Interesting Facts – Happy Birthday Arnold Palmer

Anand Datla

September 10, 2016: Arnold Palmer, the first real star in golf and the man called “The King” turns 86 today. Golfing Indian celebrates his birthday with this feature on interesting facts about the great golfer. Palmer enjoyed cult following during his playing days and is widely credited with giving golf a much needed boost in the 1950s and 1960s.

• Palmer was among the first group of 13 men inducted to the World Golf Hall of Fame. He was inducted in 1974 when the game founded its hall of fame.
• In the company of Jack Nicklaus and Gary Player, Palmer was part of the troika that came to be known as the Big Three of golf. Their success around the world helped spread the game of golf and give it an international appeal.
• Palmer was the first million dollar golfer, becoming the first man to reach a million in earnings in 1967.
• The Arnold Palmer Invitational, a celebrated event on the PGA TOUR calendar, was known as the Florida Citrus Open before Palmer turned it into one of the biggest events in Orlando.
• Palmer has survived Prostate Cancer, emerging relatively unscathed from the dangerous ailment.
• Arnold Palmer served three years in the US Coast Guard
• Palmer took 49 years to earn $1,784,497 during his playing career. But he has remained active and earned over $42mn in 2014 alone, according to Forbes.
• In one of his most memorable victories, Palmer won the 1960 US Open, after trailing by seven shots going into the final round.
• Palmer played in 50 Masters between 1955 and 2008, when he finally retired.
• Palmer is the only sportsperson to receive both the Congressional Gold Medal and the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
• Palmer is reputed to have architected the first golf course to be built in China. He has designed more than 300 courses around the world.
• Palmer won seven majors and 62 titles on the PGA TOUR.
• Not many people are aware that Palmer set a round-the-world speed record in 1976, on a Learjet that still stands – 57 hours, 25 minutes, 42 seconds.