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Arnold Palmer

To Paint Or Play

Palmer ended up leaving Wake Forest a year early to join the Coast Guard. He fully intended to return to school to earn his degree. He did return to Wake Forest, but he never completed the degree. (Wake Forest would later award him an honorary doctorate in the humanities.)

Chronology

1929	Born September 10 in Latrobe, Pennsylvania
1933	Father gives Arnold his first set of golf clubs when he's three
1938	Playing regularly with the older caddies on Latrobe's nine hole golf course
1941	Becomes a caddy at age 11 on Latrobe's course
1947	Enters Wake Forest University
1950	Leaves Wake Forest and for his military/wartime service joins U.S. Coast Guard
1953	Upon leaving Coast Guard, returns to Wake Forest but doesn't complete his degree (he will be awarded an honorary degree years later)
1954	Wins United States Amateur Championship
1954	Marries Winnifred Walzer on December 20 (they would have two daughters, Peggy and Amy)
1954	Turns professional after signing with Wilson Sporting Goods
1955	Wins his first important professional tournament, the Canadian Open
1958	Wins his first Masters
1960	Wins Masters for a second time; wins first and only U.S. Open
1960	Founds Arnold Palmer Enterprises
1961	Wins his first British Open
1962	Wins third Masters Tournament; wins second British Open
1964	Wins fourth Masters
1968	Becomes first player in PGA Tour History to reach $1 million in official earnings, on July 21, with a tie for 2nd at the PGA Championship
1970	Awarded honorary LL.D. from Wake Forest University
1971	Becomes president and owner of Latrobe Country Club
1974	Becomes president of Arnold Palmer Cadillac in Charlotte, North Carolina
1980	Enters Senior Tour and wins the PGA Seniors Championship
1981	Wins the USGA Senior Open (first player to claim both U.S. and Senior U.S. Open titles)
1984	Wins his second PGA Seniors Championship
1992	Establishes major annual fundraiser for Latrobe Area Hospital
1994	Plays in final U.S. Open
1996	Captains the U.S. team to victory in the President's Cup
1997	Undergoes surgery for prostate cancer
1999	Co-authors his autobiography, A Golfer's Life with James Dodson
1999	Wife Winnie dies of cancer on November 20
2000	Plays in 1000th tour event
2002	Matches his age (73) in the final round of the Napa Valley Championship
2002	Makes record 48th consecutive start at the Masters (his final Masters Tournament)

He was unsure of what to do, and when Palmer left school, he was tempted to turn pro right away. But that was not an easy decision to make. Though being a professional golfer enticed the young Palmer, professional golf promised no financial stability in the 1950s. In fact, Palmer's popularity after his entrance into the world of professional golf, in 1954, brought about the higher winnings and larger purses players are familiar with today. Many professionals still call Palmer "The King" because they realize that were it not for Palmer's decision to turn pro the game would never have taken off.

Additional topics

Famous Sports StarsGolfArnold Palmer Biography - Growing Up, Comes Of Age On The Links, To Paint Or Play, Chronology, To Play - CONTACT INFORMATION