Arnold Palmer's name keeps growing. In July 2026 the PGA Tour confirmed the Arnold Palmer Invitational at Bay Hill will join its new Championship Series from 2028, ten years after the King's death.
Golf has had greater statistical careers, but none more loved. Here is how a greenskeeper's son from Pennsylvania made the game box-office. Browse every legend in our golf collection.
Arnold Palmer Fact File
| Full name | Arnold Daniel Palmer |
|---|---|
| Date of birth | 10 September 1929 |
| Place of birth | Latrobe, Pennsylvania, USA |
| Died | 25 September 2016, Pittsburgh (aged 87) |
| Height | 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) |
| Nationality | American |
| Turned professional | 1954 |
| Majors | 7 |
| Nickname | The King, Arnie |
Career History
| Years | PGA Tour wins | Majors |
|---|---|---|
| 1955–1959 | 13 | Masters 1958 |
| 1960–1969 | 43 | Masters 1960, 1962, 1964; US Open 1960; Open 1961, 1962 |
| 1970–1973 | 6 | – |
| Career | 62 | 7 |
PGA Tour wins by year from the Wikipedia win table, totalling 62 (confirmed by PGATour.com). He also won 10 senior events, including five senior majors.
Latrobe Beginnings
Palmer learned the game from his father Deacon, head professional and greenskeeper at Latrobe Country Club. He went to Wake Forest on a golf scholarship and served in the US Coast Guard before winning the 1954 US Amateur, after which he turned professional.
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The Charge at Cherry Hills
His first tour win came at the 1955 Canadian Open and his first major at the 1958 Masters. At the 1960 US Open at Cherry Hills he started the final round seven shots back, birdied the first four holes, shot 65 and beat a young amateur called Jack Nicklaus by two.
Between 1960 and 1963 he won 29 PGA Tour events, and soldiers from nearby Camp Gordon helped give his galleries their famous name: Arnie's Army.
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Augusta, the Open and Ryder Cups
Palmer won the Masters four times and the Open in 1961 and 1962. Remarkably, he won at least one PGA Tour event every year from 1955 to 1971. He played on six Ryder Cup teams, compiling a 22-8-2 record, and was the last US playing captain in 1963. He was the first golfer to earn $1 million in career PGA Tour prize money.
His streak of 50 consecutive Masters starts ended in 2004, and he served as honorary starter at Augusta from 2007. In 2004 he became the first golfer to receive the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
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Honours
Majors
- Masters: 1958, 1960, 1962, 1964
- US Open: 1960
- The Open: 1961, 1962
Other golf honours
- US Amateur: 1954
- PGA Player of the Year: 1960, 1962
- Ryder Cup: six teams; playing captain 1963, captain 1975
- World Golf Hall of Fame: 1974
National honours
- Presidential Medal of Freedom: 2004
- Congressional Gold Medal: 2009
Away From the Course
Palmer helped create the Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children and the Winnie Palmer Hospital for Women and Babies in Orlando, co-founded Golf Channel and designed more than 300 courses. And yes, the iced tea and lemonade drink really is named after him.
FAQs
How old was Arnold Palmer when he died?
Arnold Palmer died on 25 September 2016, aged 87.
Where was Arnold Palmer born?
He was born in Latrobe, Pennsylvania.
How tall was Arnold Palmer?
He stood 5 ft 10 in, about 1.78 m.
How many majors did Arnold Palmer win?
Seven: the Masters in 1958, 1960, 1962 and 1964, the 1960 US Open and the Open in 1961 and 1962.
How many PGA Tour wins did Arnold Palmer have?
He won 62 PGA Tour events, fifth on the all-time list.
What is Arnie's Army?
It is the name for Palmer's famously loyal galleries, popularised at the 1960 Masters when soldiers from nearby Camp Gordon followed him.
Shop the Arnold Palmer Collection
Bring some of the King's style to your next round with our made-to-order Arnold Palmer range.
See every great of the fairways in our golf collection, or create your own with our custom name hoodie.
Part of our Player Profiles series. Read next: Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods.
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