Masters of the Game: Palmer

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By Helen Ross, PGATOUR.COM Chief of Correspondents

The nickname says it all.

There are players have won more golf tournaments than Arnold Palmer. More majors, too. But the man they call "The King" has won more hearts and led more people to the game than any other player in its history.

Maybe it's that good-natured wink and that genuine smile. Or the slashing, less-than-textbook swing with the swirling follow through that reminds us of our own. Or all those autographs he signed as he recruited Arnie's Army.

For many years, Arnold Palmer was the face of golf. In some ways, he still is.

Pros lucky enough to play in the tournament at Bay Hill that bears his name treasure that personal greeting and handshake on the range. Thousands of fans, equally smitten, turn out to see Palmer hit that ceremonial first tee shot at Augusta National, too.

We love Palmer because he is a regular guy who was comfortable driving a tractor back home in Latrobe, Pa., but who also did extraordinary things when he played golf. He flew his own plane -- and set aviation records -- long before it became de rigor for more modern-day pros to own aviation timeshares.

Palmer even has a drink, a mixture of iced tea and lemonade, named after him as well as a line of vintage wines. This national treasure has received the National Sports Award, Congressional Medal of Freedom and Congressional Gold Medal -- and is the only athlete to own all three.

Palmer's charitable work is second to none, too. Two Orlando, Fla., hospitals serving women and children bear his name and that of his first wife, Winnie. A prostate cancer survivor, he's been active in raising money to help eradicate that disease, as well.

But Arnold Palmer's greatest gift to us, as well as to the game, all is that he'll always be one of the guys -- both on and off the golf course.

By Craig Dolch, PGATOUR.COM Contributor

1960 U.S. Open
Palmer started the final round seven shots behind leader Mike Souchak but quickly showed he was going all-out by driving the par-4 first hole at Cherry Hills. Palmer, who had six birdies in the first seven holes, shot a 65 to win by two shots over some amateur named Jack Nicklaus.

1958 Masters
Four days after reportedly hearing Ben Hogan grumble "how the hell Palmer got an invitation to the Masters," Palmer won the first of his four Green Jackets by a shot over Doug Ford and Fred Hawkins.

1961 British Open
A year after he came within a shot of winning the season's first three majors, Palmer beat Dai Rees by a shot at Royal Birkdale for his first Claret Jug. Palmer's win convinced many other top Americans of the need to play in the British Open.

1954 U.S. Amateur
Palmer defeated Robert Sweeny, 1-up, at the Country Club of Detroit to notch the first important title of his career. Not only did this convince Palmer he could make a living by playing golf, less than three months later he signed an endorsement deal with Wilson Sporting Goods that paid him $5,000 a year.

1973 Bob Hope Classic
Palmer shoots a final-round 69 to overtake Nicklaus and Johnny Miller and win the 90-hole event by two shots. It had been 18 months since Palmer had lifted a trophy; this proved to be the last of his 62 wins on the PGA TOUR.

By Melanie Hauser, PGATOUR.COM Contributor

1. In 1976, Palmer set an aviation record by circling the globe in a Learjet 36 in 57 hours, 25 minutes and 42 seconds. He averaged 400.23 mph.

2. All of his victory medals are on display under glass on top of a specially built circular knee-high table in his Latrobe, Pa., office.

3. Had a cameo in 1963 Bob Hope film -- "Call Me Bwana." His ball bounced into a tent and into an egg cup. Hope tries to crack it, Arnie walks in and asks if anyone has seen his golf ball.

OK, so technically it's a year, not just a number. But 1960 is when Arnie transformed from mere superstar to golf immortal. Not only did he win his only U.S. Open that year in spectacular fashion, but he also won his second Masters. In fact, he won eight times that year and posted 11 other top-10 finishes to win the PGA TOUR's Player of the Year award. He was named Sports Illustrated's Sportsman of the Year, the first golfer to earn that distinction. All in all, a magical year for the King.

MASTERS (4) U.S. OPEN (1) BRITISH OPEN (2) PGA CHAMPIONSHIP (-) 1958 1960 1961   1960   1962   1962       1964

• For a complete list of Palmer's victories, click here | Video: Reflecting on first Masters win

Year Number of events Number of rounds 1st 2nd 3rd Top 10 Top 25 Cuts made Cuts missed Total 734 2567 62 38 27 245 388 574 149 2004 2 4             2 2003 2 4             2 2002 3 7             2 2001 4 8             3 2000 3 8             3 1999 3 8             3 1998 3 8             3 1997 2 3             1 1996 3 8             3 1995 5 13             5 1994 6 15             6 1993 5 14           1 4 1992 5 13             5 1991 5 14         1 1 4 1990 4 10             4 1989 4 12           1 3 1988 5 12             4 1987 4 12           1 3 1986 6 11             6 1985 6 18           2 4 1984 8 23           2 6 1983 11 38       1 1 6 5 1982 11 32         1 4 7 1981 13 36           7 6 1980 14 47         3 10 4 1979 16 53         1 9 7 1978 15 54       2 4 11 4 1977 21 72         7 17 4 1976 19 61         6 14 4 1975 20 69     1 5 12 16 4 1974 20 66       2 7 14 6 1973 22 86 1   1 7 15 20 2 1972 22 75   1 2 10 15 19 3 1971 24 90 4   1 10 20 24   1970 22 85 1 3 2 11 14 22   1969 26 100 2   1 10 16 25   1968 23 87 2 2   8 13 20 3 1967 25 95 4 4 1 16 19 22 2 1966 21 79 3 2 2 13 15 21   1965 21 78 1 3   6 13 19 1 1964 26 96 2 6 4 18 24 26   1963 20 80 7 3   14 16 20   1962 21 85 8 1   13 19 21   1961 25 100 6 5 2 20 23 24 1 1960 27 104 8 1 2 19 24 26 1 1959 31 115 3 1 3 16 25 31   1958 32 118 3 5 2 14 23 30 2 1957 31 114 4   2 13 20 28 3 1956 29 103 2 1   8 13 28   1955 30 106 1   1 8 15 26 2 1954-a 4 8       1 3 4   1953-a 2 6           1 1 1952-a 1 4             1

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