ORLANDO, Fla. -- Once again, Arnold Palmer didn't say no.

For the first time since retiring from Masters Tournament competition in 2004, the 77-year-old Palmer left the door wide open for a return to the first tee at Augusta National Golf Club as an honorary starter -- possibly as soon as this year.

"I'm thinking about it," Palmer said Wednesday when asked about the standing invitation from Masters chairman Billy Payne . "I'm giving it some careful consideration now that I have stopped playing competitively. And you know Augusta is one of my very favorite places, and of course Bill Payne is a good friend and I think he is a great guy to have as the chairman.

"So as of this day, I am really giving that some serious consideration. It isn't that I have anything against doing it. I just want it to be the right time when I decide to do it. That's all."

Payne is not shy about his interest in getting Palmer back in front of the public eye at Augusta National, where he is a four-time winner.

"Well, I made it clear to him that we all love him," Payne told The Augusta Chronicle late last year. "Thousands of patrons and millions of television viewers would love to see him do it. I'm going to continue to work on it, and I think that when he's ready, I'll go pick him up personally. He's just such a fine man and he is so intricately connected to Augusta National and the Masters. It would be a very special moment and I look forward to it."

Palmer has a history of changing his mind in matters regarding the Masters. In 2002 he announced his retirement from Masters competition, coinciding with former tournament chairman Hootie Johnson instituting an age limit on the lifetime exemption for past champions.

The next spring during Bay Hill week, Palmer didn't say no when asked if he would play again in the Masters. The next week, Palmer and Jack Nicklaus met with Johnson and convinced him to rescind the age limit before it ever went into effect. Palmer then played in two more Masters to reach a record 50 career starts.

Gary Player will tie Palmer's record of 50 Masters starts this April, and Palmer said he has no plans to try to raise the bar.

"Well, Gary is going to do whatever he can to top whatever I've done," Palmer said. "That includes living longer or whatever."

The honorary starters first made an appearance in 1963, with Jock Hutchison and Fred McLeod playing 18 holes. There were no honorary starters from 1977 until 1981, when Gene Sarazen and Byron Nelson took the reins. Ken Venturi joined them for one year in 1983 before Sam Snead filled out the threesome in 1984.

Sarazen hit a ceremonial first shot for the last time in 1999 before passing away the next month. Nelson retired from the role in 2001.

Snead continued the tradition alone in 2002, hitting his last shot in public before dying the next month at age 89. Nobody has stepped into the role since.

When asked whether he would consider hitting more than just one ceremonial tee shot or resuming the old tradition of playing nine holes, Palmer nodded no.

"One shot; that's it," he said.

Reach Scott Michaux at 706-823-3219 or scott.michaux@augustachronicle.com