American champion golfer, businessman and TV commercial pitchman. Palmer won seven major championships in his distinguished career. On the PGA tour, he is called “The King” after winning 61 tournaments. He owns the Bay Hill Country Club in Orlando, FL and the Latrobe Country Club in southwestern Pennsylvania where he learned to play the game. He has appeared on television as the friendly spokesman for Cooper Tires and Pennzoil commercials. In 1998, his successful business ventures have earned him $ 18 million. His autobiography, “A Golfer’s Life” was published in 1999.
Palmer experienced the hard times of the Great Depression in Pennsylvania. His dad, Deke Palmer, a professional golfer and his mother, Doris instilled the importance of patriotism, manners, and values into his young son. As a three-year-old, Palmer was swinging his first golf club. He taught himself an unusual corkscrew swing and won several local tournaments during his school years. In 1951, Palmer went into the Coast Guard for three years. The single most important demand Palmer placed on himself was to make his father proud. He was elated when his father told him, “You did pretty good, boy,” when he won the U.S. Amateur in 1954. That same year, Palmer turned professional golfer.
Over the next ten years, from 1954 to 1964, Palmer won four Masters titles, two British Opens and the U.S. Open. His swing was powerful and he attacked the game with every ounce of strength. He soon developed a loyal band of followers called “Arnie’s Army” which would cheer for their hero at all the major tournaments. An influential golfer, he helped to change the image of golf as an elitist sport into a bold athletic event in the ’50s and ’60. Palmer’s youthful charm and easy-going nature won him contracts to promote products on television. He slowly built his golf-related business empire specializing in golf clubs and equipment. His company has a net worth of $100 million. Palmer tries to make a personal appearance at all the major tournaments with his long-time golfing friend and rival Jack Nicklaus.
In 1955, Palmer married Winnie Palmer whom he has referred to as the “love of his life.” The couple had two daughters, Peggy in 1956 and Amy in 1959. Conservative about money, he will pick up loose change on the fairway or street. In 1999, Winnie was diagnosed with peritoneal cancer. After being widowed, he made a second marriage.
The Palmers live in a penthouse condo apartment in Bay Hill, Orlando, FL and a hill top house overlooking the Latrobe golf course. The first golf millionaire, he lives as spectacularly as he plays. Palmer’s second passion is his love of aviation. He owns and flies his Cessna Citation X jet.
On 15 January 1997, Palmer underwent surgery and radiation treatment for prostate cancer in Rochester, MN. His post-operation recovery has been difficult on the 68-year-old golfer. He continues to play a round of golf almost every day.
On 21 July 1970 he was named Athlete of the Decade.
Palmer died in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, on the evening of 25 September 2016 from heart complications, aged 87.
Link to Wikipedia biography