Arnold Palmer

Height: 5 ft 10 in (178 cm)

Weight: 185 lb (13 st 3 lb; 84 kg)

Birthday: September 10, 1929

College: Wake Forest College

Year turned pro: 1954

Birthplace: Latrobe, Pennsylvania, USA

Country: USA

Sponsor: –

Palmer has the status of being one of the greatest golfers ever, over a long and distinguished career. Golf was in Palmer’s blood from childhood as he was taught by his father, who was the head professional at Latrobe Country Club. Palmer’s talent, which was nurtured by his father, was further developed when he obtained a golf scholarship to attend Wake Forest College. After a gap of three years, when he was a member of the United States Coast Guard, Palmer continued on his golfing journey.

Palmer was a popular figure in the days when golf was just starting to raise its media profile. He also established himself as a winner from early on. He won the Canadian Open in 1955, his first professional season, and went on to achieve his first victory in a major at the 1958 Masters Tournament. During the early 1960s Palmer was successful in winning The Open Championship, helping to secure the status of the British tournament on the global golf scene.

Overall Palmer won four Masters Tournaments in 1958, 1960, 1962 and 1964, one US Open in 1960 and two Open Championships, in 1961 and 1962. Although the early sixties were clearly Palmer’s most successful years he continued to win at least one PGA Tour event right the way through to 1971. After these tour successes it was Palmer who helped the Senior PGA Tour to become successful. 2004 saw Palmer appear at The Masters for the last time, it was the fiftieth consecutive time he had appeared at the event. On October 13 2006 Palmer retired from tournament golf.

Since his retirement from tournaments Palmer has continued in his involvement with golf through his business interests, including ownership of the Bay Hill Club and Lodge. He was also involved in the foundation of the Golf Channel and helped to negotiate the deal to construct the first golf course in the People's Republic of China, which in turn led to the creation of the Arnold Palmer Design Company. The company has gone on to design in excess of two hundred golf courses globally.