Arnold Palmer Passes Away at 87

[Greykilt]

Golf legend Arnold Palmer died on Sunday in Pittsburgh at the age of 87.
The United States Golf Association confirmed Palmer’s passing.
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports Palmer died at UPMC Shadyside. He was admitted to UPMC Presbyterian Thursday to undergo heart tests.
The Latrobe native is regarded as one of the greatest players in professional golf history and began playing at the age of 3.

Palmer’s flair for the dramatic introduced the elitist world of golf to a blue collar audience. With a wagonload of trophies, he now receives an honor like no other.

He won the WPIAL and PIAA individual titles as a junior and senior at Latrobe High School in 1946-47. Palmer won seven majors, played The Masters for 50 straight years, co-founded the Golf Channel and was IMG’s first client.

Palmer drew thousands of fans to the game of golf in the 50s and 60s, as his rabid fan base earned the moniker “Arnie’s Army.”
He was awarded the Congressional Gold Medal in 2012.

May you rest in peace, Arnie.

 

[Shann]

Even 40 years after his last PGA victory (in 1973) he was still one of the very highest "paid" athletes due to endorsements. He seemed like a genuine good guy. I loved to watch the old films of him playing golf. He'd take a drag on a cig, toss it on the ground and then make just a violent swing at the golf ball.

He was kind of the Steve McQueen of golf. Mr. Cool.

 

[mobilerd]

Check out "Arnie and Me" documentary on Golf Channel. They will surely be replaying it after his passing. Class act is an understatement, one of my heroes for sure.