by Tom Callahan
DAN JENKINS
“In the 1970 PGA at Southern Hills, my good friend and fellow typist Bob Drum and I spent the week rooting shamelessly for Arnold Palmer, who was playing superbly tee to green and contending for the only major title that had been escaping him. Palmer would have been the best story, and we root for good stories.
“Unfortunately, the relatively unknown and more or less invisible Dave Stockton was in a ‘putting coma,’ sinking twenty- and thirty-foot putts for pars and bogeys all the way, and he wound up winning that PGA by two strokes over Palmer and Bob Murphy.
“I couldn’t resist writing a story [in Sports Illustrated] that was more about Arnold regrettably losing than it was about Stockton winning. The tournament in boiling-hot Tulsa turned out to be the last time Palmer had a serious shot at the PGA.
“Stockton wasn’t happy with my story. Two weeks later at a tournament in New Jersey, he ran into Drum and said, ‘Is Jenkins here? I need to have some words with him.’
“Drum reported my absence, and said, ‘Whom shall I say is asking?’”
ARCHABBOT DOUGLAS NOWICKI
“I had the opportunity to meet Pope John Paul II. The archbishop conducting the visit introduced me as the archabbot of Latrobe, Pennsylvania. Pope John Paul immediately responded, ‘Arn-old Pal-mer.’”
GEORGE W. BUSH
“I gave him the Medal of Freedom for a reason. His impact on American sport, but also his impact on American character.”
The first recipient of the Medal of Freedom, in 1776, was George Washington.
(“Contrary to what you may hear,” Palmer said, “I never knew George Washington, but if I met him, I’d shake his hand and say, ‘You were the first, and I won’t be the last.’”)
25
TRIBUTE
“A good man.”
ON A SHIMMERING DAY in an ornate basilica at a small Catholic college two miles from Latrobe Country Club, hands clapped, voices rang, a guitar played, and the eyes of a thousand mourners inside the church—five times that many on an adjoining football field, and a national television audience—glistened in the sweet celebration of “a good man,” Arnold Palmer. In the welcome of Pope John Paul II’s friend, Archabbot Douglas Nowicki, the familiar words of the “valley of death” psalm, “green pastures,” “still water,” for the first time brought to mind a golf course.
Bob Goalby, who won the 1968 Masters when Roberto De Vicenzo signed for one more shot than he took, and Dow Finsterwald on a cane, both born in Palmer’s year, 1929, were his oldest colleagues there. “A lot of the guys our age can’t fly,” Goalby said. But 83-year-old Doug Sanders made it. He got the message.
Arnold’s youngest fellow pros who were present included Rickie Fowler, who brought the Ryder Cup, retrieved by the U.S. just a day and a half earlier. Captain Davis Love III, whose dad was tied with Palmer for the Masters lead in 1964, was in attendance, too, along with Phil Mickelson and assistant captain Bubba Watson. Though the seventh-ranked player in the world, two-time Masters champion Watson was skipped over in the Ryder Cup selections because the other players on Love’s team didn’t like him. His reaction was to ask to be included anyway, to root them on. He won more than anyone that week.
“We were looking down at the airstrip,” said Ernie Els, who flew in from Florida, “and the fog just suddenly lifted.” Other major winners in the chamber included Tom Watson, Lee Trevino, Curtis Strange, Nick Faldo, Hale Irwin, Craig Stadler, Mark O’Meara, Mike Weir, Fuzzy Zoeller, Nancy Lopez, Juli Inkster, Annika Sörenstam, and, of course, Jack Nicklaus. The greatest (or second-greatest) player who ever lived. The only other candidate, Tiger Woods, was missing. But Muhammad Ali was probably sitting there, maybe next to Pap and Doris.
Golf’s rank and file was well represented, too: Peter Jacobsen, Jay Haas, Scott McCarron, Tim “Lumpy” Herron, Bobby Clampett, William McGirt, Billy Andrade, Jerry McGee, Chris Perry. Faces out of the past dotted the congregation, like Bob Drum’s son, Kevin, and old Bob Murphy, who tied Palmer for second in Arnold’s last good shot at a PGA. There might have been a more amazing assemblage of golf people sometime, but I doubt it.
Sam Saunders told a story of his grandfather, Dumpy. (“He’s still Dumpy in my phone, and [like hands on a golf grip] I’ll never change it.”) “He’d always take my call no matter where he was, and he’d always begin by saying, ‘Where are you?’” At 4:10 on Sunday afternoon, September 25, 2016, Sam called Palmer at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. “He asked me where was I? ‘I’m here at home,’ I said. ‘I’m thinking about you today—we all are.’ He told me to take care of my babies, take care of the children and my entire family. I told him I loved him, and he told me he loved me back. It was the last thing we said to each other, and I will be grateful for that the rest of my life.”
It reminded him of another phone call once, when Saunders dialed Dumpy and, flipping the script, Sam opened the conversation with “Where are you?”
“I’m with the president,” Arnold replied.
“The president of what?”
“Of the United States.”
“Why did you answer the phone?”
“Well, I wanted to talk to you.”
Against everyone’s counsel, but being a competitor, Palmer was in the hospital preparing for heart surgery that offered but didn’t promise an improved condition. He was awaiting a test when he died exactly as Pap had, just that suddenly. He didn’t linger. By the way, it wasn’t a rug on which he tripped, which separated the shoulder that never healed and started his decline. It was Mulligan, the dog. He said it was a rug because he didn’t want anyone to blame his old friend.
Arnie’s ashes were spread on top of Winnie’s at a particularly leafy and lovely spot by Latrobe’s ninth green. At that moment, a rainbow appeared.
Filing out, his friends paused on the church steps, listening to a piper and watching the jet with N1AP markings shoot straight up into the sky, on its way to heaven.
APPENDIX
Compiled by Cliff Schrock
HIGH SCHOOL VICTORIES
Western Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic League Championship: 1946, 1947
Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association Championship: 1946, 1947
COLLEGIATE AND AMATEUR VICTORIES
Southern Conference Championship: 1948, 1949 (runner-up in 1950 when Wake Forest won team title)
Medalist, National Intercollegiate (NCAA): 1949, 1950
Medalist, Southern Intercollegiate Championship: 1950, 68–72–68–72—280, Athens, Ga.
ACC Championship: May 1954, Old Town Club, Winston-Salem, N.C. (first time held)
AT U.S. OPEN AS AMATEUR
1953, Oakmont Country Club, 84–78—162, Missed Cut
1954, Baltusrol Golf Club, 81–73—154, Missed Cut
UNITED STATES AMATEUR CHAMPION
1954, Country Club of Detroit, Aug. 23–28
Round 1—defeated Frank Strafaci, Garden City Country, N.Y., 1 up
Round 2—defeated John W. Veghte, Pine Brook, N.Y., 1 up
Round 3—defeated Richard L. Whiting, Red Run, Mich., 2 and 1
Round 4—defeated Walter C. Andzel, South Shore, N.Y., 5 and 3
Round 5—defeated Frank Stranahan, Inverness, Ohio, 3 and 1
Quarterfinals—defeated Don Cherry, Wichita Falls, Tex., 1 up
Semifinals (36 holes)—defeated Edward Meister Jr., Kirtland, Ohio, 39 holes
Final (36 holes)—defeated Robert Sweeny, Sands Point, N.Y., 1 up
PGA TOUR VICTORIES (62, FIFTH BEST ALL-TIME)
(Played 734 tour events, making 574 cuts, playing 2,567 rounds. He had 62 firsts, 38 seconds, 27 thirds, 245 top-10 finishes, 388 top-25 finishes, a 14–10 playoff record and prize money of $1,861,857.)
1955 Canadian Open
1956 Insurance City Open, Eastern Open
1957 Houston Open, Azalea Open, Rubber City Open, San Diego Open
1958 St. Petersburg Open, Masters Tournament, Pepsi Championship
1960 Palm Springs Desert Golf Classic, Texas Open, Baton Rouge Open, Pensacola Open, Masters Tournament, U.S. Open, Insurance City Open, Mobile Sertoma Open
1961 San Diego Open, Phoenix Open, Baton Rouge Open, Texas Open, Western Open, The Open Championship
1962 Palm Springs Golf Classic, Phoenix Open, Masters Tournament, Texas Open, Tournament of Champions, Colonial National Invitation, The Open Championship, American Golf Classic
1963 Los Angeles Open, Phoenix Open, Pensacola Open, Thunderbird Classic, Cleveland Open, Western Open, Whitemarsh Open
1964 Masters Tournament, Oklahoma City Open
1965 Tournament of Champions
1966 Los Angeles Open, Tournament of Champions, Houston Champions International
1967 Los Angeles Open, Tucson Open, 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
1971 Bob Hope Desert Classic, Florida Citrus Invitational, Westchester Classic, National Team Championship
1973 Bob Hope Desert Classic
NON-PGA TOUR AND INTERNATIONAL VICTORIES
1956 Panama Open, Colombia Open
1957 West Penn Open (won by six strokes at Fox Chapel Golf Club with scores of 70–72—142), Mountain View Open, Roanoke, Va.
1960 World Cup (Team, with Sam Snead)
1962 World Cup (Team, with Sam Snead)
1963 Australian Wills Masters, World Cup (Team, with Jack Nicklaus)
1964 Piccadilly World Match Play Championship, World Cup (Team, with Jack Nicklaus)
1966 Australian Open, World Cup (Team, with Jack Nicklaus), PGA Team Championship (with Jack Nicklaus)
1967 Piccadilly World Match Play Championship, World Cup (Individual and Team with Jack Nicklaus)
1971 Lancôme Trophy
1975 Spanish Open, British PGA Championship
1980 Canadian PGA Championship
YEAR-BY-YEAR PROFESSIONAL RESULTS
Lists event, date, round scores, final position, money earned (“No Money” indicates Palmer didn’t finish “in the money”). Excludes weekly, one-day PGA Tour pro-ams, and various exhibitions. Some dates and prize money missing. PGA Tour summaries only include official events/money and do not include non-tour and foreign events. The letter T denotes tied for position.
1954
Miami Open, Miami Springs, Dec. 9–12: 78–74—152, Missed Cut
1955
Panama Open, Jan. 16 (final day): 65–68–70–71—274, T-2, $900
Imperial Valley Open, Jan. 27–30: 72–68–67–70—277, T-17, No Money
Phoenix Open, Feb. 3–6: 69–68–71–73—281, T-10*
Tucson Open, Feb. 10–13: 68–71–74–73—286, T-43, No Money
Texas Open, Feb. 17–20: 69–70–64–67—270, T-6*
Houston Open, Feb. 24–27: 74–68–68–73—283, T-22*
Baton Rouge Open, March 3–6: 70–73–73–72—288, T-40, No Money
St. Petersburg Open, March 17–20: 71–70–68–75—284, T-17*
Masters Tournament, April 7–10: 76–76–72–69—293, T-10, $695.83
Greater Greensboro Open, April 14–17: 72–75–71–73—291, T-33, No Money
Colonial National Invitation, May 5–8: 81–79–80–72—312, 43rd, No Money
Kansas City Open, May 19–22: 73–75—148, Missed Cut
Fort Wayne Invitational, May 26–29: 69–72–72–74—287, T-25, $145
U.S. Open, June 16–18: 77–76–74–76—303, T-21, $180
Western Open, June 23–26: 76–66–70–72—284, T-16, $230
British Columbia Open, June 29–July 2: 70–74–68—212, Withdrew
St. Paul Open, July 7–10: 65–67–70–71—273, T-3, $1,300
Miller High Life Open, July 14–17: 75–71—146, Missed Cut
Rubber City Open, July 28–31: 71–69–72–73—285, T-36, No Money
All American Championship, Aug. 4–7: 68–75–73–74—290, T-26, $205.83
World Championship of Golf, Aug. 11–14: 74–74–75–73—296, T-55, $160
Canadian Open, Aug. 17–20: 64–67–64–70—265, 1st, $2,400
Labatt Open, Aug. 25–28: 72–71–65–71—279, T-8, $760
Insurance City Open, Sept. 2–5: 71–73—144, Withdrew
Cavalcade of Golf, Sept. 8–11: 78, Withdrew
Philadelphia Daily News Open, Sept. 15–18: 78–68–69–70—285, T-34, No Money
Carling Golf Classic, Sept. 22–25: 71–74–73–81—299, T-39, $241.66
Long Island Rotary Open, Sept. 29–Oct. 2: 71–70–68–72—279, 6th, $800
Eastern Open, Oct. 6–9: 71–76–73–70—290, 16th, $320
Havana Invitational, Dec. 1–4: 75–75–71–73—294, T-25, $115
Miami Beach Open, Dec. 8–11: 70–65–71—206, T-8, $520
Mayfair Inn Open, Dec. 15–18: 72, Withdrew
*Ineligible for money during six-month probationary period after turning professional.
PGA Tour summary: Official events entered 30, money $7,958, scoring average 70.99
1956
Los Angeles Open, Jan. 6–9: 72–74–67–74—287, T-27, $250
Panama Open, Jan. 15 (final day): 68–72–75–68—283, 1st, $2,000, defeated Sam Snead in six-hole playoff
Colombia Open, Jan. 21 (final day): 69–75–71–65—280, 1st, $1,800
Thunderbird Invitational, Jan. 26–29: 70–70–72–67—279, T-6, $365
Phoenix Open, Feb. 2–5: 70–76—146, Withdrew
Texas Open, Feb. 16–19: 71–73–73–71—288, T-43, No Money
Houston Open, Feb. 23–26: 74–73–71–72—290, T-35, $101.11
Baton Rouge Open, March 1–4: 70–70–75–71—286, T-18, $155
Pensacola Open, March 8–11: 78–66–73—217, Withdrew
Miami Beach Open, March 22–25: 73–69–77—219, Withdrew
Azalea Open, March 29–April 1: 67–70–73–70—280, T-8, $416.67
Masters Tournament, April 5–8: 73–75–74–79—301, 18th, $630
Tournament of Champions, April 26–29: 74–76–71–72—293, 12th, $1,180
Colonial National Invitation, May 3–6: 73–71–76–76—296, T-28, No Money
Carling Open, May 10–13: 71–74–71–73—289, T-28, $155
Kansas City Open, May 17–20: 68–69–71–72—280, T-11, $550
Dallas Centennial Open, May 24–27: 73–66–70–72—281, T-29, $184.28
Texas International Open, June 1–4: 69–70–71–74—284, T-58, $139.85
U.S. Open, June 14–16: 72–70–72–73—287, 7th, $600
Philadelphia Daily News Open, June 21–24: 70–69–64–70—273, 6th, $1,000
Insurance City Open, June 28–June 1: 66–69–68–71—274, 1st, $4,000, defeated Ted Kroll in two-hole, sudden-death playoff
Canadian Open, July 5–8: 72–72–68–68—280, T-8, $550
Labatt Open, July 12–15: 70–70–73–74—287, T-26, $177.50
Eastern Open, July 26–29: 70–66–69–72—277, 1st, $3,800
All American Championship, Aug. 2–5: 72–69–74–76—291, T-33, $117.50
World Championship of Golf, Aug. 9–12: 70–73–68–73—284, T-25, $343.75
Miller High Life Open, Aug. 16–19: 67–73–71–71—282, T-34, $150
St. Paul Open, Aug. 23–26: 73–70–70–66—279, T-17, $296
Motor City Open, Aug. 30–Sept. 2: 77, Withdrew
Rubber City Open, Sept. 6–9: 67–68–68–69—272, 2nd, $2,000
Fort Wayne Open, Sept. 13–16: 76–69—145, Withdrew
Mayfair Inn Open, Dec. 13–16: 66–68–67–71—272, T-7, $528
PGA Tour summary: Official events entered 29, money $16,145, scoring average 71.14
1957
Los Angeles Open, Jan. 4–7: 77–71–77—225, Mi
ssed Cut
Thunderbird Invitational, Jan. 24–27: 71–69–80–68—288, T-32, $112.50
Phoenix Open, Jan. 31–Feb. 3: 66–70–70–71—277, T-5, $787.50
Tucson Open, Feb. 7–10: 68–70–69–70—277, T-20, $175
Texas Open, Feb. 14–17: 68–68–70–68—274, T-3, $1,300
Houston Open, Feb. 21–25: 67–72–71–69—279, 1st, $7,500
Baton Rouge Open, Feb. 28–March 3: 68–72–73–78—291, T-34, No Money
Pensacola Open, March 7–10: 72–71–75–71—289, T-26, $85.72
St. Petersburg Open, March 14–17: 69–69–71–72—281, 13th, $370
Azalea Open, March 28–31: 70–67–70–75—282, 1st, $1,700
Masters Tournament, April 4–7: 73–73–69–76—291, T-6, $1,137.50
Greater Greensboro Open, April 11–14: 74–72–73—219, Withdrew
Tournament of Champions, April 18–21: 72–73–74–73—292, T-9, $1,270
Kentucky Derby Open, April 24–28: 71–75–75–68—289, T-20, $413.75
Colonial National Invitation, May 2–5: 70–74–75–79—298, T-32, No Money
Kansas City Open, May 23–26: 74–72–69–82—297, T-39, No Money
Rubber City Open, June 6–9: 71–66–67–68—272, 1st, $2,800, defeated Doug Ford in six-hole, sudden-death playoff
U.S. Open, June 13–15: 76–76—152, Missed Cut
Carling Open, June 20–23: 67–74–66–73—280, T-4, $1,425
Western Open, June 27–30: 75–72—147, Missed Cut
Labatt Open, July 4–7: 72–70–73–68—283, T-8, $950
Canadian Open, July 10–13: 70–70–70–70—280, 11th, $850
Erie Open, July 21: 69–71—140, T-6, $325
Eastern Open, July 25–28: 71–71–72–69—283, T-8, $825
All American Open, Aug. 1–5: 69–73–72–71—285, T-14, $675
World Championship of Golf, Aug. 8–11: 70–70–74–71—285, T-10, $1,500
St. Paul Open, Aug. 15–18: 72–67–68–69—276, T-17, $430
Miller High Life Open, Aug. 22–25: 72–75–69–72—288, T-54, No Money