The worst-kept secret at Augusta National Golf Club was revealed Tuesday when Billy Payne's first official tournament-week act as Masters chairman was to announce that Arnold Palmer would assume the role of honorary starter and hit the ceremonial first tee shot Thursday morning.

Arnold Palmer, a four-time Masters champion, will be the first honorary starter in the tournament since Sam Snead in 2002. (Michael Holahan/Staff)

"We are absolutely delighted that Arnold Palmer will once again be on the first tee at Augusta, a place where he belongs and among thousands that traced their love of the game to his inspiration," Payne said.

Palmer, 77, said "the time has come," and at 7:45 a.m. Thursday he will tee off during the Masters Tournament for the first time since he retired from competition in 2004 after making his record 50th consecutive start. It revives a tradition that has been dormant since Sam Snead struck the last ceremonial first shot in 2002, a month before he died.

Palmer - a four-time winner at Augusta National - said the time was finally right for him to step back into the Masters spotlight. He said three weeks ago, before his Arnold Palmer Invitational at Bay Hill, that he was "strongly considering" accepting Payne's invitation, and most people have considered it a done deal since.

"It's been in my mind," Palmer said. "I have talked to some of my friends, to Billy. I suppose to be perfectly honest with you, a couple of years ago I thought that I might do what I'm going to do this week. I just didn't want to rush it. I didn't want to get out ahead of myself. I talked to Billy about it, and I felt like since I'm really not going to be playing and competing in golf tournaments all over the world anymore, this was a good time."

Palmer explained his inner struggle with letting go of the fierce competitor he once was and accepting the reality of age. He acknowledged he'd much rather be playing in the Masters.

"It was a hard one to stop playing, and I knew I should," he said. "I mean, it wasn't a question of continuing for any reason other than pride, I suppose. When I quit, I just wanted to think about not playing in the Masters and get over that, and then I would be ready. And I'm ready.

"It's a hard bullet to swallow when you see the guys hitting the ball as far as they are and playing the kind of golf they are, and to know that you're not going to do that anymore, and I've known it for a number of years now."

Memorable debut

The first time Palmer played in the Masters was 1955, and he's never forgotten the first competitive round he played with Gene Sarazen, the 1935 champion and the first career Grand Slam holder. Sarazen went on to serve as an honorary starter for 19 years before he died in 1999.

"As soon as we talked about being honorary starter or playing in the Masters, that first day that I ever played here was something that came straight to my mind," Palmer said. "That was one of the great thrills of my life to play with Gene Sarazen the first day."

Arnold Palmer played with Gene Sarazen in his first Masters Tournament round in 1955. After making 50 consecutive starts from 1955-2004, Palmer will be an honorary starter Thursday. (File/Staff)

Palmer watched the first honorary starters in 1963, when Jock Hutchinson and Fred McLeod began the tradition. Through the years, the role has been held by Sarazen, Snead, Byron Nelson and Ken Venturi.

"I came specifically to watch it a few times," Palmer said. "I watched the first honorary starters. And then I watched a couple of times through the years. I watched Byron Nelson, and I watched some others. I don't recall all of them, but I did watch them, yes."

There is no official limit to how many shots an honorary starter can hit, with some of the players through the years playing full rounds or nine holes. Palmer said that no matter how good a drive he hits off the first tee Thursday, he won't be tempted to follow it down the fairway and keep playing the first hole.

"You know, I'm not too smart, but I'm not stupid," he said with a broad smile. "I think I'll just let it go wherever it goes."

'Army' played role

The Augusta fans played a major role in Palmer's decision to accept Payne's invitation. It was at Augusta where "Arnie's Army" was first formed by the Fort Gordon soldiers who manned the scoreboards during the Masters. That label took off everywhere Palmer played, with fans carrying signs that grew so invasive that the Masters and the PGA Tour banned them from events.

"You all know what the fans here have meant to me," Palmer said. "I hope in some way I can show my gratitude to the fans who have followed and supported me these many years."

Before Nelson announced that he would be retiring from his honorary role in 2001, the two-time Masters champion said hitting that one tee shot every year was the most nerve-racking thing he ever did in his career. Will Palmer be nervous or emotional taking his familiar swipe at the ball?

"I probably wouldn't hit it if I didn't feel some emotion," he said. Palmer said it won't be up to him to do any arm-twisting to eventually get Jack Nicklaus and Gary Player to restore the Big Three on the first tee.

"To let them join me or to tell them to stay the hell away?" he said. "Hey, they don't call me when they want to do something. I'm not going to call them. They are my friends, and I'll leave it right there."

That Player will be tying Palmer's record with his 50th Masters start this week and plans to surpass him next year, Palmer had a quick retort.

"Well, if he isn't embarrassed, I won't be embarrassed for him," he said. "No, we're good friends. He just wants to do one better, and that's fine. I'm for him. But he can't touch my record. He hasn't even come close to it. And you don't know why, though, do you? He missed a year. So that's the end of that."

Palmer made 50 consecutive Masters starts between 1955 and 2004. He began playing when the tournament tee on the first hole was 55 yards closer to the green, in roughly the same place as the current members tee box. Considering that Palmer is a club member and is 77 years old, would he consider using the forward tee?

"Tournament tee," Palmer said after consulting with Payne. "Billy won't let me" hit from the members tee.

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

Honorary starters Jock Hutchinson 1963-73 Fred McLeod 1963-76 Byron Nelson 1981-2001* Gene Sarazen 1981-99 Ken Venturi 1983 Sam Snead 1984-2002 * nonconsecutive