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Arnold Palmer

What Defines Great?



Many say that Palmer was more of a celebrity than he was a great golfer. While indeed he had fantastic performances on the course and won many majors, as well as taking home PGA Player of the Year awards, he won all his honors in less than seven seasons (from 1957 to 1964). Did his competitive drive fizzle, or was he bored and wanting to become more involved with his businesses? He had founded Arnold Palmer Enterprises in 1960 and had started opening golf courses around the country. In addition to that, he also opened up a car dealership and was fascinated by flying and spent much time in the air.



Many also wonder if he was unable to compete with a new superstar by the name of Jack Nicklaus. Palmer's critics often cite the span of Nicklaus's career when discussing the two. Yet in spite of the criticism, over the years people devotedly followed the swift Palmer as he, in turn, followed his ball onto the green. Like a well-tuned military machine, Arnie's Army continues to pull in recruits, and he often draws large crowds at the Seniors Tour events. Some even speculate that he has as many fans today, in his seventh decade, as he did when he was thirty. "I'd just like to think that the people got to know me," he told the Ft. Myers News-Press.

Awards and Accomplishments

1957 Golf Digest 's Byron Nelson Award for Tournament Victories
1960 Awarded the Hickok Belt
1960 Earns PGA Player of the Year honors
1960-63 Golf Digest 's Byron Nelson Award for Tournament Victories
1961-62 Awarded the PGA's Vardon Trophy
1962 Earns PGA Player of the Year honors
1964 Awarded the PGA's Vardon Trophy
1967 Awarded the PGA's Vardon Trophy
1969 Golf Writers Association of America awards Palmer the Richardson Award
1970 Associated Press Athlete of the Decade (for the 1960s)
1972 United States Golf Association Bobby Jones Award
1974 Charter Member of World Golf Hall of Fame
1975 Golf Digest Man of Silver Era
1976 GWAA Charlie Bartlett Award
1978 Awarded the Herb Graffis Award
1980 Inducted into the PGA Hall of Fame
1983 Old Tom Morris Award
1989 American Senior Golf Association National Award
1991 Ambassador of Golf Award, World Series of Golf
1992 National Sports Award, Washington D.C.
1996 Named Golfer of the Century

Additional topics

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