Arnold Palmer (1929-2016)

YN3 Arnold Palmer, 23, played in the North and South Amateur Golf Championship held at Pinehurst Country Club, Pinehurst, N.C., April 20, 1953, while on leave from his yeoman duties in the 9th District Auxiliary office. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Before Arnold Palmer came along, golf was a game played almost exclusively at country clubs by (usually White Anglo Saxon Protestant) men who wanted something to do besides count their money.

Then, beginning in the mid-1950s, Palmer began his career. He looked and played like no one else on the pro golf circuit then, establishing a following so large that they were dubbed "Arnie's Army".  Then TV took notice with its coverage of tournaments, increasing the size of Palmer's "Army" even more.

Between 1958-1964, Palmer was a seven-time winner of golf's majors (four Masters, two Open Championships and one U.S. Open).  He won 62 career PGA Tour events, putting him fifth behind Jack Nicklaus, Tiger Woods and Sam Snead (among others).  As part of golf's Big Three with Nicklaus and Gary Player during the 1960s, Palmer was engaged in many memorable duels on the course.

Once Palmer's professional career began winding down, he became a successful businessman.  He designed courses, lent his name and image to everything from golf clubs to his own clothing line, did TV commercials including the ones starring his old tractor, and even had a nonalcoholic beverage named for him.  He made more money from all of that than he ever did during his pro career.

Arnold Palmer died Sunday at 87.  He left behind not only a legacy as one of the greatest golfers in history and a father figure to his successors on the PGA Tour, but also as an inspiration to the millions of weekend hackers who would never have picked up a club if it weren't for him.