Arnold Palmer: Career retrospective

Like other all-time greats across sports, Arnold Palmer came from humble beginnings. Born in 1929 in Latrobe, a small town just outside of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, he found his lifelong passion at four years old at Latrobe Country Club, where his father worked. From there, he perfected his craft and began caddying when he was 11. After a dominant high school career, Palmer played golf at Wake Forest University and excelled.

Palmer’s close friend and college classmate, Bud Worsham, died in an auto accident. It affected Palmer deeply. He withdrew from Wake Forest in his senior year and joined the U.S. Coast Guard. Palmer served from 1951-54 and was stationed in Cleveland. Palmer took a break from golf. He eventually came back to Wake Forest but only for a short period. He won the U.S. Amateur in 1954 in his return.

After serving in the Coast Guard and winning the U.S. Amateur, Palmer went pro in 1954. Palmer won the Canadian Open in 1955 by four strokes in his debut. As his career progressed, the wins kept piling up.

On April 6, 1958, Palmer won the Masters Tournament. It was the first major championship of Palmer’s career. In just three years since his debut, Palmer had already established himself as one of the top golfers in the sport.

Just two months after winning his second Masters Tournament, Palmer competed in the U.S. Open on June 18, 1960. He dominated in the Open. Palmer won his first U.S. Open by two strokes when it was all said and done.

Palmer won the Sports Illustrated 1960 Sportsman of the Year Award. Palmer also won the Masters and U.S. Open that year. In total, Palmer had eight victories in 1960.

Palmer won the British Open in 1961. He went back-to-back in 1962. In the early '60s, Palmer was in his prime. He was a favorite to win almost every tournament.

While Palmer never won a PGA Championship, he tied for second in 1964, 1968, and 1970. It was the only major tournament he never won. Palmer came very close to achieving the illustrious grand slam, when a golfer wins all four major tournaments at least once throughout his career. 

For a stretch of time, all Palmer did was win. From 1958-64, Palmer was unstoppable. He won seven major championships during this time, including the Masters, U.S. Open, and the British Open. He had 35 total victories. It was unlike anything professional golf had ever seen. In his prime, Palmer was one of the greatest.

Every legend needs a rival. Tom Brady had Peyton Manning. Magic Johnson had Larry Bird. And Tiger Woods had Phil Mickelson. Palmer had his fair share of competition.

In the 1960s, the era's top players were Jack Nicklaus, Gary Player, and Palmer. They were nicknamed The Big Three for their status in golf. To put it simply, they were golfing royalty. At every major event, they went against each other for the title. Their entertaining rivalry helped professional golf gain an audience in the television age.

Palmer started playing in the Senior PGA Tour in its inaugural season of 1980, helping it gain recognition. He competed in his last Masters Tournament in 2004. It was his 50th appearance in the Masters. Palmer gave up the sport for good in 2006 after a legendary career.

A legend on the golf course, Palmer was arguably just as interesting away from it. He became a pilot to tackle his fear of flying. This became a lifelong hobby for the man nicknamed The King over his career. He bought the Latrobe Country Club, where his father used to work, and the Bay Hill Club and Lodge in Orlando, Florida. 

He used his passion for philanthropy to start Arnie’s Army Charitable Foundation, which helped him build the Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children in Orlando. Palmer won the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2004. When we talk about Palmer, his golf career comes to mind. But we should also take the time to appreciate all he has done to help others throughout his life.

The Arnold Palmer is half-and-half lemonade and iced tea. It’s a popular drink in America. The drink is named after Palmer. After dominating on the golf course, it was common to find Palmer sipping on the drink.

Arnold Palmer was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 1974. Across his decades-long career, Palmer won seven major championships, 62 PGA Tour events, and 95 pro wins combined. He earned $875 million in his career.

Arnold Palmer died in 2016 from complications of heart problems. He was 87. His charisma and dominance earned him a loyal following called Arnie’s Army. He was golf's first superstar and was instrumental in helping popularize the sport worldwide. Palmer became living proof that anyone could play golf. He was a great golfer and a good person. His legacy will live on forever.