Arnie
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1961—San Diego Open, defeated Al Balding with birdie on first hole of sudden death; Phoenix Open, defeated Doug Sanders, 67–70; “500” Festival Open, lost to Doug Ford’s birdie on second hole of sudden death
1962—Masters Tournament, won with 68 versus Gary Player (71) and Dow Finsterwald (77); Colonial National Invitation, defeated Johnny Pott, 69–73; U.S. Open, lost 71–74 to Jack Nicklaus
1963—Thunderbird Classic, defeated Paul Harney with a par on first hole of sudden death; U.S. Open, shot 76 to lose to Julius Boros (70) and Jacky Cupit (73); Cleveland Open, shot 67 to defeat Tony Lema (70) and Tommy Aaron (70); Western Open, shot 70 to defeat Julius Boros (71) and Jack Nicklaus (73)
1964—Pensacola Open, lost in playoff (72) to Gary Player (71) with Miller Barber (74); Cleveland Open, lost to birdie by Tony Lema on first hole of sudden death
1966—Bob Hope Desert Classic, lost to birdie by Doug Sanders on first hole of sudden death; Tournament of Champions, shot 69 to defeat Gay Brewer (73); U.S. Open, lost 69–73 to Billy Casper; Dunlop International, Kensington, Australia, lost to Bob Stanton on second hole of sudden death
1968—Bob Hope Desert Classic, defeated Deane Beman with par on second hole of sudden death
1970—Byron Nelson Golf Classic, lost to Jack Nicklaus with birdie on first hole of sudden death
1971—Bob Hope Desert Classic, defeated Ray Floyd with birdie on first hole of sudden death
VARDON TROPHY
Won four times for lowest scoring average on PGA Tour:
1961, 69.859, 99 rounds, 6,916 strokes; 1962, 70.271, 85 rounds, 5,973 strokes
1964, 70.010, 96 rounds, 6,721 strokes; 1967, 70.188, 85 rounds, 5,966 strokes
PALMER IN THE RYDER CUP
Two-time Captain, 2–0 Record:
Playing Captain, 1963, East Lake Country Club, Atlanta, Ga., United States 23, Great Britain 9
Nonplaying, 1975, Laurel Valley Golf Club, Ligonier, Pa., United States 21, Great Britain & Ireland 11
Six-time Player, 6–0 Team Record, His Play:
1961—OCT. 13–14, ROYAL LYTHAM & ST. ANNES, ST. ANNES, ENGLAND, UNITED STATES 11½, GREAT BRITAIN 9½
Day 1
Morning Foursomes, Arnold Palmer–Billy Casper (U.S.) defeat Dai Rees–Ken Bousfield, 2 and 1
Afternoon Foursomes, Palmer-Casper (U.S.) defeat John Panton–Bernard Hunt, 5 and 4
Day 2
Morning Singles, Palmer (U.S.) and Peter Alliss halve
Afternoon Singles, Palmer (U.S.) defeats Tom Haliburton, 2 and 1
This Match, Palmer won-loss-tied record 3–0–1.
1963—OCT. 11–13, EAST LAKE COUNTRY CLUB, ATLANTA, GA., UNITED STATES 23, GREAT BRITAIN 9
Day 1
Morning Foursomes, Brian Huggett–George Will (GB) defeat Arnold Palmer–Johnny Pott, 3 and 2
Afternoon Foursomes, Palmer–Billy Casper (U.S.) defeat Huggett-Will, 5 and 4
Day 2
Morning Four-Ball, Palmer–Dow Finsterwald (U.S.) defeat Huggett–Dave Thomas, 5 and 4
Afternoon Four-Ball, Palmer-Finsterwald (U.S.) defeat Neil Coles–Christy O’Connor Sr., 3 and 2
Day 3
Morning Singles, Peter Alliss (GB) defeats Palmer, 1 up
Afternoon Singles, Palmer (U.S.) defeats Will, 3 and 2
This Match, Palmer won-loss-tied record 4–2–0; two-match composite record 7–2–1.
1965—OCT. 7–9, ROYAL BIRKDALE GOLF CLUB, SOUTHPORT, ENGLAND, UNITED STATES 19½, GREAT BRITAIN 12½
Day 1
Morning Foursomes, Dave Thomas–George Will (GB) defeat Arnold Palmer–Dave Marr, 6 and 5
Afternoon Foursomes, Palmer-Marr (U.S.) defeat Thomas-Will, 6 and 5
Day 2
Morning Four-Ball, Palmer-Marr (U.S.) defeat Peter Alliss–Christy O’Connor Sr., 6 and 4
Afternoon Four-Ball, Alliss–O’Connor Sr. (GB) defeat Palmer-Marr, 2 up
Day 3
Morning Singles, Palmer (U.S.) defeats Jimmy Hitchcock, 3 and 2
Afternoon Singles, Palmer (U.S.) defeats Peter Butler, 2 up
This Match, Palmer won-loss-tied record 4–2–0; three-match composite record 11–4–1.
1967—OCT. 20–22, CHAMPIONS GOLF CLUB, HOUSTON, UNITED STATES 23½, GREAT BRITAIN 8½
Day 1
Morning Foursomes, Arnold Palmer–Gardner Dickinson (U.S.) defeat Peter Alliss–Christy O’Connor Sr., 2 and 1
Afternoon Foursomes, Palmer-Dickinson (U.S.) defeat Malcolm Gregson–Hugh Boyle, 5 and 4
Day 2
Afternoon Four-Ball, Palmer–Julius Boros (U.S.) defeat George Will–Boyle, 1 up
Day 3
Morning Singles, Palmer (U.S.) defeats Tony Jacklin, 3 and 2
Afternoon Singles, Palmer (U.S.) defeats Brian Huggett, 5 and 3
This Match, Palmer won-loss-tied record 5–0–0; four-match composite record 16–4–1.
1971—SEPT. 16–18, OLD WARSON COUNTRY CLUB, ST. LOUIS, UNITED STATES 18½, GREAT BRITAIN 13½
Day 1
Morning Foursomes, Arnold Palmer–Gardner Dickinson (U.S.) defeat Peter Townsend–Peter Oosterhuis, 2 up
Afternoon Foursomes, Palmer-Dickinson (U.S.) defeat Townsend-Oosterhuis, 1 up
Day 2
Morning Four-Ball, Palmer-Dickinson (U.S.) defeat Oosterhuis–Bernard Gallacher, 5 and 4
Afternoon Four-Ball, Palmer–Jack Nicklaus (U.S.) defeat Townsend–Harry Bannerman, 1 up
Day 3
Morning Singles, Palmer (U.S.) and Bannerman halve
Afternoon Singles, Oosterhuis (GB) defeats Palmer, 3 and 2
This Match, Palmer won-loss-tied record 4–1–1; five-match composite record 20–5–2.
1973—SEPT. 20–22, MUIRFIELD, SCOTLAND, UNITED STATES 19, GREAT BRITAIN & IRELAND 13
Day 1
Morning Foursomes, Arnold Palmer–Jack Nicklaus (U.S.) defeat Maurice Bembridge–Eddie Polland, 6 and 5
Afternoon Four-Ball, Bembridge–Brian Huggett (GBI) defeat Palmer-Nicklaus, 3 and 1
Day 2
Morning Foursomes, Peter Oosterhuis–Tony Jacklin (GBI) defeat Palmer–Dave Hill, 2 up
Afternoon Four-Ball, Palmer–J. C. Snead (U.S.) defeat Brian Barnes–Peter Butler, 2 up
Day 3
Afternoon Singles, Oosterhuis (GBI) defeats Palmer, 4 and 2
This Match, Palmer won-loss-tied record 2–3–0.
Full six-match record: 32 matches played, 22–8–2 record (best all-time winning percentage), singles 6–3–2, Foursomes 9–3–0, Four-Ball 7–2–0, Total Points 23.
CANADA CUP/WORLD CUP/INTERNATIONAL TROPHY
JUNE 23–26, 1960, PORTMARNOCK GOLF CLUB, DUBLIN, IRELAND
Individual: 69–71–75–69—284, T-3
U.S. Team with Sam Snead: 140–139–142–144—565, 1st
NOVEMBER 8–11, 1962, JOCKEY CLUB, BUENOS AIRES, ARGENTINA
Individual: 68–72–69–69—278, T-2
U.S. Team with Sam Snead: 136–137–141–143—557, 1st
OCTOBER 24–28, 1963, GOLF DE SAINT-NOM-LA-BRETÈCHE, PARIS, FRANCE
Inclement weather shortened final round to nine holes
Individual: 69–70–72–34—245, T-5
U.S. Team with Jack Nicklaus: 136–142–138–66—482, 1st
DECEMBER 3–6, 1964, ROYAL KA’ANAPALI GOLF COURSE, MAUI, HAWAII
Individual: 66–67–67–78—278, 2nd
U.S. Team with Jack Nicklaus: 138–136–132–148—554, 1st
NOVEMBER 10–13, 1966, YOMIURI COUNTRY CLUB, TOKYO, JAPAN
Individual: 66–67–69–73—275, 5th
U.S. Team with Jack Nicklaus: 135–135–136–142—548, 1st
NOVEMBER 9–12, 1967, CLUB DE GOLF MEXICO, MEXICO CITY, MEXICO
Individual: 68–70–71–67—276, 1st
U.S. Team with Jack Nicklaus: 140–141–140–136—557, 1st
WORLD SERIES OF GOLF
Palmer played in three WSOGs, an unofficial 36-hole event involving the winners of the year’s major championships, held at Firesto
ne Country Club, par-70, 7,165-yard South Course, Akron, Ohio.
September 8–9, 1962—Jack Nicklaus 66–69—135, $50,000; Arnold Palmer 65–74—139, $12,500; Gary Player 69–70—139, $12,500
September 7–8, 1963—Jack Nicklaus 70–70—140, $50,000; Julius Boros 72–69—141, $15,000; Arnold Palmer* 71–72—143, $5,000; Bob Charles 70–77—147, $5,000.
September 12–13, 1964—Tony Lema 70–68—138, $50,000; Ken Venturi 69–74—143, $15,000; Bobby Nichols 77–70–147, $5,000; Arnold Palmer 74–74—148, $5,000
*Won playoff Aug. 20 to be fourth contestant.
PGA SENIOR TOUR (CHAMPIONS)
CAREER SUMMARY
Events started, 319; cuts made, 294; firsts, 10; seconds, 7; thirds, 9; top-10 finishes, 67; top-25 finishes, 123; total money won, $1,765,795; money by year: 1980—$20,000; 1981—$55,100; 1982—$73,848; 1983—$106,590; 1984—$184,582; 1985—$137,024; 1986—$99,056; 1987—$128,910; 1988—$185,373; 1989—$119,907; 1990—$66,519; 1991—$143,967; 1992—$70,815; 1993—$106,232; 1994—$34,471; 1995—$51,526; 1996—$48,192; 1997—$29,052; 1998—$20,454; 1999—$8,185; 2000—$15,338; 2001—$4,384; 2002—$5,596; 2003—$19,311; 2004—$14,812; 2005—$15,701; 2006—$850. Note: 10 victories rank him T-30 on senior victory list, tied with five others, among them Jack Nicklaus
VICTORIES (10)
1980 Senior PGA Championship
1981 U.S. Senior Open
1982 Marlboro Classic, Denver Post Champions of Golf
1983 Boca Grove Classic
1984 Senior PGA Championship, Senior Tournament Players Championship, Quadel Senior Classic
1985 Senior Tournament Players Championship
1988 Crestar Classic
SENIOR TOUR (NON-CHAMPIONS)
VICTORIES (2)
1984 Doug Sanders Celebrity Pro-Am
1986 Unionmutual Classic
CHRYSLER CUP (RYDER CUP-STYLE SENIOR EVENT, U.S. VERSUS INTERNATIONALS)
Palmer was the U.S. captain for the five years it was played, 1986–1990, and had a 4–1 record. It was during the inaugural event at the TPC at Avenel course in Potomac, Md., that he aced the 187-yard number three hole two days in a row using the same 5-iron. Palmer’s match results:
1986 (Sept. 4–7): Final score, United States 68½, International 31½. Day 1, Four-Ball, Arnold Palmer (U.S. captain)–Gene Littler defeat Gary Player (International captain)–Bob Charles, 1 up; Day 2, Singles Match, Palmer (U.S.) defeated Harold Henning, 1 up; Day 3, Singles Stroke, Palmer (U.S.) defeated Peter Thomson, 71–73; Day 4, Stroke Play, Palmer 35–34–69, T-1. Winning team members $50,000 each.
1987 (April 2–5): Final score, International 59.5, United States 40.7. Day 1, Four-Ball, Arnold Palmer (U.S. captain)–Chi Chi Rodriguez defeated Peter Butler–Christy O’Connor, 5 and 4; Day 2, Singles Stroke, Harold Henning defeated Palmer, 72–73; Day 3, Best-Ball Stroke, Palmer–Don January 36–35—71, T-6; Day 4, Stroke Play, Palmer 74, T-12. Losing team members $25,000 each.
1988 (April 21–24): Final score, United States 55, International 45. Round 1, Four-Ball Match, Arnold Palmer (U.S. captain)–Chi Chi Rodriguez defeat Gary Player (International captain)–Bob Charles, 1-up; Round 2, Singles Match, Bruce Crampton defeats Palmer, 2 and 1; Round 3, Four-Ball Stroke, Crampton–Harold Henning defeat Palmer–Miller Barber, 64–65; Round 4, Singles Stroke, Gary Player defeated Palmer, 72–74. Winning team members $50,000 each.
1989 (April 20–23): Final score, United States 71, International 29. Round 1, Four-Ball Match, Arnold Palmer (U.S. captain)–Miller Barber halved with Gary Player–Doug Dalziel; Round 2, Singles Match, Palmer (U.S.) halved with Roberto De Vicenzo; Round 3, Four-Ball, Palmer–Dave Hill (U.S.) defeat De Vicenzo–Dalziel, 65–68; Round 4, Singles Stroke, Palmer (U.S.) defeated Bruce Devlin, 70–74. Winning team members $50,000 each.
1990 (Feb. 22–25): Final score, United States 53½, International 30½. Round 1, Four-Ball, Arnold Palmer (U.S. captain)–Orville Moody defeat Roberto De Vicenzo–Peter Thomson, 1 up; Round 2, Singles Match, canceled, weather; Round 3, Four-Ball Stroke, De Vicenzo–Harold Henning (International) defeat Palmer–Don Bies, 69–70; Round 4, Singles Stroke, Henning defeated Palmer, 70–74. Winning team members $50,000 each.
CHAMPIONS TOUR SKINS GAME
Played 20 events, 1988–1996, 1998–2008
Three-time winner: 1990, 8 skins, $240,000; 1992, 7 skins, $205,000; 1993, 6 skins, $190,000. Total money of all events: $1,265,000
DISTINCTIONS
PGA Tour leading money winner: 1958, 1960, 1962, 1963
PGA Player of Year: 1960, 1962
Vardon Trophy winner (lowest stroke average): 1961, 1962, 1964, 1967
First player on PGA Tour to win $100,000 in a season
First player on PGA Tour to win $1 million in a career
One loss as U.S. team captain (10–1–1): 2–0 Ryder Cup 1963, 1975; 1–0 Presidents Cup 1996; 3–0–1 UBS Warburg Cup 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004; 4–1 Chrysler Cup, 1986–1990 (lost in 1987).
Byron Nelson Award (most tour victories 1957, 1960, 1961, 1962, 1963)
Sixth all-time in top-10 finishes in professional major championships with 38, comprising 12 in the Masters, 13 U.S. Open, 7 Open Championship and 6 in the PGA Championship. His first top-10 was in the 1955 Masters and final was the 1977 Open Championship.
CAREER ACHIEVEMENT
Halls of Fame: World Golf Hall of Fame (1974 charter member); PGA Hall of Fame (Palm Beach Gardens, Fla., 1980); American Golf (Foxburg, Pa.); Ohio Golf Hall of Fame (1992); All-American Collegiate Golf Hall of Fame—Man of Year (1984); Wake Forest; Pennsylvania; Phoenix Open; Western Pennsylvania Golf (inaugural class 2013); Northern Ohio Golf Association (2003); Southern Conference (2009 inaugural class); Westmoreland County; North Carolina; Florida Sports; Cambria County; Western Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic League (2007 inaugural class); National High School Sports; North Florida PGA (2010); Tri-State PGA (2002)
Presidential Medal of Freedom from President George W. Bush, 2004
Congressional Gold Medal, passed by Congress and signed by President Obama in 2009
Bob Jones Award (1971, U.S. Golf Association)
Gold Tee Award (1965, Metropolitan Golf Writers Association)
William D. Richardson Award (1969, Golf Writers Association of America)
Charles Bartlett Award (1976, GWAA)
Sportsman of the Year (1960, Sports Illustrated)
Rae Hickok Belt Award for Professional Athlete of the Year 1960
Athlete of the Decade (1960s, Associated Press)
Lowman Humanitarian Award
Dapper Dan Man of Year (1960, Pittsburgh)
Wake Forest Distinguished Alumni Award (1962)
Golf Digest “Man of the Silver Era,” 1950–1975
Arthur J. Rooney Award, Catholic Youth Association (1977)
Francis Ouimet Award for Lifelong Contributions to Golf (1997 inaugural winner)
Partner in Science Award, March of Dimes Birth Defects Foundation
Herb Graffis Award (1978, National Golf Foundation)
Distinguished Pennsylvanian (1980)
Walter Hagen Award (1981)
Golf Course Superintendents Association of America’s Old Tom Morris Award (1983)
Golfer of Century from the New York Athletic Club (1985)
Ellis Island Medal of Honor (1986)
Golf Digest Commemorative Tournament honoree (1987)
Order of Eagle Exemplar, U.S. Sports Academy (1989)
American Senior Golf Association National Award (1989)
Chicago District Golf Association Distinguished Service Award (1989)
Atlanta Athletic Club Sports Appreciation Trophy (1990)
World Series of Golf Ambassador of Golf Award (1991)
Bing Crosby Tournament Sponsor Award, Bay Hill Classic (1992, MGWA)
Theodore Roosevelt Award, National Collegiate Athletic Association
Outstanding American Award, Los Angeles Philanthropic Foundation (1992)
Memorial Tourn
ament honoree (1993)
Sports Legends Award, Juvenile Diabetes Association (1993)
National Sports Award (1993)
“Good Guy” Award, American Legion National Commanders (1993)
Humanitarian Award, Variety Club International (1993)
Ford Achievement Award (1994)
PGA of America Distinguished Service Award (1994)
Latrobe Chamber of Commerce Community Service Award (1995)
Distinguished Service Award (PGA of America Tri-State Section, 1996)
Reagan Distinguished American Award (1996)
Golf Associations of Philadelphia Centennial Award (1996)
PGA Tour’s Lifetime Achievement Award (1998)
University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute Spirit of Hope Award (1998)
Lifetime Achievement Award, March of Dimes Athletic Awards (1998)
Western Pennsylvania Golf Association’s Golfer of the Century (1998)
Lifetime Achievement Award (1998, PGA Tour)
Golf World magazine’s Newsmaker of Century (1999)
American Society of Golf Course Architects Donald Ross Award (1999)
James Ewing Layman’s Award, Society of Surgical Oncology (1999)
Athletes Who Changed Game, Sports Illustrated’s 20th-Century Sports Awards (1999)
Novell Utah Showdown Dave Marr Award (2000)
Golden Anniversary Award (MGWA), presented to the Big Three—Arnold Palmer, Gary Player, Jack Nicklaus—as the players who had the greatest influence on golf during the half century 1952–2001
Ike Grainger Award (USGA, 2000)
National Golf Foundation Golf Family of Year (2000)
Patriot Award, Congressional Medal of Honor Society (2000)
Payne Stewart Award (PGA Tour, 2000)
Great Ones Award, Jim Murray Memorial Foundation (2001)
National Golf Course Owners Association Award of Merit (2001)
George Bush Three Amigos Inspiration Award (2001)
Great American Award, Starkey Hearing Foundation (2003)
ASAP Sports/Jim Murray Award (2003, GWAA)
Top 10 Male Athletes of Atlantic Coast Conference 50th anniversary (2003)
Dave Marr Shell Award (2004)
Dapper Dan Lifetime Achievement Award (2005)
Portugal Order of Merit (2005)
Adelphoi USA Spirit of Hope Award (2006)
Will F. Nicholson Award for “a lifetime of dedication and commitment to the game” (2007)