It Takes a Small Army to Equal Arnie

I was at Royal Troon in 1962 when Arnold had an eagle on the dreaded 11th "Railway" hole, a par 5 that year, hitting a one iron, a two iron and sinking a 25 foot putt. We loved him for more than that. He went on to win The Open Championship by six shots and was carried of the 18th green on the shoulders of his Scottish fans. Changed days!

Thanks. A great story in time for the Masters.

One thing stood put.

No mention of the Tiger as it relates to anything what Annie stood for - as indicated in this article with other golfers.

Anything significant??

Or should I conclude that both Annie and Tiger are in class by themselves - no need to compare.

My Dad loved watching Mr Palmer play, and I loved sharing the watching with him. I treasure seeing the moments of joy Arnie put on my father's face.

I was born in Latrobe, PA, my dad worked there in a steel mill, and I grew up about 10 miles away in the mountains. We often stopped at that Latrobe airport to watch planes take off and land. My grandfather, a machinist and farmer, looked liked Palmer, and had a similar slightly stooped posture, and the same lines on his face. A lot of them men there did in the 1960s and 1970s, from working so hard. My grandparents, about the same age, thought he was the king.

After decades of courses closing and fading interest, its time for this hobby to go away. It is far too expensive and there's too much water and space being wasted just for rich people to hit a ball around.

I'm not a golfer, but my dad was, and Arnie was his all-time favorite. There was even a strong physical resemblance between the two (which unfortunately didn't extend to my dad's game). But I suppose because of his affinity for the man, some of it rubbed off on me, too. Arnie remained a fan favorite long after he won his last tournament largely because of his humble, open and generous nature, a philosophy which just about every modern athlete would be wise to emulate.

I was 14 years old in 1970 when Arnold Palmer arrived at the golf club just north of San Francisco where I was a caddy. He descended in a helicopter to land in the parking lot. He was there to do an exhibition for a group of businessmen. My friend Jeff was chosen to carry Mr. Palmer's bag while my brother and I were allowed to follow along with the 30-40 excited golfers. He played about 9 holes and then did a short seminar on hitting from the sand trap on the final hole. Then it was over and all the men (I don't remember any women) went off to the men's grill to have lunch. But then I spotted Mr. Palmer walking by himself and I got up the nerve to approach and ask for his autograph. Nobody else was around. I thought it was so strange. Here is the greatest golfer of his time and one of the most famous people in the world and he's taking his time to sign my card and say a few words. I remember he had large hands like a working man's, they didn't seem to belong to a golfer. And that he was so normal. Standing next to him I was completely at ease. He had the manner of a favorite teacher or uncle. He was a real gentleman.

Karen, what a great piece. Thanks.

Karen: Your journalism is the best, just the very best. In my view, you are the Herbert Warren Wind of your generation. Thank you so much.

Golf is strictly a rich man's sport, who even wants to hear about it anymore, let alone care. All the water wasted to keep the grass green should be put to something useful. Better to just leave it in the ground than wasting it by pumping it out.

I had the privilege of not only caddying in Mr. Palmer's group in 1967, but also playing his Latrobe Country Club on the day after his death last fall. Neither experience will ever leave me.

One thing you neglected to say about Phil M is that he's playing with an auto immune disease called Psoriatic Arthritis. This debilating disease robs its host of doing such trivial things as walking, let alone swinging a golf club. I was never a big fan of golf but have become one to watch Phil as I too suffer from the same disease. Watching Phil play encourages me to try harder. If Phil can do it, I can try.

Today's golf stars are amazingly talented. They make the game look easy, but that's an illusion. I respect their talent.

Still, they seem interchangeable. Rarely do they say anything memorable.

I wonder what Palmer thought of Tiger Woods. Guess I'll have to read Callahan to find out.

Anyone playing golf could be getting some exercise. If you consider golf exercise, then you really need to get in shape.

And Arnold Palmer could hit a golf ball 350 yards, using an actual wooden headed driver in 1950. As I recall, so could Sam Snead. But Palmer was the first real superstar because he became a champion in the age of television. Great player!

Fantastic article!

i don't like golf really. but a gorgeous day at torrey pines in the early 80s when arnold palmer looked me right in the eye is a memory that will stay with me forever.

As a life-long golfer of a certain age who watched and admired Palmer over his career, whenever I'm in trouble on the golf course I always ask myself: "What would Arnie do?"

Then I hitch up my pants, I get a glint in my eye, the confidence flows through my body and I proceed to hit a massive hook, slice, worm burner, chili dip or some other awful shot.

See, I know what he would do but I can't do it. That's why he was Arnold Palmer and I'm not. Alas.

One of the most famous men in America and perhaps the world.

"iced tea and lemonade"

It didn't hurt Arnie's legend that he had the first great sports agent in Mark McCormack, who was so brilliant as to copyright the name "Arnold Palmer" for Arnie's favorite drink of half iced tea and half lemonade.

Ka-ching!

Has there been any other athlete so beloved that, as with Arnie, people not only not resent that they're paying into his estate when they buy an Arizona Iced Tea Arnold Palmer, but find it appealing?

Karen, a beautiful tribute, to Arnold and the players profiled here. Difficult to read through the tears, though. Thank you for this.