Palmer Back At Augusta As Honorary Starter

By: Mike Garbett
Media General News Service

AUGUSTA, Ga. — The Masters’ unique tradition of having an honorary starter will resume Thursday when four-time champion Arnold Palmer hits the tournament’s first tee shot.

Until recently, Palmer, 77, was steadfast against taking on the ceremonial duties. But while hosting his tournament at Bay Hill in mid-March, Palmer seemed more willing to accept the role.

“The time has come,” Palmer, wearing his Augusta National member’s green jacket, said Tuesday during the news conference to announce his new role.

Palmer said he was flattered when Augusta National chairman Billy Payne approached him with the idea but wanted to make sure the time was right.

“I didn’t want to jump the gun and do it too early in my career,” Palmer said. “I just didn’t want to rush into it. This was a good time.”

Palmer, the tournament’s champion in 1958, ’60, ’62 and ’64, last played in 2004, his 50th Masters appearance.

The Masters has been without an honorary starter since 2002, when Sam Snead did the honors. As recently as 1999, Snead, Byron Nelson and GeneSarazen (who won a combined six Masters titles) fulfilled the role.

JOYOUS OCCASION: Brett Quigley, making his first Masters appearance, left during Tuesday’s practice round and returned to Florida to be with wife Amy, who was set to give birth to their first child, a daughter.

Quigley, in his first Masters during his 11th full season on tour, earned his invite to Augusta National by finishing 20th on the money list last year. He made the trip because Amy wasn’t due until April 16.

“I’m thrilled,” Quigley said. “I got a call at 5:30 [Tuesday] morning. She thought there were some problems, so she went to the hospital. But it turned out everything was fine. Then I got a call on the 11th green and she said her water broke, so I’m going home.”

Quigley did not withdraw and was hopeful of returning to Augusta in time for his first-round tee time (2:03 p.m. Thursday) but said: “It just depends on how Momma and the baby are doing.”

BREAKING THROUGH: With seven Australians in the field, including the reigning U.S. Open champion and a pair of 2007 winners, Adam Scott says this could be the year an Aussie finally gets fitted for a green jacket.

Coming off his victory at the Shell Houston Open, the world’s third-ranked player is riding the momentum as he, Geoff Ogilvy and a handful of others carry the hopes of a nation long captivated and often disappointed — think Greg Norman — by the Masters.

“It’s going to happen eventually, hopefully, but certainly to be the first Australian to win the Masters would be a dream come true,” said Scott, a 26-year-old with five PGA Tour victories. “I think any one of us could do it.”

Ogilvy has a major on his résumé, the benefactor of Phil Mickelson’s 18th-hole collapse at the 2006 U.S. Open. Aaron Baddeley captured the FBR Open in early February and Scott arrived at Augusta fresh off his win outside Houston.

Also, Robert Allenby, Stuart Appleby, Nick O’Hern and Rod Pampling have combined for 10 PGA Tour wins.

“Just like every other tournament in the world at the moment, Australians are more likely to win one now than they were five years ago because there’s more in the field and more good players,” Ogilvy said.

AROUND AUGUSTA: Mickelson, who has been in town preparing to defend his title since Thursday, recorded his first hole-in-one at Augusta National on Sunday, acing the par-3 16th hole with an 8-iron. … More on Mickelson: His menu for Tuesday night’s champions dinner included fried chicken, ribs, beef brisket and summer sausage, with vanilla ice cream for dessert. … Ogilvy is expected to wear gold shoes during today’s practice round and Par-3 Contest, as well as during a tournament round. The shoes are said to be similar to those worn by sprinter Michael Johnson during the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta.