Moderator: Ladies and gentlemen, we are pleased to welcome a man who has brought countless joy to the lives of millions of people. Arnold, please.
ARNOLD PALMER: Thank you. I don't really have a lot to say. ... I'm not going to make a big, long speech today. I'm through. I've had it. I'm done. Cooked. Washed up. Finished, whatever you want to say (laughing).
Augusta and this golf tournament has been about a part of my life as anything other than my family, and most of you know that. I don't think that I could ever separate myself from this club and this golf tournament. I may not be present, I may not be here, but I'll still be a part of what happens here, only because I want to be. I've had such a great life and enjoyed it so much.
It's done. I won't say I'm happy it's done. It's time for it to be done, for me. ... I will take a few questions, and then I'm out of here, gentlemen. As I say, it's over.
Q. Can you just describe emotionally what you were feeling walking up the 18th fairway?
AP: Well, if you just use your imagination, you will understand that emotion. I've thought about how many times I've walked up that 18th fairway. I can think of the four times that I won the Masters. I can think of a couple of times that I didn't win that I felt like I should have won. I can think of the fans that have supported me and listened to them, and, of course, they all have something to say, or most of them have something to say about what I'm doing when I'm walking up that fairway.
I think of all the things from the beginning, 1955 and '56 and '57, and I think of the times when I've teed it off at 10 and before I won the Masters and all of those things. I could go on and on and tell you things that are of no interest to you other than the fact it had something to do with my life and my playing golf here.
Emotion? A lot. Sometimes I just get tired and the emotion overrules and runs away with me. I'm not upset about that. You know, if I can't handle it, that's my fault. But it's a part of me. That's pretty much it. That's what I think about, whether it be making a 6 at the last hole to lose the Masters, or whether it be hitting a 7-iron in about four feet to make a putt to win the Masters, all of those things go through my mind.
And, of course, my family. That's pretty much it.
Q. ... Was is similar or stronger than it was two years ago when you had a rather tearful farewell coming up the 18th?
AP: Of course, that farewell was more created by other people than me. I never really felt that that was the end. I was more obliging than I was giving up. And as far as I'm concerned, that was done, and it worked out very well for everyone, including me, even though my golf the last two years wasn't anything to talk about.
The fact is that one of the things I wanted to do was what I did today, and that was finish 50 years at Augusta.
Your gallery the last couple of days was pretty much a who's who of people in golf and a lot of family and friends out there. Any anecdotes or anything or some of the exchanges that you'd like to share?
AP: Well, of course ... my family were all here, all my grandchildren, my children, and that's never happened before at any golf tournament. So that was very special to me, to have them all here.
It was something I wanted. I just wanted them to see what happens. You know, Sam (his grandson) caddied for me. Sam, I had hoped that maybe he saw some things here, being part of it that close, that will have an effect on him and help him mature a little more into a man and a golfer. I'd love nothing better than to see him come up this 18th hole someday with the possibility of winning The Masters.
But to have my whole family was very special to me. That doesn't happen very often anymore. They are all growing up and they are going in separate directions, and, of course, I have kind of a new life, too, with Kit. She's very important to me now and helping me make my life a happier life.
All of those things were happening this week, and they were part of what is going on. You know, I'm not going to just roll over and die, unless I can't help it (laughter). I'm going to do things, and that's about it.
I know that you said on TV that you got a little tired walking and so forth and you wish you had prepared better, but in some way, have your feet ever really gotten tired here, touching this ground?
AP: Not really. As a matter of fact, coming up 18 today, I marvelled, because for yesterday and most of the round today, my shins were just killing me. Then, about the 15th hole ... It went away, and all of a sudden there was no and now there's no pain at all.
Moderator: Arnold Palmer, for 50 wonderful years, we salute you and we thank you.
