Arnold Palmer, golf legend, dies at 87
Source: Yahoo Sports
The right man at the right time, Arnold Palmer transformed an entire sport and, along the way, became an American legend. Palmer, one of the most famous athletes on the planet and a friend to presidents, kings, and movie stars, died Sunday at the age of 87.
Palmer, the son of a Pennsylvania country club greenskeeper, learned the sport of golf as a youth and perfected his game while at Wake Forest. He turned pro in 1955, winning a tournament in his first year as a professional, and three years later won the Masters.
Six of Palmers seven major wins came in a short period, from 1960 to 1964, but that happened to be the exact moment when televised sports first became a national obsession. Palmers good looks, humble origins, cheerful demeanor and on-course success combined to make him an early favorite of viewing audiences, and Arnies Army turned out in force wherever he played.
Palmers battles with Jack Nicklaus were instant legend, a rivalry that blossomed into a friendship lasting more than half a century. Along with Gary Player, the men created the foundation for modern golf, and remained connected, visible and vibrant long after their playing days were done.
Read more: http://sports.yahoo.com/news/arnold-palmer-golf-legend-dies-at-87-004200526.html
RIP to The King
Lochloosa
(16,061 posts)CherokeeDem
(3,709 posts)I met him many years ago in Augusta, a lovely, kind, polite man.
mdbl
(4,973 posts)RIP Arnie.
Botany
(70,447 posts)AngryAmish
(25,704 posts)NBachers
(17,081 posts)AngryAmish
(25,704 posts)chillfactor
(7,573 posts)for them both....
AngryAmish
(25,704 posts)He was the balls.
brush
(53,741 posts)hlthe2b
(102,119 posts)RIP
rtracey
(2,062 posts)I have been a huge fan and met Mr. Palmer several times at several tournaments throughout the years. He was very sick and the past few months looked very weak. RIP to the King.
NBachers
(17,081 posts)Arnie kind of picked up from Sam Snead and ran with the game. He's part of anyone who was alive in those days.
I'm usually able to roll fine with the world the way it is these days, but some times I get sort of a past-preview, and it makes me wonder . . . I'd be right at home back in the Arnie Palmer era.
No one has anything but good things to say about Arnold Palmer.
steve2470
(37,457 posts)Va Lefty
(6,252 posts)CAG
(1,820 posts)narnian60
(3,510 posts)TeamPooka
(24,207 posts)spiderpig
(10,419 posts)First golfer I was able to identify.
rateyes
(17,438 posts)his drink!
xfundy
(5,105 posts)for a drink he apparently originated, half tea & half lemonade. And the episode wasn't live!
GP6971
(31,110 posts)RIP
bullwinkle428
(20,628 posts)malthaussen
(17,175 posts)This year has sucked.
I come from western PA. It is illegal not to love that man.
-- Mal
SunSeeker
(51,512 posts)PJMcK
(21,995 posts)SunSeeker
(51,512 posts)meow2u3
(24,759 posts)He was class personified.
ProudToBeBlueInRhody
(16,399 posts)Gonna have an Arnie Palmer is his honor in a minute
moondust
(19,958 posts)I was in the crowd for a while at the Denver Post Champions of Golf tournament in either 82 or 83 watching Arnie play and joke around with the crowd. A good time was had by all.
Gothmog
(144,919 posts)47of74
(18,470 posts)Enjoy the big golf course in the sky.
busterbrown
(8,515 posts)So ugly that he had 62 PGA wins and 7 majors..
A Great Man!
11 Bravo
(23,926 posts)he learned it in a mine shaft; but he beat the crap out of everybody, and took the game to the masses."
RIP, Arnie. You were truly one of a kind.
Brother Buzz
(36,375 posts)As if Arnold Palmer's life wasn't legendary enough. On the same night the iconic golfer died at the age of 87, Palmer was coincidentally mentioned numerous times on Sunday's season premiere of "The Simpsons."
While telling Marge of a prank he's planning, Homer explains to his wife he and friend Carl are going to "Arnold Palmer" Lenny by shooting him with water guns full of iced tea and lemonade. Marge doesn't understand, so Homer tells her, "Arnold Palmer was a golfer" who "made up this drink where it's not a full glass of lemonade or a full glass of iced tea."
Short video at link that DU software doesn't support
http://www.sportingnews.com/golf/news/the-simpsons-mentions-arnold-palmer-in-sundays-season-premiere/1a7c8yhhzk0pu12onv17ury2l2
CentralMass
(15,265 posts)my father, brother, and we're following him on the final day of the GHO (Greater Hartford Open) at Whetersfield Country Club in CT. The final (18th) hole had a 90 degree dog leg at about 300 yards from the tee that went up hill to the 18th green near the club house. We were waiting to cross there right after Arnie hit his tee shot. There was an impatient guy on the other side of the fairway trying to cross over to our side but an usher told him to wait until Palmer hit. As soon as Arnie hit the guy ran out into the fairway and the usher told him to stop. He did, right in the middle of the fairway, and looked in the direction of the tee and I kid you not, Arnie's ball from his 280 yard or so drive struck the guy right between the eyes. It broke his glasses and knocked him flat on his back. We ran out with the usher to check on him. Arnie was a bit shaken up by it but finished the round.
Arnie was a real class act. I have some good memories of seeing him play at a few tournaments.
titaniumsalute
(4,742 posts)Always loved his smile and kind words for hundreds of players coming off of 18 at various tournaments over the years. Humble and kind.
TexasMommaWithAHat
(3,212 posts)I can't help but think of someone I loved who has been gone for a number of years who just loved Arnold Palmer. The stories he would tell...
Odin2005
(53,521 posts)DinahMoeHum
(21,774 posts)Grew up watching him and Jack play.
ChickenGuru
(53 posts)The older we get, the more goodbyes we have to say.
dembotoz
(16,785 posts)perhaps his health was not a secret to them and it is bad image when the cause of death is from
the disease that drug is supposed to prevent....
GummyBearz
(2,931 posts)I had an Arnold Palmer years ago, at a golf course in palm springs, and it was terrific. 2 parts ice tea 1 part lemonade... refreshing, tasty, a touch of sweetness... may he RIP