Augusta, Ga. ? Center stage at the Masters now belongs to the kid, not the King.

With a handsome tan and that knowing wink, Arnold Palmer took one final trip around Augusta National as everyone from Jack Nicklaus to Average Joe celebrated his 50 years of memories — the Sunday charges, the four green jackets, his army of fans.

“I don’t think I could ever separate myself from this club and this golf tournament,” Palmer said. “I may not be here, but I’ll still be a part of what happens here.”

With that, his half-century at the Masters was over.

“It’s not fun sometimes to know it’s over,” said Palmer, unable to hold back the tears.

For 23-year-old Justin Rose, the fun might just be getting started.

Wearing dark shades and walking with a purpose, the youngest professional in the field played a steady hand under an increasing spotlight for a 1-under 71, saving par with a superb bunker shot on the 18th hole to build a two-shot lead.

“Playing under pressure for the right reasons is fun,” said Rose, who missed his first 21 cuts after turning pro. “Playing under pressure for the wrong reasons, that’s awful. This is much, much better.”

On a wild day of charges and collapses, the Englishman rarely got into trouble and finished at 6-under 138 to lead Jose Maria Olazabal of Spain and Alex Cejka of Germany.

Arnold Palmer walks the Hogan Bridge on the 12th fairway for the final time during the Masters golf tournament.

Olazabal, a two-time Masters champion, renewed his hopes with an eagle-birdie-birdie stretch on the back nine and a 3-under 69. He and Cejka (70) each bogeyed the 18th hole and were at 140.

Phil Mickelson got into the mix for his first major, getting a huge break on the par-5 13th when his ball stopped short of going into Rae’s Creek. He turned a bogey into a birdie and shot 69, three shots off the lead.

And don’t count out Tiger Woods. Instead of throwing his clubs, he threw his fist into the air with a 40-foot birdie putt on the 16th for a 69 that left him six shots behind.

Still, the day belonged to a 74-year-old man who missed a 4-foot putt on the final hole for an 84.

In one of the more poignant moments, Nicklaus was on the 16th hole when he looked up at Palmer on the sixth tee. The Golden Bear gave him a thumbs-up, and Palmer responded with a bow.

“Thanks for the years, Arnie!” a fan shouted on the 18th fairway as Palmer waited for the green to clear.

Justin Rose gestures after saving par on the 17th green. Rose led after the second round Friday at Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, Ga.

No one cared about Palmer’s score. They just wanted to see him play.

The gallery was 10-deep before he even arrived on the 18th tee, and it seemed as though everyone — players, caddies and dozens of Augusta National members in green jackets — was there for the end.

“When I look out into the galleries and I see them wishing me good luck, and I think how much I owe them …” Palmer said, his voice cracking.

He couldn’t go on, bowing and wiping tears from his eyes.

“I guess it’s more difficult for me because I’m sort of a sentimental slob,” he said.

The spotlight now shifts to a younger generation that reflects the global state of golf.

Three Europeans were at the top of the board. K.J. Choi of South Korea tied a Masters record with a 30 on the front nine, only to follow that with a 40. Still, he was at 3-under 141 with Mickelson.

Charles Howell III, who grew up five minutes from the course, had a second straight 71 and was in a large group at 142 that included Ernie Els (72), Fred Couples (69) and Davis Love III, who charged into contention with a 67, matching Steve Flesch for the best round of the week.

It all starts Saturday with Rose, who may be short on major championship experience but certainly not the real-life variety.

Along with missing the cut in his first 21 tournaments as a pro, Rose’s father and coach, Ken Rose, died in September 2002 of leukemia just one month after watching his son play his first major in the United States.

“Not to say that leading a major is easy, but I think I am lucky in a lot of ways in terms of, at the age of 23, I feel like I can draw on a couple of things that have happened to me,” Rose said.

Rose has felt plenty of pressure before.

He finished fourth at the ’98 British Open when he was 17, and he became Britain’s rising star when he decided to turn professional a week later. Then, Rose went 12 months before he finally cashed a check.

“Trying to make my first cut, I was putting a lot of pressure on myself,” Rose said. “And when I finally did, it was like winning a tournament. Those sorts of experiences will be what I draw from.”

Rose said he never looked at a leaderboard in the second round, relying on the vibes from the gallery to let him know he was the guy everyone was chasing.

He might not have that luxury on the weekend.

“As you get close to the finish line, you know what’s up for grabs,” Rose said. “And I’m sure it will get tougher.”

Only 13 players were under par as Augusta National began to dry out under a steamy sun, and six of them have won major championships.

Twenty players were within seven shots of the lead.

“Anyone in the red has a chance on the weekend,” said Mark O’Meara, who had a 70 and was in the red at 1-under 143.

His buddy Woods might take exception to that.

Woods dragged himself back into contention with a 69 that left him at even par, just one good round Saturday from being a legitimate threat.

“I’m still here,” Woods said, a subtle dig at those who suggested he might not extend his record cut streak to 121. “You have to take baby steps. I got back to even, and that’s viable.”

The cut was at 4-over 148.

Because anyone within 10 shots of the lead makes the cut, Rose knocked out several players with a par save from the bunker on the final hole.

Among them was Mike Weir. He made three straight bogeys in the morning to finish his rain-delayed first round at 79, the highest ever by a defending champion. The Canadian still had a chance to get to the weekend, but bogeyed the 18th when his approach sailed over the green.

John Daly also bogeyed the last hole to miss the cut by one shot.

Rose knows how they feel, but that now seems so long ago. The kid is after a green jacket this weekend, just like the one Arnie wears.