Masters legends have permanent place in Augusta

They are no longer Masters Tournament competitors, but Jack Nicklaus and Arnold Palmer play on at the Augusta Museum of History.

Six of the greatest Masters champions are immortalized with bronze statues. Five are housed in the rotunda of the museum.

The Nicklaus statue features the Golden Bear holding his putter in the air, commemorating his famous birdie at No. 17 en route to his sixth green jacket in 1986.

The Palmer statue represents the four-time Masters champion casually standing with his right hand on his hip and his left propping up a driver. The other statues at the museum include: Augusta National Golf Club co-founder Bobby Jones and two-time champions Byron Nelson and Ben Hogan.

The Ray Floyd statue was recently moved to Augusta Regional Airport. Floyd won the 1976 Masters.

The larger-than-life statues, all but one commissioned by local sponsors for display at the Georgia Golf Hall of Fame, remained in storage since 2007 when the golf hall ran out of money.

Last year, the statues found a new home.

The museum is at 560 Reynolds St., and it is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursday through Saturday and from 1-5 p.m. Sunday.

For information, visit augustamuseum.org.