Skip to content
Search
  • Members
  • Induction
    • Class of 2024
    • Class of 2022
    • Criteria & Process
    • History
  • Stories
    • Media
  • Visit
  • Contact US
  • Members
  • Induction
    • Class of 2024
    • Class of 2022
    • Criteria & Process
    • History
  • Stories
    • Media
  • Visit
  • Contact US
  • Home
  • >
  • Member Pages
  • >
  • Arnold Palmer

Arnold Palmer

Hometown
Latrobe
Pennsylvania
Year Inducted
1974
Inducted Category
Competitor
Birthdate
Sep 10,1929
Date Deceased
Sep 25,2016
Major Championships: 7
  • Masters Tournament: 1958, 1960, 1962, 1964
  • U.S. Open: 1960
  • Open Championship: 1961, 1962
Senior Majors: 5
  • PGA Seniors Championship: 1980, 1984
  • U.S. Senior Open: 1981
  • SENIOR PLAYERS Championship: 1984, 1985
Additional PGA TOUR Wins: 55
  • 1955: Canadian Open
  • 1956: Insurance City Open, Eastern Open
  • 1957: Houston Open, Azalea Open Invitational, Rubber City Open Invitational, San Diego Open Invitational
  • 1958: St. Petersburg Open Invitational, Pepsi Championship
  • 1959: Thunderbird Invitational, Oklahoma City Open Invitational, West Palm Beach Open Invitational
  • 1960: Palm Springs Desert Classic, Texas Open Invitational, Baton Rouge Open Invitational, Pensacola Open Invitational, Insurance City Open Invitational, Mobile Sertoma Open Invitational
  • 1961: San Diego Open Invitational, Phoenix Open Invitational, Baton Rouge Open Invitational, Texas Open Invitational, Western Open
  • 1962: Palmer Springs Desert Classic, Phoenix Open Invitational, Texas Open Invitational, Tournament of Champions, Colonial National Invitation, American Golf Classic
  • 1963: Los Angeles Open, Phoenix Open Invitational, Pensacola Open Invitational, Thunderbird Classic Invitational, Cleveland Open Invitational, Western Open, Whitemarsh Open Invitational
  • 1964: Oklahoma City Open Invitational
  • 1965: Tournament of Champions
  • 1966: Los Angeles Open, Tournament of Champions, Houston Champions International
  • 1967: Los Angeles Open, Tucson Open Invitational, American Golf Classic, Thunderbird Classic
  • 1968: Bob Hope Desert Classic, Kemper Open
  • 1969: Heritage Golf Classic, Danny Thomas-Diplomat Classic
  • 1970: National Four-Ball Championship (with Jack Nicklaus)
  • 1971: Bob Hope Desert Classic, Florida Citrus Invitational, Westchester Classic, National Team Championship (with Jack Nicklaus)
  • 1973: Bob Hope Desert Classic
PGA TOUR Champions Wins: 5
  • 1982: Marlboro Classic, Denver Post Champions of Golf
  • 1983: Boca Grove Classic
  • 1984: Quadel Senior Classic
  • 1988: Crestar Classic
International Wins: 20
  • 1956: Panama Open, Colombia Open [SAmerica]
  • 1960: World Cup [with Sam Snead]
  • 1962: World Cup [with Sam Snead]
  • 1963: Australian Wills Masters [Aus], World Cup [with Jack Nicklaus]
  • 1964: Piccadilly World Match Play Championship [Eur], World Cup [with Jack Nicklaus]
  • 1966: Australian Open [Aus], World Cup [with Jack Nicklaus], PGA Team Championship [with Jack Nicklaus]
  • 1967: Piccadilly World Match Play Championship [Eur], World Cup [indiv], World Cup [with Jack Nicklaus]
  • 1971: Lancome Trophy [Eur]
  • 1975: Spanish Open [Eur], British PGA Championship [Eur]
  • 1980: Canadian PGA Championship [Can]
  • 1984: Doug Sanders Celebrity Pro-Am
  • 1986: Unionmutual Classic
Amateur Wins: 1
  • 1954: U.S. Amateur
Ryder Cup Appearances: 7

Wins in bold

  • Player: 1961, 1963, 1965, 1967, 1971, 1973
  • Captain: 1963, 1975
Presidents Cup Appearances: 1

Wins in bold

  • Captain: 1996
Awards & Honors :

Golf

  • Player of the Year: 1960, 1962
  • Leading Money Winner: 1958, 1960, 1962, 1963
  • Vardon Trophy: 1961, 1962, 1964, 1967
  • Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame: 1963
  • American Golf Hall of Fame (Foxburg, PA)
  • Phoenix Open Hall of Fame
  • Gold Tee Award, (Metropolitan (NY) Golf Writers Association): 1965
  • William D. Richardson Award (Golf Writers Association of America): 1969
  • Bob Jones Award, (USGA): 1971
  • Man of Silver Era (Golf Digest): 1975
  • Charles Bartlett Award (Golf Writers Association of America): 1976
  • Herb Graffis Award (National Golf Foundation): 1978
  • PGA of America Hall of Fame: 1980
  • Walter Hagen Award: 1981
  • Old Tom Morris Award (Golf Course Superintendents Association of America): 1983
  • All-American Collegiate Golf Hall of Fame, Man of Year: 1984
  • Golfer of Century (New York Athletic Club): 1985
  • Commemorative Honoree (Golf Digest Commemorative Seniors Tournament): 1987
  • North Carolina Sports Hall of Fame: 1988
  • Golfer of Decade (1958-67) (Centennial of Golf, Golf Magazine): 1989
  • American Senior Golf Association National Award): 1989
  • Chicago District Golf Association Distinguished Service Award): 1989
  • Ambassador of Golf Award (World Series of Golf): 1991
  • Bing Crosby Award (Metropolitan (NY) Golf Writers Association): 1992
  • Ohio Golf Hall of Fame: 1992
  • The Memorial Tournament Honoree: 1993
  • PGA of America Distinguished Service Award: 1994
  • Distinguished Service Award (Tri-State Section, PGA of America): 1996
  • Centennial Award (Golf Associations of Philadelphia: 1996
  • Francis Ouimet Award (Francis Ouimet Caddie Scholarship Fund): 1997
  • PGA TOUR Lifetime Achievement Award: 1998
  • Golfer of Century (Western Pennsylvania Golf Association): 1998
  • Donald Ross Award (American Society of Golf Course Architects): 1999
  • Golf Newsmaker of Century (Golf World): 1999
  • Ike Grainger Award (USGA): 2000
  • Golf Family of Year (National Golf Foundation): 2000
  • PGA TOUR Payne Stewart Award: 2000
  • Dave Marr Award (Novell Utah Showdown): 2000
  • National Golf Course Owners Association Award of Merit: 2001
  • Golden Anniversary Award (Metropolitan (NY) Golf Writers Association): 2001
  • Tri-State PGA Hall of Fame: 2002
  • 50th Anniversary Atlantic Coast Conference golf team: 2003
  • GWAA ASAP Sports/Jim Murray Award: 2003
  • Dave Marr Shell Award: 2004
  • Will F. Nicholson Honor: 2007
  • Lifetime Achievement Award (Golf Coaches Association of America Hall of Fame): 2008
  • Langley Award (Northern California Section, PGA of America): 2008
  • Spirit of Golf Award (Woodlands Foundation): 2008
  • Lifetime Achievement Award (Golf Business Forum): 2009
  • Byron Nelson Prize: 2009
  • Northern California Golf Association Hall of Fame: 2012

Sports

  • Pennsylvania, Western Pennsylvania, Westmoreland County, Cambria County, North Carolina, Florida Sports Halls of Fame
  • Wake Forest Sports Hall of Fame: 1971
  • National High School Sports Hall of Fame
  • Associated Press Athlete of Decade, 1960-1969
  • Hickok Professional Athlete of Year: 1960
  • Sports Illustrated Sportsman of Year: 1960
  • Dapper Dan Man of the Year: 1960
  • Theodore Roosevelt Award (NCAA): 1983
  • Order of Eagle Exemplar (U.S. Sports Academy): 1989
  • Sports Appreciation Trophy (Atlanta AC CC): 1990
  • National Sports Award: 1993
  • Sports Legends Award (Juvenile Diabetes Association, Pittsburgh): 1993
  • Lifetime Achievement Award (March of Dimes Athletic Awards): 1998
  • Athletes Who Changed Game (Sports Illustrated’s 20th Century Sports Awards): 1999
  • Top 10 Male Athletes (Atlantic Coast Conference 50th Anniversary): 2003
  • Roy Firestone Award: 2004
  • Alfond Award of Excellence (Rollins College): 2004
  • Dapper Dan Lifetime Achievement Award: 2005
  • WPIAL (Pittsburgh) Hall of Fame: 2007

General

  • Lowman Humanitarian Award (Los Angeles)
  • Partner in Science Award (March of Dimes Birth Defects Foundation)
  • Business Leaders Award (Northwood Institute)
  • Gold Medalist (Pennsylvania Society): 1972
  • Arthur J. Rooney Award (Catholic Youth Association, Pittsburgh): 1977
  • Distinguished Pennsylvanian: 1980
  • Ellis Island Medal of Honor: 1986
  • Gold Medal (Pennsylvania Association of Broadcasters): 1988
  • Van Patrick Career Achievement Award: 1990
  • Eagle on World Award (Japanese Chamber of Commerce and Industry of New York): 1990
  • Pathfinder Award (Youthlinks Indiana): 1992
  • Outstanding American Award (Los Angeles Philanthropic Foundation): 1992
  • Humanitarian Award (Variety Club International): 1993
  • “Good Guy” Award (American Legion National Commanders): 1993
  • Man of Year (Palm Springs Chamber of Commerce): 1994
  • Ford Achievement Award: 1994
  • Golden Plate Award (American Academy of Achievement): 1995
  • History Makers Award (Historical Society of Western Pennsylvania): 1995
  • Community Service Award (Latrobe Chamber of Commerce): 1995
  • Reagan Distinguished American Award (Jonathan Club): 1996
  • Caritas Award (Richstone Family Center): 1998
  • Spirit of Hope Award (University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute): 1998
  • James Ewing Layman’s Award (Society of Surgical Oncology, Orlando): 1999
  • Harold A. Stewart Amicus Libri Award (Adams Memorial Library, Latrobe, PA): 1999
  • Patriot Award (Congressional Medal of Honor Society): 2000
  • George Bush Three Amigos Inspiration Award: 2001
  • Great Ones Award (Jim Murray Memorial Foundation): 2001
  • Paul Harris Rotary Club Award: 2002
  • Great American Award (Starkey Hearing Foundation): 2003
  • Presidential Medal of Freedom: 2004
  • Portugal Order of Merit: 2005
  • Spirit of Hope Award (Adelphoi USA): 2006
  • Mid-Florida Business Hall of Fame, Junior Achievement: 2006
  • Boy Scout Eagle Award, Central FL Council: 2008
  • Lone Sailor Award: 2008
  • Lifetime Legacy Award (Children’s Miracle Network, Orlando): 2009
  • Congressional Gold Medal: 2009
  • Junior Achievement Golden Achievement Award: 2010
  • American Cancer Society Premiere Award: 2010
  • ASSR Supreme Council Gourgas Medal: 2010
  • Wright Brothers Master Pilot Award: 2010
  • NBAA Meritorious Service Award: 2010
  • TJ Martell Foundation – Lifetime Philanthropic Award: 2011
  • Greensburg Rotary Club – Paul Harris Fellow certificate, medallion and pin: 2012

Academic

  • Honorary Doctor of Laws, Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, NC
  • Honorary Doctor of Humanities, Thiel College, Greenville, PA
  • Honorary Doctor of Laws, National College of Education, Evanston, IL
  • Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters, Florida Southern University, Lakeland, FL
  • Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters, St. Vincent College, Latrobe, PA
  • Honorary Doctor of Public Service, Washington & Jefferson College, Washington PA, 2009
  • Honorary Doctor of Law, University of St. Andrews, 2010

It is not hyperbole to say that the golf’s place within popular culture today is due in large part to the powerful presence of Arnold Palmer. He was an integral part of the game’s explosive growth in the 1960s.

His timing was impeccable – as television proliferated and became a major part of the American landscape, it needed a star. And Palmer, who won the game’s biggest events with a boldness and charisma not previously seen, was the perfect star.

He had an everyman quality to him that appealed to the masses. His passion on the course, dramatic whirlybird follow-through and fierce animation was different from the cool intensity that the game’s greats before him had cultivated.

With his thick forearms and wasp waist, he was a 5’10”, 165-pound blue collar dynamo who joyfully made golf an athletic event – and fans from all walks of life could not get enough. “Arnold Palmer did not play golf, we thought,” wrote Hall of Famer Dan Jenkins. “He nailed up beams, reupholstered sofas, repaired air conditioning units. He was the most immeasurable of all golf champions.”

“Golf is deceptively simple and endlessly complicated. It satisfies the soul and frustrates the intellect. It is at the same time rewarding and maddening – and it is without a doubt the greatest game mankind has ever invented.” – Arnold Palmer

As the fans piled up, Palmer became the magnetic leader of the throng that called themselves Arnie’s Army. “I tried to look the whole gallery in the eye,” he said. “Some people think of me as just plain lucky, and I can’t argue with them,” he once said. “I would like to say, however, that a man might be walking around lucky and not know it unless he tries.”

Nobody tried like Palmer. He learned to love the game in Latrobe, Pennsylvania, where he was born on September 10, 1929. His father, Deacon, was the professional at the nine-hole Latrobe Country Club and the Palmers lived on the golf course. Arnold dreamed of playing golf for a living, and his victory at the U.S. Amateur in 1954 – the win that remained his favorite – served as his launch pad. Between 1955 and 1973, Palmer blasted off, winning 62 PGA TOUR events, including seven professional Major Championships: the Masters in 1958, 1960, 1962 and 1964, the 1960 U.S. Open, and the 1961 and 1962 Open Championships.

Perhaps his finest year was 1960, when he won eight official events. At the Masters, he birdied the final two holes to edge Ken Venturi by one. Two months later at the U.S. Open at Cherry Hills, he began the final round on Saturday seven strokes and 14 players behind. But he drove the green on the 340-yard first hole, shot 30 on the front nine, and finished with a 65 to win by two. The Palmer “charge” was born.

While 1960 burnished Palmer’s resume, it was his magical relationship with Augusta National – and the television screen – that pushed him into the stratosphere of American celebrity. Hall of Fame member Frank Chirkinian, the legendary CBS executive who produced 38 consecutive Masters broadcasts from 1958-1996, knew the focus had to be on Arnie. “He absolutely fired up the screen,” Chirkinian said.

Fact

Arnold Palmer once set a flight record by circumnavigating the globe in 57 hours, 25 minutes and 42 seconds.

With a fiery, muscular swing that produced a piercing draw, Palmer was one of the finest drivers of the ball who ever lived, and from a distinctive pigeon-toed stance, a superb putter. He led the PGA TOUR’s money list four times, and in 1963 became the first player to win more than $100,000 in a season. He played on six Ryder Cups teams, and led the U.S. to victories twice both as a playing and non-playing captain (1963 and 1975).

Palmer’s defeats were as dramatic as his victories. In 1961, he lost the Masters by one stroke when he double-bogeyed the 72nd hole. He lost playoffs in three U.S. Opens, the first to Jack Nicklaus in 1962, the second to Julius Boros in 1963, and the third and most heartbreaking to Billy Casper at the Olympic Club in 1966, where Palmer led by seven strokes with nine holes to play in regulation. Palmer’s best finish in the PGA Championship was second – three times – which kept him from attaining the career Grand Slam.

But his losses, like everything Palmer did, only served to further endear him to his fans. For more than four decades under the spotlight, Palmer’s popularity has not only endured, it has increased. His charitable efforts, including institutions like the Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children, are legion. Even his favorite drink, a combination of iced tea and lemonade, has become known simply as the “Arnold Palmer” and has turned into a multi-million dollar industry.

On September 12, 2012, Palmer was awarded the Congressional Gold Medal. He became just the sixth athlete to receive the honor and coupled with the Presidential Medal of Freedom he was awarded in 2004, gives him both of the highest honors the U.S. can give to a civilian.

Both Democrat and Republican Party leaders were at the U.S. Capitol’s Rotunda for the ceremony. “I’m particularly proud of anything the House and the Senate agree on,” Palmer joked. Everyone can agree on the power of The King.

Arnold Palmer was originally inducted in Pinehurst.

  • About Us
  • Media
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Media
  • Privacy Policy

Stay Connected

Don’t miss out on the latest golf news and updates!

Facebook Twitter Linkedin Instagram

© Copyright World Golf Hall of Fame 2020