Arnold Palmer
Arnold Daniel Palmer (b. September 10, 1929), born in Latrobe, Pennsylvania, is a golfer who has won numerous events on both the PGA TOUR and Champions Tour, dating back to 1955. He is a graduate of Wake Forest University. Although he is not generally regarded as the greatest player in history, he is arguably the most important. Palmer's charisma was a major factor in establishing golf as a compelling television event in the 1950s and 1960s, setting the stage for the popularity it enjoys today. He is also credited by many for securing the status of The Open Championship (British Open) among US players. Before Palmer, relatively few American professionals attempted to play The Open due to its travel requirements, foreign environment, and the style of its courses (radically different from most American courses). Palmer's successive Open wins in the early 1960s convinced many American pros that a trip to Britain would be worth the effort.
He has won seven major championships:
In 1954, he won the US Amateur.
In 1960, he won the Hickok Belt as the top professional athlete of the year and Sports Illustrated magazine's "Sportsman of the Year" award.
In 2004, he competed in The Masters for the last time, marking his 50th consecutive appearance in that event.
