It was exactly 50 years ago at Mount Pleasant Golf Course that he picked up one of his first PGA Tour victories in the Eastern Open. That win still sticks in Palmer?s mind. He vividly remembers his first shot of the weekend.

“Whatever the road is to the side of the fist hole, that is where my ball wound up,” he quipped.

This weekend is Palmer?s first 2006 appearance on the Champion?s Tour, where he has compiled 10 of his 92 career wins. Of those 10 wins, five of them are Champion?s majors.

“Well, I?m really sort of wiping or winding out my Champions Tour golf,” Palmer said. “I?m not going to play very much if any in the near future.”

After turning pro in 1955, he took that year?s Canadian Open. Three years later, he earned the green jacket at the Master?s.

His success, coupled with his good looks and charm, quickly brought fame and a devoted following known as “Arnie?s Army.” Those fans are still supportive in the twilight of Palmer?s career.

“The fans have been as wonderful as they have ever been, even though I haven?t been very active or playing very well,” he said.

Despite his waning participation in tournaments, Palmer is not letting golf pass him by. Working as a golf course designer, he has helped develop more than 200 different courses all over the world.

This weekend, Palmer is ready to have fun on the course. He is paired with Jay Haas and Tom Jenkins for Friday?s first round, which begins for him at 10:57 a.m.

“I don?t play much anymore,” he joked. “My intentions are to play as hard as I can and play as well as I can.”