A Life Well Played

Arnold Palmer 1929-2016.

- Stephen Laroche

To say that 2016 has been a difficult year for sports fans may be an understatement as some of the greatest legends have passed away – including Arnold Palmer, the man who changed golf forever.

Arriving on the pro tour in 1955, Palmer was the perfect athlete to take golf into the television age as fans from all walks of life, known as Arnie’s Army, could relate to him and celebrated each tournament victory. He was absolutely dominant between 1958 and 1963, capturing seven major titles and was awarded the Hickok Belt as America’s top professional athlete in 1960.

All told, Palmer would end up winning 62 PGA tournaments before becoming a member of the World Golf Hall of Fame and moving on to the senior tour. He continued to have great success there, but also made an impact in the business world by owning and designing golf courses in addition to many endorsement deals. He played in the Masters for 50 straight years and was a fantastic ambassador for the game by religiously signing autographs and taking time to meet and connect with his fans.