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By Melanie Hauser
PGATOUR.com Contributor

SPRING, Texas -- He lingered for a moment, eyes brimming with tears.

He wasn't ready to walk toward the clubhouse. Not quite yet. He needed a moment to compose himself. To take a deep breath and let the emotions wash over him. To realize the enormity of the moment.

To put 60 years behind him. To let those 60 zillion memories carry him into the next chapter of what can only be described as a marvelous life.

And to look into a familiar old face, see a smile and a reassurance that it was okay. We understood. It was finally time for him -- and for us -- to let go.

Arnold Palmer walked away from the game Friday afternoon. He played four holes, withdrew and then played the final 14 for the fans as marker for Lee Trevino and John Mahaffey.

And, yes, this time, it was for good.

He's hinted at it for several years and nudged us again Thursday afternoon here at Augusta Pines. And when his 77-year-old back just wouldn't let him pull the shots out of his bag in the opening round of the Administaff Small Business Classic, well, he knew it was time to say good-bye.

"I've been doing this a long, long time,'' he said after the round. "First of all, to stand out there and not be able to make something happen is very traumatic in my mind. And when the people all want to see a good shot and you know it. And you can't give them that good shot. That's when it's time.''

So this is it?

"Yeah, I think so,'' he said. "I'll play some father-son events, some charity events. And that's about it. Right now, there's just no thoughts of any more tournament golf.''

Arnold Palmer talks to fans on the 18th tee during the first round of the Administaff Small Business Classic. (WireImage)

God bless him. Bless what he's meant to the game and the people who love it. Bless that lashing swing and those rumpled shirts. Bless the way only he could hitch up his pants, wink and have everyone in the gallery swear he was looking only at them.

Bless those charges and the Army that cheered them. Bless his grace and love for the game. Bless the way the would dip his plane wings over a golf course when he bowed out early.

And bless those tears that spilled down his cheeks as he sat on The Golf Channel set and tried hard not to say the words that were caught so deep in his throat.

"You see all the people and.. ." he stopped as a tear rolled down. "Sixty years I've been playing tournament golf and to know it's over is tough."

His voice broke again. "We love you Arnie," someone yelled.

We always will.

Arnie carried the game on his now slumping shoulders. He never thought much about it and never, for a moment, considered it a burden. It was in his heart and, well, that kind of love is what makes a man rich.

And golf? It's rich because of him.

It was Arnie who took it from black-and-white to technicolor; Arnie who turned his back on the road and started piloting his own plane in 1955. He made it cool to play golf, roughing up the edges of a country club sport and taking it the people. And, most of all, he took us along on a wonderful ride. We marveled at Jack Nicklaus. But we played the game alongside Arnie. He wore his heart on that bright sleeve and made certain we were right there with him when he slipped on a green jacket or hoisted the Claret Jug. And when he surprised us with an incredible opening round at the 1989 PGA Championship, we were wondering if -- a month shy of his 60th birthday -- he just might finish that Grand Slam.

And when he didn't? We loved him even more.

No matter what he shot. No matter what major he won or lost. More people watched him unpack the trunk of his car in the parking lot than most people have watching them win a golf tournament.

The King. Yes, of golf. That title is his -- for all he's done, for all he's been. And for perpetuity.

"He's a very classy man,'' Trevino said. "And that title didn't come easy. He worked at it. In other words, he knew what he wanted. He focused on it and he accomplished it. Heck, he's done it for 60 years.

"His dad taught him well."

And Arnie taught us.

We've watched him slow down over the years, but never forgot those first years on TOUR or how dear Wake Forest was to heart. Or how Ben Hogan never called him anything but "fella". Or how he's self-deprecating sense of humor always made you chuckle.

When a young reporter couldn't recall his age, Arnie said simply "Sunset Strip." The older crowd laughed. The kid had no clue.

Golf can be the cruelest of games. It exposes your flaws, preys on your weaknesses and breaks your heart. The same heart that makes you love it. Which made it all the harder Friday morning when the game Arnie loved finally betrayed him.

It's been coming for a while now and when he stepped onto the practice tee, his back was creaking and he wasn't sure he could play.

"I was aching,'' he said. "My toenails were aching.''

But wasn't giving in. People had come out to watch him.

"After the third hole, he was ready to throw it in,'' Trevino said. "I say, 'Hey, I'll get a cart.'And he said, 'No, I can't go. I can't leave. But please don't put a score down.' I said, 'No problem with that.' ''

So Arnie played on, picking up more often than not. But giving the crowd one last thrill.

"Hey, I made every move in the bag today to try and make a good shot and wasn't very successful,'' Arnie said. "But that isn't surprising. It didn't just come today. It's been working its way into my repertoire and it's truly tough. And it's emotional for me because, you know, it's my life. ''

The Golf Channel asked Trevino to let Arnie hit into the 18th green first and he obliged. And when Arnie tapped in the final putt, Trevino was there asking for his autograph.

"As soon as he putted out, I knew what I was going to do,'' Trevino said. "I said, 'Damn, if he puts in the water, I hope he hits another one.' And he cleared the water. And when he putted out, I grabbed the ball. And then I had the sharpie in my back pocket. And when he was signing it, I said, 'Hey, sign this glove too.' ''

Those items are now part of a rather elite collection. Trevino's only other autographs? Jack's and Tiger's.

And, yes, he enjoyed the hell out of a relaxing day because, well, everyone was watching Arnie.

"I'll tell you how you can tell how many people Arnold has got in the gallery,'' Trevino said. "It's when he putts out, how many people move to the next tee while you're still trying to putt out. And there were a hell of lot. After he putted out, they took off to the next tee. So they weren't really interested in John and I but that's okay. We've seen it for 40 years with Arnie. They come and watch him.''

Friday's crowd just didn't know they would be saying goodbye.

"The fans have kept him going for a long, long time,'' Jay Haas said. "Everybody still wants to see him. There's just something about The King. A visit from The King, it doesn't get any better than that. We're certainly going to miss him. There isn't any question. I guess things have to come to an end. He's one of those people you want to see keep on playing.''

Added Gary Koch, "You knew it was coming, unfortunately. Just watching him play the last few times, you could tell he wasn't enjoying it. It's sad to think we won't be seeing him around.''

At least not on the course. He plans to limit his golf to social events, a few charitable events and maybe a grandfather-son event or two since his grandson Sam Saunders is a freshman at Clemson. He'll continue his role as host at Bay Hill and, well, there are golf courses to be built.

"It's not like I'm not busy,'' he said. "I'm going to concentrate on building golf courses now and really spend a lot of time doing that. I have quite a few that are on the books, ready to go. So that's going to be my next major passion -- doing golf courses. I have a great crew ready to go with me.''

But it's not golf. It's not competition.

This time, he's not waking away from St. Andrews or Augusta. He's walking away from the game. And facing the finality of that decision.

"And that is the problem,'' he said, shaking his head.

But it's time. No amount of cajoling is going to change his mind. Not a new driver, not an easy swing on the driving range one morning.

"The only thing that would make me want to play again is if somebody hit me with a wand and said your back's ready to go again,'' Arnie said. "And that's not likely to happen, as you all know.''

Yes, we know. We don't like it, but we know it's time. And as cool as it's been to hang out with Arnie all these years, it was just as cool to be there when he decided it was time to walk away.

"I'm a sentimental guy ....'' he said forcing a grin. "Here it is and we're done. It's been a great road and I've loved every second of it. And I still do.''

We know. So do we.