Arnold Palmer: Golf Legend dies at 87

US Golfer Arnold Palmer, the godfather of Golf, widely regarded as one of the greatest players in the sport’s history has died. In his long career , he won more than 90 tournaments worldwide, including seven majors. However, the US PGA eluded him, although he was runner-up three times.

Tiger Woods Tweeted : “ Thanks Arnold for your friendship, counsel and a lot of laughs. Your philanthropy and humility are part of your legend.”

Palmer’s “Arnie’s Army” helped to promote the game into the television age. His aggressive technique, cavalier style and charisma made him such a popular figure. He hit the ball very hard and was the classic example of the American dream, an ordinary country boy who became world-famous, but never lost the common touch. He helped in the revival of the Open in Britain, in which he first played in 1960, but lost by one stroke, and eventually took the title in the following two years.

He was the son of a golf professional at Latrobe, a small industrial town in Pennsylvania, where he was born in 1929. He became a caddie at the age of 11 and worked at virtually every job at the club in the following years.

He was US amateur champion by 1954, before turning professional, when he won both the Masters and the US Open in 1960. In the Masters he had birdies at the last three holes to win. In the US Open, he was in the seventh position, seven strokes behind the leader after three rounds, but won by two strokes, scoring six birdies in seven holes in the final round the phenomenon called Palmer Charge. In 1961 Open in Royal Birkdale he played out of a bush so hard that it was uprooted, but the ball finished on the green, and he went on to win. He represented in the US in the Ryder Cup six times, twice as captain. He won his last major title in 1964.

His successful business, Arnold Palmer Enterprises became a multi-divisional empire involving merchandise, automobiles , Golf course design, management and aviation. His charitable work led to the establishment of the Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children and Women in Orlando in the 1980s.

There is also a cocktail named after him, made from iced tea and one part of lemonade. His professional tournament – The Arnold Palmer Invitational, is held each year at his private golf resort in Bay Hill, Florida.

President Obama tweeted “ Here’s to The King who was as extraordinary on the links as he was generous to others. Thanks for the memories, Arnold.”

Time magazine 1960 said “ Win or lose, Palmer’s slashing attack, is fun to watch. Palmer is a well built athlete 5 ft 11 in t all and weighing 117 lbs, with massive shoulders and arms, thick wrists and leather-hard outsized hands.” Palmer is survived by his wife Kathleen Kit Gawthrop, his daughters , stepchildren and large extended family of grandchildren and great-grandchildren.