Everyone was waiting to hear him borrow a line popularized on the big screen by that other famous Arnold: "I'll be back."

But with his Masters Tournament career reaching its dramatic conclusion Saturday morning, the question now isn't whether Arnold Palmer will be back at Augusta National Golf Club for future Masters. The four-time green jacket winner plans to return each year for the annual Masters Champions Dinner. He's also an Augusta National member.

But what will be the King's role here, now that he has retired from Masters competition?

Already, there is talk of Palmer serving as an honorary starter on the first hole. Masters officials have not made a formal announcement on the subject, but the 72-year-old Palmer said it is something he would have to consider.

"I haven't thought about that yet, and I'll cross that bridge when I come to it," Palmer said after bowing out of the Masters for the final time Saturday with a two-round score of 30-over-par 174. "I have some things to sort out, and I'll just wait and see how that all turns out."

Though several of the players in the Masters field mentioned they would like to see Palmer assume that role, his willingness to become a ceremonial figure remains unclear.

At 89, three-time Masters champion Sam Snead was the lone honorary starter this year. For years, Snead shared the duties with Byron Nelson and Gene Sarazen. But Sarazen died shortly after the 1999 Masters, and Nelson retired after last year.

"I'll probably come for the Masters Club (Champions) Dinner, and I don't know how much more than that I will participate," Palmer said. "That's an unknown, even to me at this point in time. I hope not too much. I hope I'll be here once in awhile."

Three-time Masters champ Gary Player said he would not be interested in playing a ceremonial role after he calls it quits, and says Palmer's pride and competitiveness could make him reluctant to do so also.

"You'd better speak to him about that, but I think it would be tough to do," the 66-year-old Player said. "I would not like to stand there and hit off before the tournament. I think there comes a time when you're not competitive, you must call it a day. So, when I get a pink ticket one day, I'll take my pink ticket and say 'Thanks for a great time' and go on to something else."

Earlier in the week, however, Player did suggest the creation of a senior Masters for the 55-and-older set. Palmer was not receptive to the idea.

"I don't believe in it," he said. "I don't think it should happen."

As for the immediate future, Palmer said he was heading home Saturday afternoon.

"I'm going to go out there to Bush Field and get in the left seat of a Citation X and fly up to Orlando (Fla.) and get myself a little bit unwound," the veteran pilot said. "And I'll probably watch the Masters."

From there, his golf game will dictate his next move.

"I'm hoping to go out next week and start practicing and find the answer to my problems and get on with it, because there's a number of things coming up in my thinking that would be nice to do," Palmer said. "And that would be to play the Senior Open and the (Senior) PGA at Akron."

His son-in-law and caddie Roy Saunders said golf fans have not seen the last of Arnold Palmer.

"He never stops grinding," Saunders said. "He's a strong man - he's 72 years of age, but you'd never know it. He's a tough guy who has a lot of fun playing golf, and he'll play a lot more golf. I'm sure the last thing he'll do in his life is hit a golf ball."

And, to paraphrase that other Arnold: "He'll be back."