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 Too frail to perform his duties, the 86-year-old Palmer looked on
longingly from a white lawn chair as the two other members of golf's
'Big Three', longtime rivals and friends Jack Nicklaus and Gary
Player, soldiered on without him to get the year's first major off
to an emotional start.
After striking his shot, Nicklaus, tears welling in his eyes, helped
Palmer to his feet as the 'King', the 'Golden Bear' and 'Black
Knight' posed for the traditional first tee photograph while roars
echoed through the tall Georgia pines.
"I think that everybody was happy to see Arnold out on the tee,"
said the 76-year-old Nicklaus. "I think Arnold was happy to be on
the tee. I think he would have preferred to hit a golf ball.
 "I talked to him at the Masters dinner. I said, 'Arnold, when you're
out there, what if we just take you up and had you hit? I don't care
if you putt it off the tee, I think everybody would love to have you
do anything.'
"So this morning I talked to him and I said, 'What do you want to
do?' He said, 'I'm good.' I said, 'Fine, let's leave it alone.'"
A fixture and charismatic presence at Augusta National for over six
decades, four-time Masters champion Palmer has been rarely seen on
the club grounds this April.
Tom Watson, who is playing his 43rd and last Masters this week,
filled in for Palmer at Wednesday's Par-3 contest as a partner with
Nicklaus and Player.
Following Thursday's opening ceremonies, Nicklaus and Player made
their way to the media center for a news conference while Palmer
disappeared into the club house.
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For many in the gallery who remembered Palmer as the dashing young
athlete with Popeye-like forearms and leading man good looks. it was
shocking to see the King in such a fragile state.
"I think that we had a very unusual friendship amongst competitors,"
said the 80-year-old Player, reflecting on his long rivalry with
Palmer and Nicklaus who between them have made 97 Masters
appearances and won 34 majors.
"It was so fiercely competitive, and we made it very clear we wanted
to beat the hell out of each other. And when we did, we looked the
other man in the eye and said, 'Well done.'
"To have longevity has been a special gift. And to come here today
and to be on the tee with Arnold being a part of us, it was
gratifying and sad, because everything shall pass.
"But it was nice to have him on the tee. I dedicated my first tee
shot to him in respect."
(Editing by Mark Lamport-Stokes)
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