Excerpt
SUMMARY: It was a golf career that consisted of 67 victories, seven of which were major championships. From his ferocious swing to his magnetic personality, Arnold Palmer helped turn golf into a major television sport -- and even had a drink named for him. William Brangham remembers the sports legend, who passed away Sunday night at 87, with Golf Channel's George Savaricas.
GWEN IFILL (NewsHour): The tributes have poured in all day for golfing legend Arnold Palmer, from his friend and rival Jack Nicklaus, to recent champions like Tiger Woods, to dignitaries like President Obama.
A handful of other champions won more tournaments and titles, but Palmer set a standard for attracting public attention to the sport.
William Brangham has a look back at the king.
ANNOUNCER: The U.S. Open, played in the shadow of the Rockies, saw Arnold Palmer sink an incredible putt.
WILLIAM BRANGHAM (NewsHour): June 1960, Denver, Colorado, an improbable win in the U.S. Open became the stuff of golfing legend.
ANNOUNCER: Coming from seven strokes behind, Palmer showed nerves of steel and a will of granite, as he battled to win the U.S. Open.
WILLIAM BRANGHAM: And it defined the style of Arnold Palmer.
ANNOUNCER: Golfing's man of the year.
WILLIAM BRANGHAM: It was, perhaps, Palmer's greatest year. He had won the Masters just two months earlier, and, all told, won eight times that season. He followed up with victories at the next two British Opens, and two more Masters in 1962 and '64.
He reflected on his success in a 2011 interview with Charlie Rose.
ARNOLD PALMER, Former Professional Golfer: Any time I got close, it was just I felt I had to win. I had to. I couldn't lose. I couldn't let that happen to me. And it worked.
WILLIAM BRANGHAM: Arnold Daniel Palmer was born on September 10, 1929, in Latrobe, Pennsylvania, outside Pittsburgh.
He began swinging a club at age 4 and practically lived at the area country club, where his dad was first the greenskeeper, and later, the club pro. Palmer won the U.S. Amateur in 1954, turned pro the next year and quickly began piling up victories, 62 over his career, including seven major championships.
He had a ferocious, muscular swing that made him one of golf's greatest drivers. And his magnetic, down-to-earth personality drew an energetic fan base, dubbed Arnie's Army. He helped turn golf into a major television sport.
ARNOLD PALMER: The game is so fantastic. If I had a little bit to do with some of the enjoyment that I see today, I'm pleased with that.
"Friends pay tribute to ‘king' of golf, Arnold Palmer" by Larisa Epatko, PBS NewsHour 9/26/2016
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