Arnold Palmer was born in Latrobe, Pennsylvania in 1929. As a very young child, he would go to the golf course where his father was employed and was allowed to play when the regular golfers were not playing. Palmer attended Wake Forest University, but did not graduate. Instead, he joined the Coast Guard, where he spent three years.
He won his first United States Amateur Championship in 1954, turned pro and went on tour the next year. During his rookie year he won the Canadian Open.
During his career, Palmer won the Masters in 1958, 1960, 1962 and 1964, and the U.S. Open in 1960. In 1961 and 1962, he also won the British Open. He was honored as the PGA Player of the year twice, won the Vardon Trophy four times and the Old Tom Morris Award in 1983. Arnie was also named Sportsman of the Year by Sports Illistrated, and the top professional athlete in 1960. In addition, he also had 62 wins on the PGA Tour, along with 32 other professional wins.
It is said that Arnold Palmer had a very large number of fans who were known as "Arnie's Army." There were reasons other than his winnings that made him especially popular, like his good looks and the way he played golf, along with his affability. In 1980, the Senior PGA Tour began and Arnie was one of the people who helped make it a success. Over the years he won five senior majors.
At the age of 77, Palmer retired as a professional golfer. He owns his own golf course, Arnold Palmer's Bay Hill Country Club and Lodge, and lives in Orlando, Florida near the course.
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