Palmer on ending run as Masters starter: ‘Time moves on’

Arnold Palmer won’t hit another golf shot at the Masters.

Early on Tuesday, reports surfaced confirming the four-time green jacket winner will not be a ceremonial starter at Augusta National next month for the first time since stepping into that role in 2007. However, the King took it a step further on Tuesday, saying he would no longer be part of the group that kicks off the year’s first major.

“Am I disappointed? Well, sure, but time moves on,” Palmer said, according to Golf Digest. “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.”

Palmer first competed in the Masters in 1955, earning a spot after winning the prior year’s U.S. Amateur. Three years later, he won the first of his Masters titles, the rest of which coming in successive even-numbered years: 1960, ’62 and ’64.

The Latrobe, Pa., native last made the Masters cut in 1983 but continued to play until 2004, competing in 50 consecutive Masters.

Three years after Palmer became the honorary starter, a concept which began in 1963, in 2007, Jack Nicklaus joined him in 2010. Gary Player, who played in 52 Masters, joined the group in 2012. Now, it will likely be Nicklaus who hits the first shot in the batting order.

Ryan Ballengee is a Yahoo Sports contributor. Find him on Facebook and Twitter.

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