KUCHING: Described as one of the greatest golfers in the world, Arnold Palmer’s career started way back 64 years ago at the PGA Tour, now known as PGA Tour Champions. Nicknamed “The King”, the charismatic American was one of golf’s most popular stars and trailblazer – the first “superstar of the sport’s television age” – when he had his maiden win on the PGA Tour in 1955.
Palmer’s humble background and down-to-earth attitude helped change golf from an elitist and upper-class pastime into a sport accessible to ordinary middle and working class Americans. In the 1960s, together with fellow American Jack Nicklaus and South Africa’s Gary Player the “The Big Three”, they popularised the sport around the world in the 1960s. Palmer who passed away in 2016 at the age of 87, won 62 PGA Tour titles from 1955 to 1973.
He has been listed as the today fifth professional on the Tour’s all-time golfing heroes, trailing only Sam Snead, Tiger Woods,Jack Nicklaus, and Ben Hogan.
From 1958 till 1964, he won seven major titles including the 1958 Masters and 1964 Masters. He also won the PGA Tour Lifetime Achievement Award in 1998, and in 1974 was one of the 13 original inductees into the World Golf Hall of Fame.
