A grand opening
Palmer is back 'where he belongs'
The first 25 minutes:
7:31 a.m. Arnie's Army charges again. Patrons who had been waiting for the gates to open at 7:30 pour through and speedwalk (no running allowed) to the first tee.
7:43 A.M. A smattering of applause starts on the clubhouse side as Palmer makes his way to the first tee. It builds until, one minute later, Palmer steps onto the box.
7:45 A.M. "Ladies and gentlemen, on the first tee at Augusta National, where he belongs ... Mr. Arnold Palmer," says Augusta National Golf Club and Masters Tournament Chairman Billy Payne.
7:46 A.M. Palmer doesn't waste time hitting the ceremonial tee shot. With his familiar swing and abbreviated follow-through, he smacks his drive down the left side and into the rough. Augusta National takes the ball.
7:56 A.M. In the press building, an emotional Palmer talks about the shot: "I didn't want to top it. I hit it pretty good. I've always said that if I would hit the shot and it went left, it was OK. If it went right, I was in trouble."
