Palmer talks about legacy, game of golf today
Only days before his 80th birthday, Arnold Palmer is as vigilant as ever about his work. He is among the first to arrive at a museum-like office atop a hill at the end of a winding Legends Lane in Unity.
He doesn't play much golf nowadays, save an occasional charity event. But he continues to invest plenty of sweat equity in a dimly lit workshop — a repository of priceless antiquated woods, irons and putters, many of which were crafted by his steady hands.
For a man whose travels have taken him around the world and back many times over, Latrobe Country Club remains his place of refuge.
Palmer's professional life is an open book, and each page reflects the evolution of a golfer who parlayed an unorthodox grip-and-rip-it swing and an engaging personality into fame and fortune - and even something far greater than he even imagined.
He is a renaissance man: philanthropist, pilot, goodwill ambassador, golf course designer and author.
Most of all, he's still Arnold Palmer.
The King, whose birthday is Thursday, remains as energetic today as that young, free-swinging golfer, who endeared himself to fans everywhere with a brash style and movie-star charisma.
"I look back at my beginnings at Latrobe Country Club, and I feel fortunate," Palmer said, leaning back in his chair as the morning sunlight peeped through the bay windows of an office decorated with an array of memorabilia.
Palmer won 92 events during his career on the Professional Golf Association and Champions tours - including seven major championships. But it isn't the victories or his flamboyant style that Palmer prefers to remember. It's what he's accomplished without his golf clubs.
"It's important to do things that are good," said Palmer, reaching down to gently scratch his yellow Lab, Mulligan, behind the ear. "I'm proud that I've been able to contribute to the well-being of our society."
Yet, the fact remains he is a golfing legend. He arguably became the most popular of his era's Big Three - Palmer, Jack Nicklaus and Gary Player.
"When I was a little upstart, Arnold treated me great," Nicklaus said. "He picked me up in his airplane, and we played exhibitions together and did all sorts of things. Our wives became very close. We played a lot of bridge together. We never had a rivalry off the golf course. We were good friends."
Flair, fans, results
In the mid-1950s, Palmer burst onto the scene with a violent, unorthodox swing that was unlike anything most had ever seen. Ultimately, what mattered were the results - 62 PGA victories.
Palmer was perfect for the early years of color television. He had more flair and color than the NBC peacock, and his charisma recruited a legion of fans, who enthusiastically enlisted into Arnie's Army.
The fans talked with him. They walked with him. Their emotions swung like a pendulum as he charged up or slipped on the leader board.
Palmer became a cultural icon, a larger-than-life figure whose brilliance and fan-friendly demeanor transcended the game. Yet, he respected golf's boundaries of decorum and etiquette.
"I never like to say any one man is bigger than the sport, but Arnold Palmer is a man for whom our sport owes a great debt," Player said. "He's been a wonderful ambassador to the game. He behaved well. He was passionate with people."
Buoyed by the love his life, the late Winnie Palmer, who died in 1999 of cancer, Palmer shook up the golf world long before Tiger Woods seized command of the sport in 1997 with a resounding 12-stroke victory in the Masters at Augusta National.
In the six decades since Palmer ventured off the family farm in Latrobe to play golf for a living, his impact on the sport is incalculable. He talks of his many charities, of golf course design, of aviation (or conquering his fear of flying) and of introducing the game to millions throughout the Third World.
"I can spend the rest of my life being thankful that golf has given me the opportunities to make significant contributions throughout the world," he said. "The whole nation has been very generous with their help in various charities, including hospitals in Greensburg, Latrobe and Orlando."
Also, it's unimaginable to think, says Palmer's long-time confidante, Doc Giffin, the tour progressing without Palmer's input. Palmer forged a trusting relationship with Mark McCormack, who with Palmer as his first superstar client, built the Cleveland-based International Management Group into the largest sports agency in the world.
And they did with a simple handshake.
"(Palmer) altered the way people looked at the game," Giffin said. "A number of golfers have said over the years they should be giving 10 percent of their earnings to Arnold Palmer for what he's done for the game."
Nicklaus has said often that Palmer poured 100 percent of himself into a game in which he created many unforgettable moments - some joyous, some painful.
There was his spectacular final-round 65 to capture the 1960 U.S. Open at Cherry Hill. A confident Palmer drained an improbable putt, then high-stepped across the green like a drum major to ignite a joyous celebration among a vociferous gallery.
"In Arnold's early years, Arnold was not a particularly good driver of the ball. But his recovery was magnificent, and that all added to the charisma of Arnold," Nicklaus said. "He was such a great putter, and that he made up for a lot of his errors."
Of course, there were heartbreaks along the way.
Perhaps the most memorable was surrendering the 1966 U.S. Open title to Billy Casper after leading by seven shots with nine holes to play. However, among the most painful, says Palmer, was a gut-wrenching loss to Julius Boros in the insufferable heat at Pecan Valley Country Club in San Antonio during the final round of the 1968 PGA Championship - the one major title Palmer failed to capture.
On the 72nd hole, a challenging par 4, Palmer needed a birdie to clinch the title if Boros failed to get up and down to protect a precarious one-stroke lead.
"It was a pretty tough situation," Palmer recalled. "I hit a 3-wood within 12 feet. Then, a couple of things happened, none in my favor."
Boros had left his approach shot well short of the green after Palmer positioned himself for birdie. Boros proceeded to chip to within two feet, so his par was a lock. Palmer missed the birdie putt, gift-wrapping the Wanamaker Trophy for Boros.
"If I had made the birdie putt and (Boros) hadn't made a great chip and putt, I would have won the PGA championship," Palmer said unblinkingly.
Some shots - good and bad - are as vivid today, he says, as they were when a young Palmer uncoiled his hips to lash violently at the ball.
And there were as many tournaments lost during one of the most competitive eras in golf. Unlike Woods, Palmer's two top rivals remained constant: Player and Nicklaus. Their battles helped forged long-lasting friendships.
"It's been a fantastic relationship," Player said. "We've traveled all over the world, and we never got these large sums of money that guys are getting today. We love the game, and we want to promote the game in every corner of the world.
"We've beaten each other. We've laughed together. We've cried together. It's just been a great experience."
"A lot of players playing today don't realize the kind of equipment we played with or the lousy greens we putted on," Player said. "The man who won the tournament (last Sunday) won almost more money than Arnold Palmer made during in his entire career on the regular tour.
"The money wasn't the main criteria. We were rivals, and we wanted to promote the game. It was a different era. You cannot compare the players of today to the players of our era."
Mostly, Palmer recalls how golf influenced his life.
"I feel fortunate that I've been able to have any impact on the game," Palmer said. "I have to give credit to a lot of people I was involved with - my father and mother were keys to my involvement in the game. My father taught me to play and to do all the proper things in the game and have respect for the people I play with."
Palmer is among the most-respected sports figures in the world. His global presence is matched only by iconic figures such as Tiger Woods, Muhammad Ali and Michael Jordan.
Palmer, who has dined with kings, queens and presidents, resists the adulation.
"I've enjoyed my relationship with President Bush - both father and son. I played golf with President Clinton several times, and Gerald Ford was a good friend. It's been a big part of my life."
He recalls with reverence his relationship with President Eisenhower. Palmer will give the acceptance speech for Eisenhower's posthumous induction at the World Golf Hall of Fame.
"I spent a lot of time with (Eisenhower)," Palmer said. "I have a number of letters from him. He was just a great guy. He came here on my 37th birthday. He brought me a painting of his Gettysburg farm that he did himself, and I flew him here on my airplane."
Two years ago, the Eisenhower estate presented Palmer with a set of Ike's golf clubs that are among the feature attractions inside the presidential wing of his office. Palmer will lend the clubs to the Hall of Fame for a year.
Palmer, who along with Nicklaus will be an honorary starter at next year's Masters, has yet to meet President Obama. But he's willing to play a round or two with the president.
"He has all these good players, like Greg Norman, I'll just wait around and hopefully we'll meet up," Palmer said half jokingly.
Palmer remains true to his roots, choosing to call Western Pennsylvania home. He has had a hand in the design of more than 300 golf courses from Laurel to Brazil to Russia and China.
Few courses are as dear to his heart as Latrobe Country Club: a 6,500-yard, par 72 layout along the scenic Laurel Highlands that his father, Deacon Palmer, helped design and create.
"Golf now is going to continue to become a sport that will be worldwide," Palmer said. "I see golf expanding internationally, and that's why it's so important that we're close to having golf in the Olympics.
Palmer said that golf in the Olympics will mean Third World countries will be prodded into developing Olympic teams.
"It's going to be a huge increase to the popularity of the game," Palmer added. "We're going to see an impact that people can't imagine."
Places he remembers most: England, Scotland and the White House
"Certainly, the opportunity to attend presidential dinners and White House visits. I'll always remember the Open championship in England and Scotland, because winning there got more awareness of the game in foreign countries.
I can't wait to go back to: Augusta and Pebble Beach
"I have thoroughly enjoyed myself at those places. But Scotland and St. Andrews are great, too." Palmer will receive an honorary degree from the University of St. Andrews during the Open championship next July.
Comparing the legends to Tiger Woods:
"Given the same circumstances for everyone, Walter Hagen, Gene Sarazen, Byron Nelson, Ben Hogan, Sam Snead, Jack Nicklaus and Gary Player would all be outstanding in the sport today. Tiger is looking like he's about good a player as we have ever had. But how can you not say Jack Nicklaus isn't the greatest when you look at his record."
25-year-old Tiger vs. 25-year-old Arnie
"It would be interesting, wouldn't it?
Shots he'd love to have back:
At Augusta 1961: "I hit a bad second shot on the 72nd hole. It's as simple as that.
At Olympic Club during 1966 U.S. Open: "I just hit a lot of shots I would love to hit over."
What must the PGA change:
"I suppose in this arena we're playing in now, the thing that needs to happen is to slow the ball down. If we continue to see people hit the ball farther, make the courses not long enough, we could hurt the game. We need to make the ball softer so they can't hit the ball so far."
1954 - Turned professional
1955 - Won first PGA Tour event, Canadian Open
1958 - Won first major, Masters
1963 - First golfer to win $1 million in prize money
1973 - Last PGA Tour win, Bob Hope Desert Classic
1974 - Inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame
1998 - Received PGA Tour Lifetime Achievement Award
2004 - Competed in Masters for the final time
2007 - Honorary starter for Masters
Events: 734
Cuts made: 574
Wins: 62
Major wins: 7
Top 10 finishes: 245
Top 25 finishes: 388
Where Arnold Palmer ranks in his PGA career:
Wins
1. Sam Snead82
2. Jack Nicklaus73
3. Tiger Woods70
4. Ben Hogan64
5. Arnold Palmer62
Major wins
1. Jack Nicklaus18
2. Tiger Woods14
3. Walter Hagen11
4. Ben Hogan9
Gary Player9
...
7. (tie) Arnold Palmer7
Top 10 finishes
1. Sam Snead358
2. Jack Nicklaus286
3. Arnold Palmer245
4. Billy Casper236
5. Tom Watson219
Career money list (in millions)
1. Tiger Woods$90.5
2. Vijay Singh$61.9
3. Phil Mickelson$54.4
4. Jim Furyk$41.4
5. Davis Love III$38.8
...
319. Arnold Palmer $1.8
Additional Information:
Arnold Daniel Palmer
Nickname: The King
Born: Sept. 10, 1929 in Latrobe, Pa.
Resides: Latrobe and Orlando, Fla.
College: Wake Forest
PGA wins: 62, fifth all-time
Majors: Masters (1958, 1960, 1962, 1964), U.S. Open (1960), British Open (1961, 1962)
