SPORTS> Feature and Column
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SPORTS> Feature and Column
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Palmer's legacy to live on long
(Reuters)
Updated: 2006-10-18 09:15 In 2004, Forbes listed him among the top-earning athletes in the world at $20 million. Last Friday at a Senior event outside Houston, his ailing back barked at him on the practice tee. "I was aching," he told reporters. "My toenails were aching." The King's pride took a hit as he went eight over par through four holes after putting two balls in the water at the fourth, and he knew then that he could no longer compete. Yet the golf legend made one last gesture that illustrated why after more than five decades he is still the people's champion. With Arnie's Army of admirers lining the fairways of Augusta Pines, Palmer told playing partners Lee Trevino and John Mahaffey he was withdrawing and no longer keeping score, but would play out the round with them so as not to disappoint his fans. Six-times major winner Trevino, 66, had the King autograph a ball for him at the end of the round. "To know it's really over, that's tough," Palmer told reporters. "It's been my life. "To stand out there and not be able to make something happen is very traumatic. When the people all want to see a good shot, you know it and you can't give it to them, that's when it's time."
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