The list of noncompeting invitees at the Masters Tournament looks a little more legendary every year.

The roll call on the far right on the leaderboard just off the first fairway ends with two signature names.

Jack Nicklaus. Arnold Palmer.

Those names are as much a part of Augusta in April as azaleas, fabulous golf and pimento cheese sandwiches.

One of those men could show up on the first tee Thursday. Arnold Palmer is deciding whether to be an honorary starter. He said last month that he was giving it "careful consideration." He retired from Masters competition in 2004.

"It isn't that I have anything against doing it," Palmer said at his Bay Hill tournament this year. "I just want it to be the right time when I decide to do it."

His potential appearance was cause for an interesting discussion Monday.

"You mean he hasn't announced if he's going to start it off?" Jim Furyk said. "I thought he already made it official he was."

Furyk wants it to be official.

"It'd be good to see that," he said. "I'd like to see him back doing that."

Furyk said he enjoyed seeing Byron Nelson and Gene Sarazen serve as honorary starters. Most think it's a tradition just for the fans.

Tim Clark told a story that shows the golfers are fans, too.

"I played here as an amateur in 1998 and I stayed in the Crow's Nest," Clark said. "On Thursday morning, I popped my head outside and the guys were teeing off. I say 'guys.' I mean 'greats.' It was pretty cool. When I saw those legends start it off, it was a big kick for me."

It's likely Palmer will serve as an honorary starter some day. The Masters has not had one since 2002.

Clark would like to see it happen this year. So would new Augusta National Chairman Billy Payne. So would many other people who feel a tickle of reverence when they see that leaderboard.

Clark said it would be good for the game:

"I mean, even with Tiger (Woods), Arnold Palmer is probably the most popular guy out here when he's out here. People rush to swallow him up when he's on the grounds. I know there's a lot of people here that miss seeing Arnold Palmer walking around this course."

Brett Quigley wanted to see it happen. But he also wondered how hard it could be for a champion to come to Augusta with no intention of competing, to see his name off to the side of that leaderboard and just tee off Thursday.

"It's got to be a tough thing to give up," Quigley said. "It's almost like giving up your driver's license. They want them to move on to another phase of their life at Augusta National. From playing champion to part of that opening ceremony. It would be a great honor, but it also would be pretty tough."

Neither Palmer nor Nicklaus has publicly disclosed plans to participate in Par-3 Contest on Wednesday.

Reach Jeff Sentell at (706) 823-3425 or jeff.sentell@augustachronicle.com.