Arnold PALMER

the popularity of the much loved Arnold Palmer. For it was his appeal, more than any, which increased the public interest in the game. His partnership with marketing man Mark McCormack also helped to attract sponsors to the game and the prize money soon rose dramatically. It is certainly fair to say that the golfers of today have much to thank Arnold Palmer for. His professional career started in 1954, shortly after he had won the US Amateur, and his first tournament victory came the following year in the Canadian Open. He was successful on no less than four occasions in 1957 and the next year saw Palmer win his  first major with his triumph in the Masters. In 1960 Arnold Palmer enjoyed a truly memorable year.

He won his second Green Jacket, with birdies at the last two holes to pip Ken Venturi, and then pulled off an unlikely win in the US Open at Cherry Hills. Going into the last round Palmer trailed by six strokes but he went out in a record 30 and came back in 35 to take the title by two strokes. He then moved on to the British Open which, at the time, held little attraction for the Americans. His performance did much to change that, however, and it took a splendid performance from Kel Nagle to hold him off by one shot in a thrilling Championship. Palmer was not to be denied the following year, though, and he carried off his first Open title with a one stroke victory from Dai Rees at Royal Birkdale.

That same year he was denied a third Masters triumph by just one shot from Gary Player and he also won on no less than five occasions on the US Tour. The next year was a similarly unforgettable one to 1961 with victories at the Masters, the Open and a second place in the US Open. The Open at Troon was particularly outstanding as Palmer romped to a six shot victory from Kel Nagle who, in turn, was seven strokes clear of third-place men Brian Huggett and Phil Rodgers. (David Scranage)

                                             RECORD DURING: 1963-1965.

                                              Last major triumph in 1964

Arnold Palmer's fine form of 1962 continued into 1963 and he was victorious on no less than seven occasions on the PGA Tour, topping the money lists with a total of $128,230. He failed to add to his list of six majors but came so close to doing so in the US Open. His disappointing closing rounds of 77, 74 meant he went into a play-off which saw Julius Boros emerge triumphant. This was the second year in succession that Palmer had missed out via a play-off in the US Open, after his defeat to a young man by the name of Jack Nicklaus the previous year.

He became the last playing captain in the 1963 Ryder Cup and contributed four points from a possible six, to go along with his fine debut performance of two years earlier when he scored three and a half points from four, as the Americans eased to a 23-9 victory. The next year saw Palmer claim his seventh and last major when capturing his fourth Green Jacket in the Masters tournament at Augusta.

He opened the tournament with a 69 and followed it up with rounds of 68, 69, 70 to stroll to a six stroke success from Nicklaus and Dave Marr. He managed a tie for second place in the defence of his Masters crown, albeit nine strokes back from Nicklaus, and also carried off the Tournament of Champions title in 1965. That same year he performed with distinction once again at the Ryder Cup, gaining four points from six, as the Americans enjoyed a 19 1/2-11 1/2 success. (David Scranage)

                                            RECORD DURING: 1966-1969.

                                                    More play-off agony.

 Arnold Palmer performed consistently well during 1966 and should have added another major to his collection in the US Open at the Olympic Club, California. It was not to be, however, as he suffered his third US Open play-off defeat in five years, with Billy Casper following on from Jack Nicklaus in 1962 and Julius Boros in '63. It was really a case of Palmer grabbing defeat from the jaws of victory as he somehow contrived to throw away a seven stroke lead with just nine holes remaining.

He led early on in the 36 hole play-off but faded away and Casper ran out the winner by four shots. He was a four time winner on tour that year as he was, indeed, the following year on his way to finishes of third and second in the money lists respectively. There was yet another second place in the 1967 US Open, despite the fact that Arnold became the first man in US Open history to shoot below 280 on more than one occasion.  His rounds of 69, 68, 73 & 69 left him one under par, on a total of 279, but it was not enough to stop the irrepressible Nicklaus who closed the event with a scintillating round of 65 to finish at five under par.

Later that year Palmer continued his impressive Ryder Cup record with a 100% return from his five matches, as the Americans thrashed Great Britain 23 1/2-8 1/2. He had a second place finish behind Nicklaus in the 1968 PGA Championship and also victories at the Bob Hope Desert Classic and Kemper Open that year. The next year brought success at the Heritage Golf Classic and Danny Thomas-Diplomat Classic whilst in the PGA Championship he finished in a tie for second place, with Bob Charles, just one stroke back on Julius Boros. (David Scranage)