One of the greatest players ever to step up to the green, Arnold Palmer was born in Latrobe, PA - a city which is justifiably proud of its most famous native son. Ever since his first major tournament win all the way back in 1955, Palmer has been one of the biggest names in golf - many fans refer to him as "The King". Along with Gary Player and Jack Nicklaus, Palmer is one of the Big Three names in the golf world. Palmer's playing was in large part responsible for the increased interest in golf as a spectator sport once games began to be televised in the 1950s.
Arnold's father Deacon Palmer was a greens keeper at the Latrobe Country Club (which Palmer bought in 1971), where he learned the game on the then nine hole course there. When he was only seven years old, he scored an impressive 70 - quite an achievement for a seven year old.
It should come as no surprise that Palmer went to Wake Forest University on a golf scholarship; afterwards, he served in the Coast Guard for three years, keeping his golf skills sharp all the while. During his stint in the Coast Guard, he married Winifred Walker, whom he met at a golf tournament in Pennsylvania. In his first season, Palmer came out on top in the Canadian open - he followed up this impressive win with something of a charm offensive, quickly becoming a fan favorite and helping to increase the popularity of the game.
His first major championship win came in the 1958 Masters - within two years he was one of the biggest names in the game. One thing which helped was his signing on with the agent Mark McCormack. Asked later on what it was he saw in the young Palmer, he answered: "his good looks, his modest background, the way he played golf, his risk taking and wearing his heart on his sleeve, and his involvement in so many exciting early televised finishes." One of the first US golfers to win the English Open, Palmer quickly became an international golf superstar and won the Masters in the years 1958, 1960, 1962 and 1964. He also won the US Open in 1960 and the English Open again in 1961 and 1962. However, his best years were 1960 through 1963. In this time period, Palmer won 29 PGA Tour Events in only four seasons of play.
Palmer was also named Professional Athlete of the Year in 1960 by Sports Illustrated. The same year, he won the Sportsman of the Year award. These awards won him a growing fan base which became known as "Arnie's Army". Palmer continued to win one or more PGA Tour events every year until 1971 (when he won four), even against Jack Nicklaus and Gary Player - an impressive achievement.
He won four Vardon trophies for lowest average score and played on six different Ryder Cup teams. By 1980, Palmer became eligible for the PGA Senior Tour (now known as the Champions Tour). Palmer won ten events on the Senior Tour and thanks to the efforts of his agent became the highest earning golfer in the game, winning many endorsements and sponsorships. Outside of the game, Palmer was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Bush; the highest honor given to civilians.
Palmer's last appearance in the Masters was in 2004; this was his 50th appearance in the tournament. He decided to opt out of future Senior Majors after failing to make the cut for the 2005 US Senior Open. Palmer however went out on top - in the 2004 Bay Hill Invitational, he got his second shot onto the 18th green using a driver from 200 yards away! It was the kind of shot only he could make; and this time, he seems to have impressed even himself.
Arnold Palmer remains active in the golf world, being involved in the Bay Hill Club and Lodge (which is where the Arnolf Palmer Invitational is held), being one of the driving forces behind the Golf Channel and assisting in the building of one of China's first golf courses. Palmer also started the Arnold Palmer Design Company and since 1971, he has been owner of the Latrobe Country Club where he got his first taste of the game. Golf Digest ranked Palmer as one of the top ten players of all time and is a member of the World Golf Hall of Fame and a winner of the PGA Tour Lifetime Achievement Award (which he won in 1988). Palmer lives in Orlando, Florida where he still enjoys getting in a round of golf - and being an ambassador for the game of golf to the world.
Arnold's father Deacon Palmer was a greens keeper at the Latrobe Country Club (which Palmer bought in 1971), where he learned the game on the then nine hole course there. When he was only seven years old, he scored an impressive 70 - quite an achievement for a seven year old.
It should come as no surprise that Palmer went to Wake Forest University on a golf scholarship; afterwards, he served in the Coast Guard for three years, keeping his golf skills sharp all the while. During his stint in the Coast Guard, he married Winifred Walker, whom he met at a golf tournament in Pennsylvania. In his first season, Palmer came out on top in the Canadian open - he followed up this impressive win with something of a charm offensive, quickly becoming a fan favorite and helping to increase the popularity of the game.
His first major championship win came in the 1958 Masters - within two years he was one of the biggest names in the game. One thing which helped was his signing on with the agent Mark McCormack. Asked later on what it was he saw in the young Palmer, he answered: "his good looks, his modest background, the way he played golf, his risk taking and wearing his heart on his sleeve, and his involvement in so many exciting early televised finishes." One of the first US golfers to win the English Open, Palmer quickly became an international golf superstar and won the Masters in the years 1958, 1960, 1962 and 1964. He also won the US Open in 1960 and the English Open again in 1961 and 1962. However, his best years were 1960 through 1963. In this time period, Palmer won 29 PGA Tour Events in only four seasons of play.
Palmer was also named Professional Athlete of the Year in 1960 by Sports Illustrated. The same year, he won the Sportsman of the Year award. These awards won him a growing fan base which became known as "Arnie's Army". Palmer continued to win one or more PGA Tour events every year until 1971 (when he won four), even against Jack Nicklaus and Gary Player - an impressive achievement.
He won four Vardon trophies for lowest average score and played on six different Ryder Cup teams. By 1980, Palmer became eligible for the PGA Senior Tour (now known as the Champions Tour). Palmer won ten events on the Senior Tour and thanks to the efforts of his agent became the highest earning golfer in the game, winning many endorsements and sponsorships. Outside of the game, Palmer was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Bush; the highest honor given to civilians.
Palmer's last appearance in the Masters was in 2004; this was his 50th appearance in the tournament. He decided to opt out of future Senior Majors after failing to make the cut for the 2005 US Senior Open. Palmer however went out on top - in the 2004 Bay Hill Invitational, he got his second shot onto the 18th green using a driver from 200 yards away! It was the kind of shot only he could make; and this time, he seems to have impressed even himself.
Arnold Palmer remains active in the golf world, being involved in the Bay Hill Club and Lodge (which is where the Arnolf Palmer Invitational is held), being one of the driving forces behind the Golf Channel and assisting in the building of one of China's first golf courses. Palmer also started the Arnold Palmer Design Company and since 1971, he has been owner of the Latrobe Country Club where he got his first taste of the game. Golf Digest ranked Palmer as one of the top ten players of all time and is a member of the World Golf Hall of Fame and a winner of the PGA Tour Lifetime Achievement Award (which he won in 1988). Palmer lives in Orlando, Florida where he still enjoys getting in a round of golf - and being an ambassador for the game of golf to the world.
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