Arnie went to bed at night with charisma – and woke with more
Arnold will always be the king of golf
THE United States will use Arnold Palmer as their rallying point this week after the death of one of golf’s most charismatic men at the age of 87.
Davis Love yesterday led the avalanche of tributes to Palmer – a former American Ryder Cup captain himself – and vowed his team will honour his memory at Hazeltine, just as Europe did at Medinah four year ago after the death of Seve Ballesteros.
“Tonight our country lost a great sportsman, a great American. As we approach the Ryder Cup this week, our team will keep Mr Palmer’s family in our prayers and will draw from his strength and determination to inspire us. He leaves an impact on the game and on sports in America that is unmatched,” said Love.
‘The King’ won seven Majors including two Open Championships but it was his dashing charisma and common touch that elevated him – and golf – to another level during a golden period in the Sixties when he illuminated the sport.
The legion of fans, drawn to his swashbuckling style and James Dean looks, who followed his every step on the fairway, became known as ‘Arnie’s Army’.
His rivalry with Jack Nicklaus, who won more but was loved less, gripped America and beyond.
“Arnold transcended the game of golf,” said Nicklaus. “He was more than a golfer or even great golfer. He was an icon. He was a legend. Arnold was someone who was a pioneer in his sport. He took the game from one level to a higher level, virtually by himself.
“Along the way, he had millions of adoring fans. We were great competitors, who loved competing against each other, but we were always great friends along the way. Arnold always had my back, and I had his. We were always there for each other. That never changed. He was the king of our sport and always will be.”
Tiger Woods echoed those sentiments. “It’s hard to believe Arnold has passed, and I’m deeply saddened by his loss. He meant so much to the game and to me personally,” he said.
“Arnold touched so many people. My kids were born at the Winnie Palmer Hospital for Women & Babies, and his philanthropic work will be remembered along with his accomplishments in golf. It was an honour and privilege to have known Arnold, and I’m forever grateful for his friendship.”
Palmer, although married twice – the first time for 45 years until the death of his wife Winnie – had a roving eye like Woods. Fortunately for him, he lived in the right era for his infidelity never to become news or to affect his popularity. His accessibility and willingness to give his time – he once estimated he had signed 100 autographs a day for every day of his life – made him an American national treasure.
He came along at the perfect moment for golf as it moved into the television era. He was an advertiser’s dream, fronting everything from clothes to cars, dry cleaners to oil. Sam Snead said of him: “Palmer went to bed at night with charisma, and he woke up the next morning with more.” The key to his appeal, which along with a lucrative course design business earned him a fortune estimated last year at $580million, was the fact he was so genuine. Arnie was Arnie, a blue-collar kid made good. He was still the amenable kid who had sat on the tractor of his greenkeeper father at Latrobe Country Club, just with more
noughts after his name. His natural goodwill was summed up by an encounter with future professional Roger Maltbie at a tournament at Pebble Beach. Maltbie was 11 at the time and had become separated from his parents in the huge gallery that always followed Palmer.
“I’m nervous, lost. There are a lot of people. I’m behind the second tee, waiting for Arnold to tee off. He had looked at me a couple of times, and I guess he could tell I was very nervous,” recalled Maltbie. “After he teed off, he came over to me and said, ‘Are you OK, son?’. I said, ‘I can’t find my mom and dad’. He said, ‘Then you come with me. They’ll find you with me’. So he took me by the hand and led me down the fairway. We got about 50 yards and my mom screamed, ‘Roger!’ He led me over to my parents and that was that. Then I got my butt blistered.” Having survived a prostate cancer scare 20 years ago, Palmer had been in failing health since dislocating a shoulder in a fall last year. He was unable to participate in the ceremonial tee off alongside Nicklaus and Gary Player at Augusta in April and although he appeared at the Masters, was clearly unwell.
His death yesterday ended a life lived to the full. He was once asked in an interview for Golf Digest magazine if anyone had had as much fun as him.
“If they did,” he replied, “they had a hell of a time.”