The faithful lined the first fairway.

Under clear skies and soft sunshine, they crowded areas emptier than Worldcom's bank account minutes earlier.

At Augusta National Golf Club, green ropes, twine with the breaking strength of straw, are honored as if they were made of concertina wire. Fans stand respectfully back, yielding inches of valuable space.

Not this time.

One woman gingerly sat by the ropes, folding up cautiously for a better look.

"I may have to call 911 to help me up," she said. She sat anyway.

As Arnold Palmer (Stats | Bio) approached the first tee, applause rippled through the growing throng.

After Palmer hit what has become all too typical - a drive short and off target - applause again danced along the crowded ropes, spreading like a wave as he walked down the first fairway.

Everyone knew the sad truth. This was the beginning of the end for Palmer, the start of his final trip as a competitor around this course.

He says he doesn't want the role of honorary starter, though it seems written for him. It would keep his presence here alive but not call on skills he no longer possesses. You don't need an Internet dating service to see what a perfect match that would be. After a long afternoon Friday, he said he would consider it.

But the truth is, Palmer has earned the right to do things his way.

There is no need to chronicle Palmer's contributions to this sport. He took a smallish, country-club activity and turned it into a national cult.

Sure, he did it with skill and talent, but he also employed an excess of charm and humanity.

Palmer not only loved the game, he loved the people who loved the game, and that has remained a constant as the drives have shortened and the putts have lengthened.

And people like being loved.

Today's golfers are better in every technical respect. With superior gear and better preparation, they routinely slash once-proud courses to the ground. Courses respond by adding more ground and deducting charm. Palmer did it the other way. As he lost yardage, he added appeal.

"I never got to see him play at his best, but just to see the reception he got, he was definitely the man this week," second-round leader Justin Rose (Stats | Bio) said.

The round ended the way it started, only more crowded and more sad.

That final walk was a bittersweet reminder of how we came to this pass - a beautiful end to an ugly round. In a final nod of respect, Palmer's 24-over par total was not listed on the marquee that announces players approaching the 18th green.

It was time to say farewell after 50 all-too-short years.

"I'm through. I've had it," an emotional Palmer said. "I'm done. Cooked. Washed up. Finished. Whatever you want to say."

The faithful want to say it's a mistake, but it's too late.

"One of the things I wanted to do was what I did today, and that was to finish 50 years at Augusta," Palmer said.

He will be back, he said, even if it is only to sit on the veranda and watch the proceedings. But make no mistake. This tournament will not be the same.

Sea Island, Ga., resident Davis Love III (Stats | Bio) was supposed to play Wednesday's practice round with Fred Couples (Stats | Bio) . He saw Palmer looking around and, once he realized Arnold's playing partners had left, he knew exactly what to do.

"I invited him to come on and play with us," Love said, leaving Couples to find another group. Or not.

After all, friendships last forever.

But, as Arnold Palmer (Stats | Bio) reminded us Friday, legends don't.