Palmer out as Masters starter

ORLANDO, Fla. - Jack Nicklaus and Gary Player will share the first tee at Augusta National Golf Club on April 7 when they hit the ceremonial opening shots of the Masters Tournament.

Photos: 2015 Honorary Starters tee off

Arnold Palmer, whose four green jackets and swashbuckling ways helped propel the tournament to international significance, is opting out – but he will be an avid spectator.

Palmer informed Augusta National and Masters chairman Billy Payne on Monday that he would not be able to participate in the annual ritual for the first time since 2007, but will be there for the Champions Dinner on Tuesday and will watch Nicklaus and Player hit their tee shots two days later.

Palmer, an 86-year-old charter member of the World Golf Hall of Fame, hasn’t played much golf due to a shoulder injury in December 2014 and is keeping a low profile this week at the invitational PGA Tour event that bears his name at the Bay Hill Club and Lodge.

“Am I disappointed ... well, sure, but time moves on,” Palmer said Tuesday during an interview with a pool reporter. “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 was joined for the ceremonial tee shot at Augusta by Nicklaus in 2010 and Player in 2012. He won the Masters in 1958, 1960, 1962 and 1964, a victory total surpassed only by Nicklaus’ six.

Palmer’s grandson, PGA Tour player Sam Saunders, had announced last week that his grandfather would be appearing at the Palmer Invitational in a limited capacity. In past years Palmer did a news conference, on-air appearances with Golf Channel and NBC, and was frequently seen zipping around the property in a golf cart, chatting with players, volunteers and fans.

He has still been around this week. Palmer posed for a photo with Bay Hill volunteers Sunday and made a brief appearance on the practice range on Monday.

“We have a great field and I’m very happy about that,” said Palmer, referring to world No. 2-ranked Rory McIlroy, No. 3 Jason Day and No. 6 Adam Scott playing this week. “It’s a tough time of year as it gets closer to the Masters but I’m appreciative of the players who are here and I’m expecting a great week.”