That wasn't rain pouring down on the King's farewell parade. It was a gift from the golfing gods, presented to Masters Tournament fans who simply refuse to let Arnold Palmer go.

And for the 72-year-old icon, Friday's rain provides one more day to savor a bittersweet moment.

Palmer announced Thursday that the second round of the 66th Masters will be his last competitive round in the tournament. Play was suspended at 5 p.m., meaning the four-time Masters champ will return to Augusta National Golf Club this morning to finish his historic round.

It also gives the thousands of adoring fans who followed his every move Friday six more holes to say goodbye.

"It's not the easiest way to go out," said Palmer, who has a record 48 consecutive Masters starts. "But it's time, and I'll finish it tomorrow."

As course conditions worsened with a second wave of rain showers late Friday afternoon, Palmer contemplated not returning to finish his round today.

His 17-over-par 89 in Thursday's first round is what prompted him to announce his Masters career is over. At 9-over for the second round and 26-over for the tournament when play was halted, he will miss the cut for the 19th straight year.

But Palmer knew he had to come back. The reaction from the fans throughout his round Friday, he said, was overwhelming.

"I think I owe it to the crowd because they were so nice today," Palmer said as he sat in his white Cadillac parked in front of the clubhouse. "I owe it to them to try and finish it."

From the moment he arrived Friday, Palmer was surrounded by massive crowds. They lined up 10-deep around the first tee to witness the first shot of the King's final round.

His tee shot produced the first of many thunderous roars. Palmer drove his ball to the left of the fairway bunker, a good 250 yards from the tee, and he gave a thumbs up to the crowd, shaking hands with some of them as he began his walk down the fairway.

"People love him, and what he's done for this game is unbelievable," said amateur Robert Hamilton, who is part of Palmer's grouping along with Toru Tanoguchi. "Nobody wants to see him go. Everybody wanted to be a part of history, and this was history. It turns into tomorrow now, but even so, nobody wanted to miss a second of it, and I didn't either.'

Three-time Masters champion Gary Player is also glad to see Arnie coming back for one last hurrah.

"Well, Arnold deserves anything he gets," Player said. "He's been so good to the game. He behaves so well and is a gentleman. It's sad to see him go because he's been such an integral part of this tournament. But on the other hand, it's a happy thing as well."

Second-round play is scheduled to resume at 7:45 a.m., but Palmer wouldn't be surprised to see his final march delayed again.

"It's going to be very tough if it continues to rain," he said. "It was wet from the first rain, and now they're talking about a 7:45 start. I don't think it looks to me like they can do it. I don't think they can have the course ready by that early."

Ready or not, Palmer had one last Masters goal on his mind Friday evening.

"I'd like to make a birdie before I leave," Palmer said. "That would be nice."

Arnold Palmer's Masters victories

1958

A favorable ruling on an imbedded ball at No. 12 and an eagle-three at No. 13 propelled 28-year-old Arnold Palmer to his first Masters title.

Palmer led by a stroke in the final round as he reached the 12th hole. His shot imbedded in the bank, and after much debate, Palmer was allowed to play two balls. He made double bogey with the imbedded ball and par with the provisional.

Clearly upset, Palmer moved on to the par-5 13th hole, where he hit a drive around the dogleg. He nailed a 3-wood onto the putting surfaced and made a 15-footer for eagle.

On the 15th tee, Masters officials notified Palmer that he had been awarded, under the USGA imbedded ball provision, a par 3 on No. 12.

His final-round 73 was enough for the victory.

1960

Despite a practice-tee injury that plagued him during the final round, Palmer returned to the presentation ceremony as a champion.

He birdied the final two holes for a final-round 70 to edge Ken Venturi by one shot, finishing off a wire-to-wire round to the title.

While he led by a shot starting the final round, Palmer trailed Venturi with two holes to play.

Venturi was in the clubhouse with a one-stroke lead before Palmer staged what became his patented comeback. Birdie putts of 30 feet on No. 17 pulled Palmer into a tie for the lead, and a six-foot birdie finished off the clutch finish.

Palmer apparently pulled a muscle below his left arm during practice before the start of the final round. Several times early in the round, he winced in pain as he attempted to flex his shoulder.

1962

Palmer made up five shots in the back nine on a Monday to win the first three-way playoff in tournament history, enhancing his reputation as one of the game's greatest clutch players.

His playoff round of 4-under 68 turned back Gary Player and Dow Finsterwald. Player had a 1-under 71 and Finsterwald a 77 in the playoff.

Just a day earlier, in the final round of regulation play, Palmer found himself two strokes behind with three holes to play.

Palmer chipped in for a birdie on the par-3 16th hole, made a 15-foot putt for birdie on No. 17, and wrapped up the round with a par on No. 18 to move into a tie with Player and Finsterwald.

With the victory, Palmer became the third three-time Masters champion, joining Sam Snead and Jimmy Demaret.

1964

Palmer became the first four-time Masters champion in relatively easy fashion. He was in the 60s in the first three rounds and finished the tournament with a 2-under 70-276, good for a six-stroke victory over Dave Marr and Jack Nicklaus (282), the second-widest margin in tournament history behind a seven-stroke victory by Cary Middlecoff in 1955.

Palmer shared first place with four other players after a first-round 69. A 4-under 68 in the second round allowed Palmer to open a four-stroke lead.

On Sunday, Palmer had five birdies. A 40-footer at No. 4 launched the round that ended with birdies at Nos. 14, 15 and 18.

Palmer won $20,000 for his victory. In 1958, first place was worth $11,250; $17,500 in 1960; and $20,000 in 1962.