Palmer memorial details set as golfers cope with grief

CHASKA, United States: Details of Arnold Palmer’s public memorial service next week were unveiled Wednesday as grieving golfers at the Ryder Cup continued to share stories and sadness with one another.

The iconic figure died of heart issues last Sunday at age 87 and wil l have a public ceremony Tuesday in his hometown of Latrobe, Pennsylvania.

“A Celebration of the Life and Legacy of Arnold Palmer” will be staged at 11am ( 1500 GMT) at the Saint Vincent Col lege Basilica. Seating will be limited with indoor overf low seating locations on campus with feeds of the ceremony, to be shown live on the Golf Channel, a network Palmer co- founded to boost the sport’s profile.

Palmer’s family asked that in lieu of sending f lowers, people should visit the website iam. arniesarmy.org to share stories about Palmer.

Sharing stories has been a way for golfers at the Ryder Cup, many of whom were inspired by Palmer personally, to cope with the sorrow felt at his passing.

“We all talked about it when we got here,” US player Brandt Snedeker said.

“Arnie is the Godfather of modern golf. He was the guy, the flagbearer of what we know as the PGA Tour and sports in general. The game of golf is grieving. We as fans are grieving. We as people that knew him well are grieving. And we grieve together and honor him and show how much he was appreciated.”

While a legion of fans known as “Arnie’s Army” mourn the Palmer they knew from a distance for his attacking golf style and kindly manner as both pitchman and personality, the Ryder Cup stars knew him intimately as an elder statesman, legend and role model as a player and a man.

A moment of silence will be staged at Thursday’s opening ceremony, where a video presentation will be shown. Players are expected to wear some sort of tribute to Palmer, a six-time Ryder Cup winner as a player whose 22 match victories remains the US record. — AFP