AUGUSTA, Ga., April 12 (UPI) -- Arnold Palmer's final round at the Masters has turned out to be a lot longer than he had expected.
Palmer was one of 38 players who could not complete the second round of the tournament Friday when heavy rains struck the course late in the afternoon. So his 48-year competitive career at the Augusta National Golf Club will last one more day.
He had played 12 holes Friday when play was suspended -- only three of which he managed to par.
"But his score is irrelevant," said former Masters champion Fred Couples in one of the many tributes paid to Palmer Friday. "I really love the guy. Even if he hits just one good shot and shoots a high score, that's OK."
Palmer announced Thursday that the second round of this year's Masters would be his last at the tournament. That decision made him the focus of attention Friday.
Although a crowd of players was battling for the lead early in the afternoon, thousands of fans abandoned the galleries following the likes of Vijay Singh, Sergio Garcia and Phil Mickelson and headed for the first tee to watch Palmer begin his final round.
He rewarded them by slamming his opening tee shot down the middle of the fairway.
But Palmer bogeyed that hole and five of the next six holes as well. That clearly made no difference to those who either waited at a particular hole to get a good view of the four-time Masters champion or followed along on walkways made slippery by morning rain.
"It has to be frustrating because we know how Arnie is," said Sergio Garcia. "He doesn't like to make bogeys. We know he likes to pull off the shot, even if his chance of doing it is not good.
"It doesn't matter how old he is. He's always trying as hard as he can."
"I have the utmost respect for Arnold Palmer," said Spain's Seve Ballesteros, whose own game has declined in recent years. "He is a wonderful player and person and he will always be on my mind."
