King of Golf Abdicates After Last Round at Augusta

As Arnold Palmer walked the lush fairway of the final hole of his 50th and final Masters, his red shirt and white hair stood out in bright contrast to the green background at Augusta National Golf Club. He waved to the crowd of thousands, and they cheered his every footstep.

Palmer shot an 84 for the second day in a row and missed the cut for the 21st consecutive year. But none of that mattered to those who surrounded the 18th green, waiting to catch one last glimpse of the 74-year-old legend who captured four Masters titles and the fancy of many millions of fans. After tapping in a bogey putt, he saluted the crowd and left the green, marking the end of an era.

“It’s done. I won’t say I’m happy it’s done, but it’s time,” he said. “I’ve thought about how many times I’ve walked up that 18th fairway. I can think of the four times that I won the Masters. I can think of the fans that have supported me.

“The fact is that one of the things I wanted to do was what I did today, and that was to finish 50 years at Augusta.”

It was at Augusta National that Palmer, the son of a greenskeeper from Latrobe, Pa., became famous while elevating the Masters to its current status as the premier golf tournament in the world. His victories at the Masters in 1958, 1960, 1962 and 1964 cemented his reputation as the game’s top performer and, with the help of television, helped transform golf into a major sport.

Not only was he a champion on the course, Palmer also proved himself a master of the market off it, serving as a noted pitchman for products that ranged from oil to tractors. Just last month, in Golf Digest’s listing of the top 50 golfers in total earnings, Palmer was second only to Tiger Woods with an annual income of $22,063,110 -- all but $63,000 coming from endorsements.

“Arnold opened the door on endorsement deals,” Woods said.

Palmer was the first four-time winner of the Masters, a tournament that perhaps represents the greatest accomplishments of his professional career, which began in 1955 and produced 62 PGA Tour victories along with seven major championships.

In half a century here, Palmer took 11,248 shots in 150 rounds and played 2,718 holes, roughly 600 miles.

Of the 93 players who started the tournament Thursday, 81 had not been born when Palmer played his first Masters in 1955.

“The thing that comes to my mind is that after Bobby Jones founding this place, I guess Arnold has meant more to the Masters tournament than anyone,” said Hootie Johnson, chairman of Augusta National. “He’s meant more to golf. He’s an exciting player. He’s even exciting at 74.”

At 12:46 p.m., as Palmer’s tee time arrived, his fans were in obvious agreement. Thousands circled the tee and thousands more strained at the yellow cords on both sides of the first fairway.

Palmer shook hands with Hall of Fame golfer Byron Nelson and then Johnson, who greeted him at the first tee. After a loud ovation, Palmer was introduced in exactly the same way he has been called to the tee for 50 years here.

“Fore, please. Arnold Palmer. United States.”

When he reached the first green, Palmer received the first of a series of standing ovations and was cheered loudly even when he made a bogey. It was more of the same through his final round, with cheering and bogeys competing for Palmer’s time equally.

Palmer didn’t seem to mind that his game wasn’t on. He treated his round as an upbeat farewell tour for his loyal fans and responded to their clapping and shouts of encouragement by waving, removing his visor and giving the thumbs-up sign.

Palmer’s drive at the seventh hole landed in the left rough and scattered the crowd. A woman wearing a green beret with a plastic golf ball and flagstick on the top attracted Palmer’s attention and he pointed to her as he walked up.

“She’s got her ball on her head, I lost mine somewhere,” he said, then motioned to the crowd. “You’d better move back just a little. You saw where this one went, didn’t you? I ... wouldn’t stand there with me playing.”

At the 12th tee, there was a group still on the green, so Palmer had to wait. He sat down on a bench and pretended to rest on the shoulder of one of the groundskeepers.

The official scoreboards at each green list the scores of the players in the next group as they approach, but when Palmer reached the 11th green, the place on the board for his score was left blank. Because he was already 19 over par, there was no point in listing his score. On this day, Palmer’s score was irrelevant. His mere presence was enough.

Now, even that is no longer part of the normal scene of the Masters. Palmer is a club member and can play any time he wishes, but he has no intention of playing in the tournament.

“I’ve had it. I’m done. Cooked. Washed up. Finished. Whatever you want to say,” he said. “Augusta and this tournament have been about as big a part of my life as anything other than my family. I don’t think that I could ever separate myself from this club and this golf tournament. I may not be present, but I’ll still be part of what happens here. I’ve had a great life.”

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50 Masters

Arnold Palmer, who concluded play Friday in his 50th and final Masters tournament, has played in more Masters than anyone. He won the event four times -- in 1958, 1960, 1962 and 1964 -- but has not made the cut since 1983.

First year ...1955

Final year ...2004

Appearances ...50

Cuts made ...25

Rounds played... 150

Low round... 66

High round... 89

Rounds under par ...41

Top 3 finishes ...7

Top 5 ...9

Top 10 ...12

Source: Masters.org

Los Angeles Times