Great Moments from Arnold Palmer’s career

Palmer won his first of his seven career major titles at the 1958 Masters, the first of four green jackets he would collect at Augusta National. At age 28, he was the co-leader with Sam Snead entering the final round. An eagle at the par-5 13th hole on Sunday helped push him to a one-shot victory and inspire the naming of the 11th13th holes as “Amen Corner” by writer Herbert Warren Wind.

In 1960, Palmer won the Masters and then took his only US Open title in astonishing fashion, overcoming a seven-stroke deficit to Mike Souchak at the start of the final round. Palmer birdied six of the first seven holes on his way to a 65, the low final round in US Open history as he held off Ben Hogan and newcomer Jack Nicklaus.

Palmer considered the British Open a vital title in the evolving Grand Slam when many US rivals didn’t and bounced back from his 1960 runner-up showing by winning the Claret Jug in 1961 and 1962. He edged Dai Rees by one stroke at Royal Birkdale to become the first American to win the event since Ben Hogan in 1953. In 1962, he rolled to a six-stroke triumph at Troon.

Palmer won the last of his major crowns at the 1964 Masters in a runaway. He led by five strokes after 54 holes and won by six over Jack Nicklaus and Dave Marr.

In 1968, Palmer had his best chance to win the PGA Championship, the one major title that eluded him. Palmer missed an eight-foot putt on the 72nd hole that would have tied him for the lead with winner Julius Boros, who became the oldest major winner at age 48. – AFP