Golf
Bob Harig, ESPN Senior Writer 9y

Arnold Palmer eager to hit tee shot

Golf

DORAL, Fla. -- Despite having a dislocated shoulder that he received in a December fall, Arnold Palmer is determined to hit one of the ceremonial opening tee shots at the Masters next month.

"I'm looking forward to being out on that tee even if I fan it," Palmer said at Trump National Doral, where one of the resort's villas was named in his honor Wednesday.

Since 2007, Palmer, 85, has been part of the start to the Masters, hitting an opening tee shot. He last played the tournament in 2004, his 50th appearance in the event he won four times.

In 2010, Jack Nicklaus joined Palmer for the opening tee shot, and Gary Player became part of the group in 2012.

Palmer, who had a pacemaker inserted last August, fell in December when he was at the Father-Son Challenge golf tournament, injuring his right shoulder.

"I haven't been practicing," Palmer said. "I'm not allowed to swing."

The Masters begins on April 9. Palmer is also preparing for his annual golf tournament near Orlando, the Arnold Palmer Invitational, which begins in two weeks.

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