Palmer may not be done with Masters after all

Four-time champion Arnold Palmer played his last competitive round at the Masters in 2004, but the King is considering returning to Augusta National in April as an official starter.

By Dave Shedloski, Golf Surround

ORLANDO -- Arnold Palmer opened the door slightly Wednesday to returning to Augusta National Golf Club for more than just a few waves and a quick tour around the Par-3 Course.

In a wide-ranging interview at his Bay Hill Club, the four-time Masters champion admitted that he was considering assuming the role of official starter at the Masters Tournament, perhaps as early as this year's tournament, which begins April 5.

"I'm thinking about it," the 78-year-old Palmer said on the eve of the PGA TOUR tournament he has hosted since 1979 and now bears his name -- the Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by MasterCard. "I'm giving it some very careful consideration now that I have stopped playing competitively."

Palmer, the winner in 1958, '60, '62 and '64, competed in 50 Masters Tournaments, the last in 2004. He abruptly announced his retirement from competitive golf last October in Spring, Texas, following the opening round of the Administaff Small Business Classic on the Champions Tour.

"You know, Augusta is one of my very favorite places, and, of course, Bill Payne (the new Masters chairman) is a good friend," said Palmer, who is a member at Augusta National. "So, as of this day I am really giving that some serious consideration. It isn't that I have anything against doing it. I just want it to be the right time when I decide to do it, that's all."

The Masters Tournament has not had an official starter since Sam Snead's fulfillment of that role in 2002. As recently as 1999, three former Masters champions -- Snead, Byron Nelson and Gene Sarazen -- did the honors.

While Doc Giffin, Palmer's long-time assistant, said that Palmer might entertain the possibility of playing nine holes to kick off the opening round of the Masters, as some previous official starters have done, Palmer told Scott Michaux of the Augusta Chronicle that he had interest only in hitting an opening tee ball and, "that's it" as he walked out of the press room.