Chairman Payne to honor Palmer one more time

Arnold Palmer will be front and center one more time for today’s honorary starters ceremony.

Before Jack Nicklaus and Gary Player hit their ceremonial tee shots at 7:40 this morning, Augusta National Golf Club and Masters Tournament Chairman Billy Payne will say some remarks in memory of Palmer, the four-time Masters champion who died in September.

“I think tomorrow will no doubt be an emotional goodbye,” Payne said Wednesday. “But at the same time, an even more powerful thank you to the man we dearly love.”

Commemorative Arnie’s Army buttons will be provided to all patrons today, he said.

Payne spoke Wednesday morning at his annual news conference before the tournament. He was asked a variety of topics, ranging from course changes to the Olympics to his thoughts about President Trump.

Since last year, Augusta National has made significant changes to its property. Improvements were made on the western edge of the club after Berckmans Road was rerouted. Also, a grand, new Press Building was erected at the end of the tournament practice area. Payne was asked whether the club had any thoughts about naming the building after Palmer, an Augusta National member who captured four of his seven major championships in Augusta.

“We just finished this building two days ago and, quite honestly, we just haven’t thought about that yet,” Payne said. “So I really don’t have an answer for that. Sorry.”

Payne didn’t announce any course changes, but he acknowledged that there is now room to add a new tee at the par-4 fifth hole.

“It’s fair to say, as is always the case, we are always looking at certain holes, certain other improvements to the golf course, and we talked about some of those, and I think they are all pretty obvious,” he said. “We have a great opportunity now in that we now own the old Berckmans Road. It gives us the ability, as it touches certain holes, it gives us some way to expand or redesign – not redesign, but lengthen some of those holes, should we choose to do so, and all of them are under review.”