AUGUSTA, Ga. — It was after 6 o'clock, but a huge crowd, the largest of the week, circled the 18th green about 20 deep and lined both sides of the 18th fairway. It was the kind of crowd you'd expect to see at Augusta National on Sunday afternoon, not Friday.
The thousands that surrounded the 18th hole were there for one reason — to see Arnold Palmer walk up for the final time.
Palmer was making his 50th and final appearance at the Masters, which he won four times between 1958 and 1964. Nobody cared that Palmer shot an 84 for the second straight day. They just wanted to see Arnie and give him one last ovation.
From the time he teed off on No. 1 and walked down the fairway, Palmer was greeted with thunderous applause. As he trudged up the hill at 18, which is much steeper than it appears on TV, Palmer, wearing a bright red shirt, looked tired, but he flashed his famous smile and waved to the crowd.
He almost went out in style, chipping from in front of the green to within 5 feet, but his par putt slipped by.
After signing his card, Palmer made an appearance at the Butler Cabin for television and then held one final press conference, where he told a few funny stories, including one about seeing a snake out on No. 13. He waxed sentimental about all his years at the Masters.
"Augusta and this golf tournament has been about a part of my life as anything other than my family," he said. "I don't think that I could ever separate myself from this club and tournament. I may not (play), but I'll still be a part of what happens here, only because I want to be."
Palmer left open the possibility of becoming the honorary starter for the first round, a job that wasn't filled this year after the death of Sam Snead, the last person to fill that role.
NOT LAST: Palmer hasn't made a cut at the Masters in 21 years and no one expected him to come close this year.
But at least Palmer didn't finish in last place.
That dishonor went to 1973 champion Tommy Aaron, who had rounds of 87 and 83.
NOT THE FIRST: Utah's Mike Weir was disappointed not to make the cut in defense of his Masters title, but he wasn't the first it's happened to.
Jose Maria Olazabal missed the cut in 2000 by one shot with a 149 total, just like Weir this year.
Other champions who missed the following year included Nick Faldo in 1997, Ben Crenshaw in 1996, Sandy Lyle in 1989, Seve Ballesteros in both 1981 and 1984, Tommy Aaron in 1974 and Jack Nicklaus in 1967. Faldo missed by the most, finishing seven shots off the cut.
WHERE'S THE CLOWN'S MOUTH? Augusta National gets tougher every year and can really be tough if the pins are put in tough places.
Weir wasn't pleased with the pin placement at 18, where he made a costly bogey, and at a couple of other places.
When asked about them, Weir replied, "The pin placements were interesting . . . I'll say that."
Then, almost under his breath, he added, "Put a windmill on them," which is a golfer's way of saying the pin placements were more suited to a miniature golf course.
THE PRICE IS RIGHT: Because it is perhaps the most difficult sporting event to get into in the world, you'd expect prices to be on the high side at the Masters.
Not so.
When you go to buy concessions, you think you're at Retro Night at a Jazz game. Drinks are either 75 cents or a dollar and sandwiches priced between $1.25 and $2.50.
Prices in the golf shop are more normal, but at least they're not jacked way up. You can still buy a Masters hat for around $20 and a shirt for less than $50.
Parking is also remarkably convenient with a huge lot on grass adjacent to the Augusta National on a first-come, first-serve basis. It's less than a five-minute walk from the farthest corner of the lot and about a two-minute walk from the press parking area.
The bad news for future patrons is that the Augusta Golf Club big-wigs are planning to turn most of that land into a golf training center for future Masters participants.
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