Associated Press
Friday, June 30

BETHLEHEM, Pa. -- Arnold Palmer's homecoming proved to be a reality check.

Disappointed by his two rounds in the U.S. Senior Open, Palmer said Friday that he likely won't be playing much more competitive golf.

	Arnold Palmer played in his record 20th Senior Open.

"I am not going to continue to play the way I have been," Palmer said. "I have a few commitments that I will keep tournament-wise and a couple exhibitions, but it is getting to the end of the line."

Palmer, perhaps the most popular golfer in history, missed the cut in the Senior Open for the second straight year after shooting rounds of 76 and 82.

A native of Latrobe, Pa., Palmer received a loud ovation from his home state fans as he completed the 18th hole Friday at Saucon Valley Country Club.

He and his wife Winnie, who died of ovarian cancer last November, were named honorary co-chairpersons of the event. Winnie Palmer grew up in nearby Coopersburg.

"Certainly there is a lot of emotion, and a lot of feeling about the tournament, the week," Palmer said. "And the way I played sort of took the edge off of everything. My game is just not shaping up at all to any kind of expectation that I might have. So that is going to have a very definite influence on my future."

Palmer stopped short of saying this was his final Senior Open, but suggested he may not have finished his round if this were anywhere else.

"I don't know whether it is the last, but it certainly -- the people couldn't have been more supportive," he said. "I have felt like walking away a few times, but there was no way I could even think about it out here, the way the people reacted, and that is a big part of the whole thing."

Palmer, 70, has four Masters, two British Opens and a U.S. Open among his 92 career victories. His last victory on the Senior Tour came in 1988, and he hasn't had a top-10 finish since 1993.

Still, Palmer remains one of golf's biggest attractions. It seemed the galleries roared louder on each he hole he played.

"You're supposed to have fun playing golf, and lately it hasn't been a lot of fun for me," Palmer said.

Palmer has played in seven other senior events this year and in three tournaments on the PGA Tour, including The Masters. He missed the cut in all three of the PGA Tour events.