree and I made double bogey.

“Most of the time we are worried about putting too much spin on it. This year we are trying to get as much spin on it so we can hold it up there.”

-- Speaking of ball spin, Nike introduced a new TOUR-level golf ball Tuesday, the 20XI. The conventional rubber core is replaced with a resin core, engineered to produce more distance and control. Nike says the ball has perimeter weighting between the lighter core and heavier outer layers.

The ball, which comes in distance and spin models, is being used by Stephen Ames, Stewart Cink, Lucas Glover, Anthony Kim, Justin Leonard, Jamie Lovemark, Francesco Molinari and Carl Pettersson, among others.

Whether Tiger Woods switches to the 20XI remains to be seen, though he is said to be considering it. He still plays the Nike Tour One.

-- Golfweek’s Gene Yasuda writes that Wilson Golf spent $4 million on research and development last year – five times what it spent five years ago – in order to help implement to a two-year product cycle. The company’s marketing message has been simplified, touting 61 major championships won with Wilson irons, and Kevin Streelman has been added to a stable of TOUR pros that includes Ricky Barnes and Padraig Harrington.

Wilson posted an entertaining YouTube video of commercial outtakes including Barnes. Look for the wedge-bouncing ball trick, similar to the old Woods Nike commercial, here.

-- What was in amateurs’ bags at the AT&T? TaylorMade said its R11 was the No. 1 driver, with 24 in play.

Bill Murray won the Pro-Am with new Titleist Vokey wedges. Check out the BM stamps on his custom clubs here .

--Odyssey just released their D.A.R.T. putters and E. Michael Johnson of Golf World writes that the company is making a handful of “TOUR-only” options including a mid-length version with a 400-gram head, a long version with a 450-gram head, a black PVD version and one with a red D.A.R.T. alignment device. Some of those putters may be put in play at Riviera.

-- In a Masters conference call this week, Phil Mickelson lent some insight into his bag.

On putting two drivers into play at Augusta:

“That particular year, I believe, was one of the first years, if not the first year, that the golf course was lengthened extraordinarily. I think that was the first year that a lot of length was added; tee boxes were moved back quite a few yards. And to combat that, I tried to get a driver that I could hit an initial 20 yards.

“Although I called one a draw driver and one a fade driver, the long driver was the driver that I drew. But I also hit it 20 to 25 yards longer than I did my regular, was a longer shaft and so forth. And I believe that it played a big factor in me winning the golf tournament.

“Now the driver that I have, is very similar to that distance. It might only be five or seven yards shorter than that driver, and so there's really not a benefit to putting another longer driver in play. And so that frees me up to add another club.”

On his wedges:

“I've set my wedges now -- I used to have as much as five wedges, as you know. And what I did was took the gap and sand wedge and kind of created a club in between.

“So every week now, I am set with four wedges. I have a 64 and a 60. I have a strong sand wedge. Which is about 54, 53 1/2, 54 degrees, and then I have a pitching wedge that's a 47 1/2, 48. So that allows me to add some other clubs longer in the bag.

“And usually at Augusta, I don't have a hybrid. I usually carry a 3-iron. And the reason for that is, if I'm not able to reach the par 5s, like 13 and 15, with a 3-iron or less, I usually don't want to go for it, anyways.

“And second, the additional length on No. 4 puts me a lot of times right between clubs, between a 4-iron and sometimes a 3-iron. And so having a 3-iron in the bag at Augusta is what has helped me the last couple of years in some of those in-between shots from 220 to 245.

“So that is usually how my setup, club setup, is. And I no longer play with five wedges. I've had four wedges now and the same wedges for the last couple of years.”

Kevin Streelman, to an extent at least, has been unfairly held up by some as the poster boy to what changes should be to the FedExCup points system. All he’s done, though, is play well when it’s mattered the most -- his tie for third at The Barclays matched his best finish of the season.

“"It seems the only people who have a problem with it are sports writers," Streelman said Thursday.

Well, those arguments against Streelman could be about to fly out the window. He’s 2 under through four holes here in the second round and has climbed into a tie for fifth at the moment. And should Streelman end up finishing in the top 10, it would be his fifth top-10 of the season.

“If you have a good year and you're top 10 [in points], you're pretty much going to get to the TOUR Championship,” Streelman said. “If you want to truly call this a playoff system, then you should have to compete well in the Playoffs to get to the World Series of our sport." -- Brian Wacker

Kevin Streelman obviously didn’t get off to the kind of start he wanted with three bogeys in his first five holes. But he bounced back, much the way he did all year to get to THE TOUR Championship presented by Coca-Cola, to make four birdies and just one bogey over his final 12 holes for a round of even-par 70.

Prior to the PGA TOUR Playoffs for the FedExCup, Streelman had three top-10s but zero over the last months. Then he tied for third at The Barclays, which all but guaranteed him a spot in the field at East Lake -- despite finishing in a tie for 45th and a tie for 43rd each of the last two weeks. Not that Streelman is apologetic about it, nor should he be.

“I think the system right now is such that good play is rewarded in the Playoffs,” said Streelman, who is a member of the Players Advisory Council that will meet later this year to discuss, among other things, the Playoffs system. “It really mirrors the other major sports leagues in that regard.

“Two years ago we did not have it volatile enough. Now it seems a lot of guys have a chance. … You gotta play good in the Playoffs to move on, just like you do in the NFL.”

Asked if he felt he was playing with house money, Streelman said no.

“I’ve worked my butt off to get here,” he said. “I feel like I’ve earned my spot here.” -- Brian Wacker

Kevin Streelman tied for third at The Barclays and made a huge move in the FedExCup standings – jumping from 102nd to 18th.

He didn’t do himself any FedExCup favors in the second event of the PGA TOUR Playoffs for the FedExCup when he tied for 45th at the Deutsche Bank Championship. Streelman fell down to No. 26, as a result.

The Duke grad is fighting for his Playoffs life on Sunday at Cog Hill. He’s 1 under through 12 holes and 4 over for the tournament. About 20 minutes ago, he had dipped to 31st but now he’s back projected at No. 29.

Something tell us he’ll be huddled around the computer as the final round winds down.

Luke Donald and Kevin Streelman both have strong local ties to the Chicago area.

Donald came from England to attend Northwestern and still maintains a home in the Windy City. Streelman grew up near Cog Hill, which hosts the BMW Championship this week, and took his first golf lessons from Dr. Jim Suttie at the learning center there.

Donald, who was recently named to the European Ryder Cup team, is playing very well in front of the home crowd. He started on the back nine, made the turn in 33 and now stands 2 under for the tournament, four strokes off the lead.

Streelman had a frustrating start – shooting 40 on the front nine. But he has rebounded well on the back, making four birdies, one par and a bogey, to get back to 2  over for the tournament.

Kevin Streelman just won’t go away. Ridgewood’s favorite son has just made a 17-footer for  birdie at the ninth hole to move to 10 under, which is one stroke behind Martin Laird.

Streelman was in Laird’s spot here two years ago, taking a one-stroke advantage into the final round. He ended up in a tie for fourth which lifted him from 102nd to 37th in the FedExCup standings. He ended up making it through the first three Playoffs events.

Streelman, whose parents grew up in nearby Glen Ridge and whose grandparents are  buried adjacent to the seventh green, started this week in 102nd position, as well. The projected standings have him moving to 25th right now.

The Duke grad is really focused on getting to the BMW Championship this year. He actually was born in a Chicago suburb and took some of his first golf lessons from Dr. Jim Suttie at Cog Hill, which hosts the third Playoffs events. Two years ago, the BMW Championship was played in St. Louis at Bellerive Country Club.

Here are some FedExCup notes for the players in the final five groups in Sunday’s final round:

MARTIN LAIRD: Currently 95th in the standings, Laird is looking to take the No. 1 spot in the standings with a win. Laird was one of 15 players who played their way into the Deutsche Bank Championship from outside the cut line in 2008 with a T7 finish at The Barclays. This year, Laird has ranked outside the top five for the last 32 consecutive weeks of the regular season.

DUSTIN JOHNSON: Johnson is one of six players to have held No. 1 spot in the standings at any point during the 2010 regular season (weeks 6 – 9). Johnson has not ranked worse than 14th since week No. 4 of the regular season (29 consecutive weeks inside the top 15).

JASON DAY: Currently 28th in the standings, Day is the second-highest ranked Australian in the FedExCup standings (behind Robert Allenby). Day could potentially move to first in the standings Sunday with a win.

ADAM SCOTT: Currently 32nd in the standings, Scott could potentially take the No. 1 spot in the standings with a win. Entering the 2009 Barclays, Scott ranked 116th in the standings and this year he ranks 32nd. This is an 84-spot improvement and the second largest improvement among players in the 125 in both years.

JUSTIN ROSE: One of five players on TOUR this season with multiple wins (2). Entering the 2010 Playoffs, Rose is the No. 5 seed in the standings. This is an 86-spot improvement over his 2009 standing upon entering the Playoffs and the largest improvement among players in the 125 both years.

RYAN PALMER: One of six players to have held the No. 1 spot in the standings at any point during the 2010 regular season (weeks 2 and 3). After ranking inside the top 30 for the first 21 weeks of the regular season, Palmer fell outside after missing five consecutive cuts. However, Palmer righted the ship with a runner-up at the World Golf Championships-Bridgestone Invitational, moving back inside the top 30 entering the Playoffs.

MATT KUCHAR: Currently ninth in the standings, Kuchar is the second-highest ranked player on TOUR
without a win this year (behind Jeff Overton). Kuchar has a TOUR-leading and career-best nine top 10s in his 21 starts of the 2010 regular season. Kuchar has not ranked worse than 12th in the standings in the 33 weeks of the regular season.

JOHN SENDEN: Currently 99th in the standings, Senden is looking to move inside the top 30 for the first time this season with a fourth or better finish. Senden has ranked outside the top 30 for the first 33 weeks of the regular season.

VAUGHN TAYLOR: Currently 38th in the standings, Taylor has ranked inside the top 100 during all 33 weeks of the regular season. His lowest rank came during week No. 7 where he dropped to 84th. Taylor could move inside the top five with a T2 or better finish today.

KEVIN STREELMAN: Streelman began the 2008 Playoffs in the 102nd spot and is also ranked 102nd entering this week's Barclays. Streelman made the largest move of the 2008 Barclays (65 spots, from 102nd to 37th).

A few FedExCup notes on the players in the final three groups in Saturday’s third round:

JASON DAY: Currently 28th in FedExCup points, Day is the second-highest ranked Australian in the FedExCup standings (behind Robert Allenby). Day could potentially move to first overall in the standings this week with a win.

KEVIN STREELMAN: Began the 2008 Playoffs in the 102nd spot and is also ranked 102nd entering this week's Barclays. Streelman made the largest move of the 2008 Barclays (from 102nd to 37th -- 65 spots).

VAUGHN TAYLOR: Currently 38th in the standings, Taylor has ranked inside the top 100 during all 33 weeks of the regular season. His worse rank came during week No. 7 where he dropped to 84th.

STEWART CINK: One of three players who have made all 13 starts in the Playoffs since 2007. He is also one of six players to have made it to THE TOUR Championship presented by Coca-Cola (top 30) in each of the first three seasons of the Playoffs.

MARTIN LAIRD: Currently 95th in the standings, Laird is looking to crack the top 30 with a fourth or better finish this week. Laird was one of 15 players who played their way into the Deutsche Bank Championship from outside the cut line in 2008 with a T7 finish at the ’08 Barclays.

JOHN SENDEN: Currently 99th in the standings, Senden is looking to move inside the top 30 for the first time this season with a fourth or better finish. Senden has ranked outside the top 30 for the first 33 weeks of the regular season.