Tales from the Ranks
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3M Championship Meeting
Arnold Palmer has "long" been a hero to this 25-year-old fan. Despite my rather brief history of golf enjoyment and fan-dom, Arnold has always been my favorite. His writings and videos have been some of the greatest inspirations to this aspiring young golfer. Can you imagine how much more I liked him when I discovered that he and I share the same birthday (although quite a few years apart)? :-)
Today, while attending the Coldwell Banker Burnet Pro-Am at TPC Twin Cities, I was treated to the rare opportunity to watch my favorite golfer playing live. Of course, part of the thrill for me was seeing him play one of the very courses he's designed!
After he teed off on the seventh hole, I noticed that he slipped into the cart with his caddy that happened to be parked just behind me. He waited there for the amateurs he was partnered with to tee off. This provided me the golden opportunity to walk over and enjoy this brief exchange (as best as I remember it):
"Mr. Palmer?"
"Yes?"
"Your birthday is September tenth is it not?"
"Yes."
"As is mine! It's a little early, but happy birthday."
[At this, he reached out his hand to match mine for a handshake.]
"Happy birthday," he replied back.
"Thank you," I said while shaking his hand and then added, "God bless you sir."
That was about all there was time for, but I enjoyed every last second of it.
I have never before had the privilege of meeting anyone who shared my birthday, and now the first I've "met" is Arnie himself.
Thank you, Mr. Palmer, for this kind act toward one of your fans. You're one of the greatest ever and I'm privileged to share this memory--and the same birthday--with you.
Posted by scurry at September 4, 2005 08:04 PM