Arnold Palmer Retiring from Ceremonial Tee Shot at the Masters
By Matt Cochran
For the first time since 2007, Arnold Palmer will miss out on hitting the ceremonial tee shot at the Masters.
Words can’t describe the impact that Arnold Palmer has made on the game of golf. Golfers and fans alike are forever in debt to the King for what he’s done to help the game grow from the early stages to where it is now.
On Tuesday, we learned that a Masters tradition would be coming to an end for Arnie. He announced that he would not be hitting the ceremonial tee shot on Thursday at Augusta National to kick off the festivities.
The long-standing tradition that started in 1963 consisted of past Masters champions hitting an honorary tee shot to start the first major of the season. Past participants include Gene Sarazen, Sam Snead, and even Bryon Nelson.
Arnie stopped playing in the Masters in 2004 and started hitting the ceremonial tee shot in 2007. He was later joined by Jack Nicklaus in 2010 and Gary Player in 2012 to complete the Big Three. It will be the first time in nine years that Arnold Palmer won’t be participating in the Masters opener.
Palmer spoke on Tuesday about his decision to retire from ceremonial opener:
"“I called the [Augusta National Golf Club and Masters Tournament] chairman, Billy Payne, and informed him that I have resigned from hitting the ceremonial first tee shot. I am going to attend the Champions Dinner and then go home on Thursday, which has been my usual schedule the last few years. I plan to go out to the first tee with the chairman on Thursday morning and watch Jack [Nicklaus] and Gary [Player] sweat it out and hit the shots. Am I disappointed by that? Well, sure, but time moves on. I stopped playing in the Masters in 2004, I stopped playing in the Par-3 [Contest] last year, and now it’s time to end this part of my Masters career. I would love to go on doing it forever, but I don’t have the physical capability to hit the shot the way I would want to hit it. So I’ll have to be content to watch.”"
Arnie took a spill in December of 2014 that dislocated his shoulder, a lingering injury that still prevents him from swinging a golf club. He did fight through the pain in 2015 to hit the tee shot, but has decided it’s time to call it quits.
Jack Nicklaus took to Twitter to address Arnie’s decision:
"“I actually heard the news while I was at Augusta National today, and like any friend and fan of Arnold Palmer, I was disappointed for him. I know how much Augusta National and the Masters Tournament have meant to Arnold throughout his career and life, so I know this wasn’t an easy decision for him. But I have been communicating with Arnold in recent weeks, and I know he is doing what is in the best interest of his health and for future opportunities to get back up on that tee with driver in hand. What is wonderful is that Arnold will be there on Tuesday night at the Champions Dinner to regale us with stories, and hopefully on the first tee with Gary and me on Thursday morning. Whether he is swinging a club or not makes no difference, because no Masters Tournament will ever start without fond memories of the impact Arnold has made there.”"
At 86 years old, age is starting to catch up to the seven-time major winner. Out of his seven majors, the King has won the Green Jacket four different times and played in the event 50 times.
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Fortunately, Arnold Palmer will continue to attend the tournament to keep the pressure on the Black Knight and the Golden Bear as they keep the tradition alive.