Arnold Palmer News: Archives

READY TO SHOWCASE REVAMPED BAY HILL

March 03, 2010

With his prized course upgraded, Arnold Palmer eager for the latest edition of tournament that bears his name

Arnold Palmer reached age 80 in September, but as much as he enjoyed the celebrations marking the occasion, golf’s legendary King admits that the rebirth of his prized layout, the Championship Course at the Bay Hill Club & Lodge, was a much more enjoyable experience last autumn.

Palmer oversaw a major renovation of Bay Hill, the renowned course in Orlando, Florida, that he has owned for four decades and which has hosted a PGA TOUR event since 1979, and he is eager to see the game’s best players take on his remodeled creation when the Arnold Palmer Invitational Presented by MasterCard returns for its 32nd edition March 22-28.

“We’re all very excited for this year’s tournament and to have the players come here and play the golf course and see what we’ve done,” Palmer said with noted enthusiasm as he talked about the upgrades to a course already considered one of the great ball-striking tests in golf. We’ve had numerous players come in here already and play the golf course, and the reaction we’ve gotten is very good. We think it’s going to be an exciting week of golf.”

While Palmer assures that the ball-striking examination has not been altered appreciably at Bay Hill, the course is in every way strengthened, starting with new tees and greens. Bunkers have been repositioned throughout and the length of the layout has been stretched modestly to clock in at 7,381 yards. The most noticeable change to the layout is that the bunkers, while repositioned, also have been made more visible, with their sculpted faces pulled to the tops of mounds. Flanking bunkers have been replaced by more offset traps, while bunkers around the greens have been tucked closer to the putting surfaces. Finally, many of the greens feature runoff areas where once rough or bunkers were in play, providing new short-game challenges.

While those tweaks might signal a change in philosophy, Palmer will tell you it merely strengthens the intrinsic value of the course that already was in place.

“We haven’t changed the bottom line on what the golf course is, what the shot values are, but a lot of holes we’ve actually strengthened in that regard,” Palmer says. “We’ve created some tougher pin positions, too. We looked at ways to make improvements and make it more challenging. It’s just all-around a better golf course and one that should provide a strong, fair test.”

One more adjustment that Palmer made was restoring tournament par to 72 after a three-year trial playing the Championship Course at par-70. The par-five fourth and 16th holes were converted to par-fours strictly for the tournament, but Palmer decided that he’d rather see the contestants go for scoring, perhaps in the manner that he used to do in his prime. “We’ve decided it’s more fun to see the guys go out and try to make birdies and eagles than to see them maybe settling for pars or putting up other scores.”

One of the premier stops on the PGA TOUR, the Arnold Palmer Invitational Presented by MasterCard traditionally draws one of the strongest fields among golf tournaments from around the world, and it boasts an impressive array of winners, including six-time champion Tiger Woods and other recent winners such as Chad Campbell, Ernie Els, Paul Goydos, Phil Mickelson, Kenny Perry, and Vijay Singh.

Palmer says that he has enjoyed watching the early portion of the golf season unfold and seeing a mixture of young and established players excel on the West Coast. He believes the game remains on a solid foundation. “I think the TOUR is holding its own; it’s doing well,” he says. “I’ve talked to (PGA TOUR commissioner) Tim Finchem, and it’s encouraging what’s happening out there. The consistency of the TOUR is good, and the players are showing continued good play. I think we’re going to see more young people do well.”

While golf is still a passion for Palmer, he finds that other causes occupy more of his time is occupied, causes that take on ever greater importance as the years pass and are near and dear to him. “I’m very involved in the Arnold Palmer Medical Center here, and we’re very happy with what’s happening there. I’m also quite involved in cancer research, and we’re doing a lot of work along those lines. That is something very, very important to me,” Palmer says. “We’re also working with Mayo Clinic and MD Anderson, various medical centers … and all of that is keeping me busy, and I like that. I like doing all of that.

“Golf, well, it’s not the big thing on my list anymore,” the King adds. “It’s in my rearview mirror for the most part as far as me playing a great deal. But I’ll always have golf in me. I can’t bring it out like I used to, but it’s always in there, and it’s always a part of the things that I do and enjoy.”

For tickets to the 2010 Arnold Palmer Invitational Presented by MasterCard or for more information, log on to the tournament web site, www.arnoldpalmerinvitational.com or call the Bay Hill ticket office at 407-876- 7774 or toll free at 1-866-764-4843.Tournament proceeds benefit the Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children and the Winnie Palmer Hospital for Women and Babies.

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Media Contact:
Bev Norwood
bnorwood@arnoldpalmerinvitational.com

Posted by scurry at 12:36 PM

National Professional Golf Tour by Arnold Palmer Golf Management

February 22, 2010

DANA POINT, Calif. -- Up until now it's mainly been PGA and Nationwide golfers who could experience the exhilaration of playing on tour and competing for big purses. But now there is the NPGT, the National Professional Golf Tour presented by Arnold Palmer Golf Management has created the first professional developmental tour that is affordable & convenient and played on the national stage.

The National Professional Golf Tour will afford players the opportunity to play in a more convenient and affordable competitive environment. Players will not be required to travel all over their state or region to find a tournament. No more weekly travel costs, hotel & restaurant expenses or outrageous entry fees. Join the hundreds of professional golfers who will experience the courses, competition and benefits of the NPGT.

A $1200.00 annual membership fee grants players an opportunity to compete in any of the 22 markets across the country. Membership also gives a player the chance to qualify for the $25,000 National Cup match play event, PGA Q-School, $10,000 Player of the Year award, the $500,000.00 Tour Championship and a chance to win the $100,000.00 first place prize money.

The National Professional Golf Tour will be comprised of professional golfers throughout North America and beyond who will compete for prestige, cash purses, paid entry into the PGA Q-School and valuable tournament experience that will help prepare them for the next step towards the ultimate goal of playing on the PGA or Nationwide Tours.

This is a chance for all aspiring professional golfers to experience a similar exhilaration and excitement as those playing at the next level. The NPGT brings developmental golf to a whole new level. The NPTG season opener is set for the first of April 2010.

Larry Lunsford (Executive Director)
Phone (949) 355-5786
llunsford@nationalprotour.com
www.nationalprotour.com
34145 Pacific Coast HWY # 631
Dana Point, CA 92629

Posted by scurry at 04:02 PM

Arnold Palmer Isn’t Your Typical Business Jet Traveler

February 01, 2010

Business Jet Traveler
Interview by Stephen Pope

Arnold Palmer isn’t your typical business jet traveler. A curiosity about airplanes–and a fear of flying on early airliners–led him to the pilot’s seat in 1956. He was just 27 then, but his aggressive play on the golf course and magnetic personality already were hinting at the greatness to come. Palmer won his first major two years later at the 1958 Masters in a dramatic televised finish that made him a household name and gave rise to a legion of fans known as “Arnie’s Army.”

A lifetime later, Palmer, now 80, has amassed about 18,000 hours at the controls of more aircraft types than even he can recall. He has owned 10 airplanes, progressing from his first, a 1961 Aero Commander 500, to his current ride, a Cessna Citation X twinjet he bought in 2002. He still flies the Citation X with longtime chief pilot Pete Luster about 150 to 200 hours a year, including for regular trips between his homes in Latrobe, Pa. (where he grew up the son of the golf pro and head groundskeeper at Latrobe Country Club), and Bay Hill Club and Lodge, the golf course he owns in Orlando, Fla.

Read the full story

Posted by scurry at 11:37 AM

Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children Helps Orlando Health Collect 24 Pallets of Supplies for Haiti

January 25, 2010

Partners with Harvest Time International to deliver supplies

ORLANDO, Fla. (January 25, 2010) --- Today, Orlando Health delivered the first of 24 pallets of supplies to earthquake-ravaged Haiti. The first shipment, consisting of 10 pallets of personal hygiene items, donated by Orlando Health team members, was delivered to Harvest Time International, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that is active in providing relief, both emergency and long-term, to hurricane, tornado, floods, etc. in Central Florida as well as nationally and internationally.

Orlando Health team member volunteers sorted, palletized and stretch-wrapped the donated supplies in preparation for the deliveries.

Last week, a group of Orlando Health team member volunteers sorted, palletized and stretch-wrapped the donated supplies in preparation for the deliveries. The donation and preparation projects gave team members a way to participate in the relief effort.

“The effects of this disaster are far-reaching, particularly here in Central Florida and Orlando Health, where many of our residents and team members are of Haitian origin with family who have been directly impacted by the earthquake,” said Michael Howell, MD, chief medical quality officer, Orlando Regional Medical Center. “The outpouring of compassion from within Orlando Health was so great, we established drop-off points to give all of our team members a way to participate in the relief effort.”

The remaining 14 pallets, consisting of 10 pallets of medical supplies and four pallets of water, will be delivered directly to a medical facility in Haiti by an international shipping company later this week. Combined, the 24 pallets represent 337 cases of supplies.

About Orlando Health

Orlando Health is a $1.5 billion not-for-profit health care organization and a community-based network of hospitals and care centers in the Orlando region. The organization, which includes the area’s only Level One Trauma Centers for adults and pediatrics, is a statutory teaching hospital system that offers both specialty and community hospitals. They are: Orlando Regional Medical Center; Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children; Winnie Palmer Hospital for Women & Babies; Dr. P. Phillips Hospital; South Seminole Hospital; South Lake Hospital (50 percent partnership); St. Cloud Regional Medical Center (20 percent partnership) and M. D. Anderson Cancer Center Orlando – the first affiliate of one of the nation’s premier cancer centers The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston. Orlando Health’s areas of clinical excellence are heart and vascular, cancer care, neurosciences, surgery, pediatric orthopedics and sports medicine, neonatology, and obstetrics and gynecology.

Orlando Health is Central Florida’s fifth largest employer with nearly 14,000 employees and more than 2,000 affiliated physicians, all of whom support our philosophy of providing high quality care and service when it matters most. We prove this everyday with over 100,000 inpatient admissions and more than 600,000 outpatient visits each year. In all, Orlando Health serves 1.6 million Central Florida residents and nearly 3,000 international patients annually. Additionally, Orlando Health provides approximately $198 million in support of community health needs. More information can be found at www.orlandohealth.com.

Posted by scurry at 11:44 AM

ARNOLD PALMER INVITATIONAL PRESENTED BY MASTERCARD SOARS WITH JETBLUE AIRWAYS

January 21, 2010

-- Tournament Announces Sponsor and the Title Sponsor of Birdies for Babies — Value Airline JetBlue Airways --

ORLANDO‚ Fla. (January 19‚ 2010) — The Arnold Palmer Invitational Presented by MasterCard is Orlando’s signature sporting event being held March 22-28 at Arnold Palmer’s Bay Hill Club & Lodge. Now in its 32nd year‚ the tournament is pleased to announce value airline JetBlue Airways‚ as a sponsor.

JetBlue is now the official airline partner of the Arnold Palmer Invitational Presented by MasterCard‚ and the preferred airline partner of the Arnold Palmer Medical Center‚ Arnold Palmer’s Bay Hill Club & Lodge and its business travel purchases and guests through 2011. JetBlue is also the title sponsor of one of the tournament’s annual fundraising programs‚ Birdies for Babies delivered by JetBlue. The airline will match the total funds raised and JetBlue will also award one of the grand prizes for the fundraiser — a package of two roundtrip flights to any of JetBlue’s 60 domestic and international destinations.

“By aligning our brand and our culture with these great partners and Arnold Palmer‚ in particular‚ we hope to inspire fun and friendly competition while giving back to the communities we serve‚'" said Dave Barger‚ CEO of JetBlue Airways. "Mr. Palmer’s personal commitment to the well being of so many through his charities is inspiring‚ and something we look forward to being a part of for years to come.”

“It’s great to have such a generous sponsorship for the Birdies for Babies program in only its second year‚ said Jeffrey Muddell‚ Arnold Palmer Medical Center vice president. “We are looking forward to raising a lot of money this year‚ especially now with the support of JetBlue.”

JetBlue will also donate complimentary flights to the Arnold Palmer Medical Center‚ which will allow the hospitals to help patients and their families with their travel needs when appropriate.

“We couldn’t have asked for a better company to align the tournament with‚” said Scott Wellington‚ Arnold Palmer Invitational Presented by MasterCard tournament director. “We’re very happy to see that others share the tournament’s views on the value of supporting the Arnold Palmer Medical Center and the Central Florida community.

Additionally‚ JetBlue is now the tournament sponsor for the Champions for Arnold’s Kids event being held March 21 and 22‚ 2010 and will also appear in the expo area during the tournament week. In addition to Birdies for Babies delivered by JetBlue‚ the airline will develop new volunteer programs to work directly with and support the hospitals served by the Arnold Palmer Medical Center.

For more information visit ArnoldPalmerInvitational.com.

About the Arnold Palmer Invitational Presented by MasterCard
The Arnold Palmer Invitational Presented by MasterCard will hold its 32nd annual tournament March 22-28‚ 2010. The Arnold Palmer Invitational Presented by MasterCard is one of Central Florida’s signature events‚ a premier sporting event and a highlight of the PGA TOUR‚ attracting some of the greatest talent in golf. The entire event is overseen and directed by one of the game’s all-time greats — Arnold Palmer. Proceeds from the tournament benefit the Arnold Palmer Medical Center‚ including Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children and Winnie Palmer Hospital for Women & Babies.

About JetBlue
Airways New York-based JetBlue Airways has created a new airline category based on value‚ service and style. Known for its award-winning service and free TV as much as its low fares‚ JetBlue is now pleased to offer customers Lots of Legroom and super-spacious Even More Legroom seats. JetBlue introduced complimentary in-flight e-mail and instant messaging services on aircraft "BetaBlue‚" a first among U.S. domestic airlines. JetBlue is also America's first and only airline to offer its own Customer Bill of Rights‚ with meaningful and specific compensation for customers inconvenienced by service disruptions within JetBlue's control. Visit www.jetblue.com/promise for details. JetBlue serves 60 cities with 600 daily flights. With JetBlue‚ all seats are assigned‚ all travel is ticketless‚ all fares are one-way‚ and an overnight stay is never required. For information or reservations call 1-800-JETBLUE (1-800-538-2583)‚ TTY/TDD 1-800-336-5530 or visit www.jetblue.com.

About Winnie Palmer Hospital for Women & Babies
Winnie Palmer Hospital for Women & Babies‚ supported by the Arnold Palmer Medical Center Foundation‚ is a 285-bed facility dedicated exclusively to the needs of women and babies. The hospital includes comprehensive fetal diagnostics and labor and delivery services‚ a regional center for neonatal intensive care‚ maternal intensive care and women’s services. Annually‚ more than 14̵000 babies are expected to be born at Winnie Palmer Hospital‚ making it the busiest labor and delivery unit in the state of Florida. To learn more‚ visit www.winniepalmerhospital.com.

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Media Contact:
Lindsey Levy‚ Arnold Palmer Invitational Presented by MasterCard
407-841-2299 ext. 1264
llevy@pushhere.com

JetBlue Corporate Communications
718-709-2323
corporatecommunicaitons@jetblue.com

Posted by scurry at 01:23 PM

PALMER ATTENDS PHOENIX OPEN 75TH ANNIVERSARY EVENT

January 11, 2010

Three-time Phoenix Open winner Arnold Palmer will be attending a luncheon for the 75th anniversary of the event Tuesday January 12, 2010 at the Arizona Biltmore Resort.

Palmer, who won the Open in 1961-63, will join last year's champion Kenny Perry and Golf Channel broadcaster Kraig Kann who will emcee the event.

The luncheon will focus on the history of the Phoenix Open and the host Thunderbirds.

The Open began in 1932 but was not played from 1936-38. It resumed annually in 1939, and moved from Phoenix to Scottsdale in 1987.

Palmer won the 1962 Open by 12 strokes over Jack Nicklaus and Billy Casper at the Phoenix Country Club. He took home a winner's check for $5,300. Palmer's last top-five finish at the Open was 1978.

Perry took home $1.08 million for winning the 2009 Open.

With a new sponsor, the Waste Management Phoenix Open will be played Feb. 22-28 at the TPC Scottsdale.

Posted by scurry at 10:47 AM

AP Golf Card Game, Among First Apps on Intel's AppUpSM Center

January 08, 2010

INTERNATIONAL CONSUMER ELECTRONICS SHOW, Las Vegas, Jan. 8, 2010 –- As unveiled Thursday during President and CEO Paul Otellini's CES keynote speech, Intel Corporation has launched a beta version of its software application (app) store -- the Intel AppUpSM center -- for the popular category of netbook computers. The first apps are now available for free download or purchase by visiting www.intelappup.com, where consumers can find the store.

The first apps are now available for immediate free download or purchase. These apps cover education, entertainment, games, health, social networking and other categories.

Among the first apps is the Arnold Palmer Golf Card Game.

Four other Intel industry partners Acer, Asus, Dell and Samsung -- also announced store collaboration and plans.

Posted by scurry at 05:39 PM

Golf Channel Features API Trophy on the Set of Golf Central

With the year’s first telecast of Golf Central in stunning high definition, Golf Channel not only revealed the network’s new, high-definition-capable studio, it also showcased a little bit of the Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by MasterCard to viewers around the world.

The new-look Golf Channel studio features high-tech elements and contemporary stylings, with four, separate "environments" from which various studio shows originate. In addition to the main Golf Central desk, an analyst desk and demonstration areas, the studio also features an interview/conversation area bedecked with replica trophies from some of the most noted tournaments and special events in professional golf. The API replica produced by Tiffany’s will live permanently on the set, joining others from THE PLAYERS Championship, The Presidents Cup and the FedExCup.

Posted by scurry at 04:04 PM

PALMER ON ESPN

January 05, 2010

Arnold Palmer visited the ESPN offices in Bristol Connecticut in August 2009 making an appearance on SportsCenter and while there filmed one of the renowned 'This is SportsCenter' commercials.

ESPN.com's Jason Sobel covered the entire August 26, 2009 visit by accompanying Mr. Palmer and posting periodic live blog entries throughout the day. Read "Spending the day with Arnold Palmer" on the ESPN website or listen to the Podcast.

Later in the afternoon on the ESPN campus, someone asked Mr. Palmer if he could chip a golf ball into a cup of Arnold Palmer.

Palmer delivered.

Posted by scurry at 05:16 PM

NEWPORT DUNES AND INNSBROOK MAKE GOLF DIGEST'S BEST NEW COURSES 2009

December 14, 2009

The Arnold Palmer Design Company is very proud of Newport Dunes G.C. and Innsbrook Golf & Boat Club making Golf Digest's list of America's Best New Courses of 2009. The annual ranking, which is in its 27th year, will be featured in the January 2010 issue of Golf Digest, on newsstands now. The complete rankings can be viewed online now at www.golfdigest.com/rankings/courses/new/2010/01/bestnewcourses.

Posted by scurry at 04:44 PM

ARNOLD PALMER TO SERVE AS HONORARY CHAIRMAN OF 2010 U.S. WOMEN’S OPEN AT OAKMONT COUNTRY CLUB

December 07, 2009

Oakmont, Pa. (November 30, 2009) – The United States Golf Association and Oakmont Country Club announced today that western Pennsylvania native Arnold Palmer has been named the honorary chairman of the 65th U.S. Women's Open, to be held at Oakmont Country Club from July 5-11, 2010.

"We approached Arnold to serve in this capacity because we wanted to honor his lifelong commitment to the game of golf and his connection to western Pennsylvania, Oakmont Country Club and the United States Golf Association," said Carol Semple Thompson, general chairman of the 2010 U.S. Women's Open and World Golf Hall of Fame member.

By serving as honorary chairman, Palmer will assist in the promotion of the championship by appearing in a ticket sales advertising campaign. He will appear at an exhibition during the week of the championship to welcome the crowds back to Oakmont.

Palmer, a Latrobe, Pa., native, competed in four U.S. Opens at Oakmont Country Club including his final Open appearance in 1994. Palmer's most memorable performance at Oakmont came in 1962, when he lost to Jack Nicklaus in an 18-hole playoff.

"It is an honor to serve as honorary chairman for the U.S. Women's Open and the USGA," said Palmer, who added with a chuckle, "It will be fun to participate in a championship that I could never win."

Deacon Palmer, Arnold's father, was the head professional and greens keeper at Latrobe Country Club and introduced him to the game a very young age. Arnold was awarded a golf scholarship from Wake Forest University but left to serve his country as part of the United States Coast Guard. After a three-year break from the game, Palmer returned to competitive golf and won the 1954 U.S. Amateur Championship.

Shortly thereafter, Palmer began playing golf professionally and has recorded an impressive 92 wins during his lengthy career, including one U.S. Open Championship, one U.S. Senior Open Championship and four victories at The Masters Tournament.

For additional information on the 2010 U.S. Women's Open, please visit www.2010uswomensopen.com. Championship tickets are now on sale and limited volunteer positions are still available.

About the 2010 U.S. Women's Open
The 2010 U.S. Women's Open will bring a field of 156 of the world's best professional and amateur women golfers to Oakmont Country Club. It will be the second time the Women's Open will be contested at Oakmont. Patty Sheehan won the 1992 championship in a playoff over Juli Inkster after finishing at 4- under-par for 72 holes of regulation play.

About the USGA
The USGA is the national governing body of golf in the USA and Mexico, a combined territory that includes more than half the world's golfers and golf courses.

The Association's most visible role is played out each season in conducting 13 national championships, including the U.S. Open, U.S. Women's Open and U.S. Senior Open. Ten additional USGA national championships are exclusively for amateurs, and include the U.S. Amateur and the U.S. Women's Amateur.

The USGA also writes the Rules of Golf, conducts equipment testing, provides expert course maintenance consultations, funds research for better turf and a better environment, maintains a Handicap System and administers an ongoing "For the Good of the Game" grants program, which has allocated more than $65 million over 13 years to successful programs that bring the game's values to youths from disadvantaged backgrounds and people with disabilities. For more information about the USGA, visit www.usga.org.

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Contact: Lindsay Weber – 2010 U.S. Women's Open – lweber@2010uswomensopen.com - (412) 828-2010
Tom Wallace – Oakmont Country Club – twallace@oakmont-countryclub.org – (412) 828-8000

Posted by scurry at 04:14 PM

PALMER TO ATTEND ICAP CHARITY DAY

NEW YORK, NY – Legendary golfer Arnold Palmer will be participating in the 2009 ICAP Charity Day in New York City Wednesday December 9th. Since its inception in 1993, ICAP’s Charity Day has raised US$100 million and supported over 700 well deserving and needy causes worldwide.

For one day in December, ALL revenue and commissions from ICAP's worldwide offices are distributed to charities. Since ICAP is driven by revenues and commissions, every single employee works a 10-hour day (at least) and all of their hard work goes straight to the charities.

Each regional ICAP office nominates charities they wish to support. Those charities can range from organizations with a national reach to local charities that help fulfill a specific need. These organizations typically change from year to year in order to further expand impact.

The selection process is based on how the charity uses donations to make a direct impact on the community and world at large. In 2007, ICAP made a donation to the Arnold Palmer Medical Center where the Arnold Palmer Hospital for Women and Children and the Winnie Palmer Hospital for Women and Babies are located.

This year, as the golf world celebrates Arnold's 80th birthday, the hospital celebrates two decades of service. During the last 20 years, the Arnold Palmer Medical Center has delivered more than 186,000 babies, cared for more than 26,000 of those babies in its Neonatal Intensive Care Unit and treated more than 1.5 million patients. The Medical Center was named thePGA TOUR Charity of the Year in 2009.

Mr. Palmer will be representing his namesake Medical Center on the trading floors among other celebrities. Some of the prior NY attendees have included figures such as JonBon Jovi, Michael J Fox, Denzel Washington, Joe Torre, Yogi Berra, Katie Couric, Heather Graham, Jorge Posada, Steve Buscemi, John McEnroe, Harry Carson, David Blaine, Mary Louise Parker, Joe Montana, Anna Kornikova, Jeff Gordon, Stanley Tucci, Mat Dillon, Amy Adams, Julianne Moore, Meryl Streep and President Clinton to name a few.

More information on ICAP and Charity Day can be accessed at www.icap.com.

Posted by scurry at 04:09 PM

Arnold Palmer Medical Center Named PGA TOUR Charity of the Year

November 18, 2009

Primary charity of the Arnold Palmer Invitational celebrating 20 years of world-class medical care

PONTE VEDRA BEACH, FL — The PGA TOUR announced today that the Arnold Palmer Medical Center, the primary charity of the Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by MasterCard, has been named the 2009 PGA TOUR Charity of the Year.

“Congratulations to the Arnold Palmer Medical Center for being named the PGA TOUR Charity of the Year,” said Tim Finchem, PGA TOUR commissioner. “The Medical Center provides essential medical care for thousands each year and is a worthy recipient of this award. The name Arnold Palmer has always been synonymous with the right things about golf and life, and the fact that a world-class medical facility has his name on it is a fitting tribute.”

The Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children was founded on September 10, 1989 – Arnold Palmer’s 60th birthday. This year, as the golf world celebrates Arnold’s 80th birthday, the hospital celebrates two decades of service. During the last 20 years, the Arnold Palmer Medical Center has delivered more than 186,000 babies, cared for more than 26,000 of those babies in its Neonatal Intensive Care Unit and treated more than 1.5 million patients.

In 2006, care for newborns and women moved across the street to a new state-of-the-art Winnie Palmer Hospital for Women & Babies. The space freed up in the original building allowed for the expansion of specialized pediatric services in the renamed Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children. Together, these interconnected hospitals make up the Arnold Palmer Medical Center, the largest facility dedicated to the needs of babies, children and women in the nation.

“The Arnold Palmer Medical Center’s dedication and commitment to the care and treatment of children is inspirational, making it a worthy recipient of this distinguished honor,” said Chris McWilton, President, U.S. Markets, MasterCard Worldwide. “The compassion and expertise of the Center’s staff is backed up by world-class medical technology that together provides crucial medical care for thousands of young patients.”

As recipient of the 2009 PGA TOUR Charity of the Year, the Arnold Palmer Medical Center will receive $30,000 towards a future Kids’ Kidney Center, the first dedicated pediatric facility in Central Florida for children who need dialysis due to kidney disease.

“The Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by MasterCard is proud to honor the Arnold Palmer Medical Center as the PGA TOUR Charity of the Year,” said tournament director Scott Wellington. “Arnold Palmer and his family have had a very close relationship with the Medical Center and staff since its opening more than 20 years ago. Today, the Palmers remain dedicated to helping those in need, as well as the continued growth and advancement of the medical center’s facilities.”

About the PGA TOUR

The PGA TOUR is a tax-exempt membership organization of professional golfers. Its primary purpose is to expand the PGA TOUR domestically and internationally so as to substantially increase player financial benefits while maintaining our commitment to growth in charity and integrity to the game.

In 2009, the three Tours compete in 102 events for more than $350 million in prize money. Tournaments will be held in 10 countries outside the U.S. and in 35 states.

In addition to providing competitive opportunities for its membership, TOUR events also generate significant funds for local charities. In fact, the three Tours have surpassed the $1 billion mark in overall charitable contributions. The PGA TOUR's web site address is www.pgatour.com and the company is headquartered in Ponte Vedra Beach, FL.

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Contact:
PGA TOUR, Joel Schuchmann, (904) 280-4707, joelschuchmann@pgatourhq.com

Posted by scurry at 11:47 AM

PLAY THE BAY HILL CHAMPIONSHIP COURSE WITH THE “WORLD PREMIER GOLF PACKAGE”

November 12, 2009

ORLANDO, FL. – After a summer of design renovations and greens refurbishments made under the thoughtful and expert direction of Arnold Palmer himself, the legendary Championship course at Arnold Palmer’s Bay Hill Club & Lodge re-opened in grand style this September and has been well-received by members and pros.

Palmer said, "This is the best renovation I've ever done, period. I want people to be able to experience playing this incredible course."

Bay Hill’s “World Premier Golf Package” enables anyone to stay and play the same course where Tiger Woods will defend his title March 22-28, 2010 at the Arnold Palmer Invitational Presented by MasterCard.

The exciting architectural and aesthetic enhancements that have been made to this prestigious course present new challenges yet the same thrill as would be expected from an Arnold Palmer designed course. And for a limited time, golf enthusiasts can be a part of history by being among the very first to play the enhanced course with the new World Premier Golf Package from Bay Hill.

This exclusive package includes accommodation in a luxurious room at The Lodge at Bay Hill, daily breakfast and one round of golf per person (including cart/green fee and bag of practice balls). The package is for one-, two- or three- night stays with prices starting from $212.50 (plus tax) double occupancy per person, per night. Extra nights and/or rounds of golf can be added at preferred rates, and for non-golfers a spa treatment may be substituted for golf.

The Championship course is officially re-opened to Bay Hill Club Members only on September 6, and to Lodge guests on September 14. World Premier Package rates are valid September 14, 2009 through January 15, 2010 based on availability at time of booking. For reservations, call (888) 422-9445 or make your reservations online at www.bayhill.com.

Posted by scurry at 04:55 PM

PALMER HONORED AT THE GRAND RE-OPENING OF THE WEST PALM BEACH GOLF COURSE

November 11, 2009

WEST PALM BEACH, FL – Arnold Palmer will hit the ceremonial tee shot to officially re-open the historic West Palm Beach Municipal Golf Course on Monday, November 16th after a 7-month restoration. The Grand Re-Opening will celebrate the 50th Anniversary of Arnold Palmer’s 1959 victory at the West Palm Beach Open Invitational, which was a regular stop for the PGA in the 50’s and 60’s and will host a Celebrity Pro-Am to support local charities.

West Palm Beach Golf Course, formerly known as the West Palm Beach Country Club, was originally established in 1921. It was moved to its present location in 1947, and it's Dick Wilson designed 18-hole, par-72, 6,759 yard championship course has been a staple for local golfers for generations.

The restored West Palm Beach Municipal Golf Course emphasizes Dick Wilson’s original vision. The most notable change is the removal of non-indigenous vegetation and the framing of fairways with vast expanses natural white sandy terrain. With new grass throughout, extended tees, uncommon elevations and subtle undulations, this restored course will be a popular golf destination.

"I'm glad to see this wonderful course restored for the golfers of West Palm Beach." said Palmer.

November 16 will start in Palmer style with complimentary "Arnold Palmer" beverages at 9 a.m. at the Champions Breakfast for the participants, pros, celebrities, dignitaries, sponsors and their guests, followed by the Golf Tournament. Activities for spectators include a putting contest with a $10,000 Grand Prize opportunity, the LPGA Front Row Experience, a Ronald McDonald House Charities Junior Clinic and hourly prize giveaways. The tournament will be followed by a reception and silent auction. There will be shuttle service available to handle the demand for parking.

Also scheduled to attend: Mark McCumber, Solheim Cup Captains Beth Daniel, Meg Mallon and Kelly Robbins, and other PGA and LPGA players.

The new golf course opens for public play on the following day, Tuesday November 17th.

Posted by scurry at 06:02 PM

Palmer and his Namesake Invitational Lend Support to Orlando Economic Development Commission

November 06, 2009

ORLANDO, FL — Arnold Palmer took time this week to talk to members of the Orlando Economic Development Committee’s Board and Investor Councils about what is most important to him. On the list: golf, family, helping children and economic development.

The legendary golfer, who was among the first in the world to transform his sport success into a business empire, addressed this group of EDC supporters from a room in the Lodge that he built, overlooking the Bay Hill Golf Course that he recently renovated into what he suggests is among "the best anywhere." Among many topics, Mr. Palmer spoke about his personal satisfaction at seeing the region’s recent growth as a center for the medical research and life science industries.

Arnold Palmer's connection to Central Florida dates back to the 1960s. First coming to Orlando for a tournament in 1962, he saw potential in the region that led him to buy out other investors in the then fledgling Bay Hill Club in 1969. The PGA TOUR event played at Bay Hill annually that bears his name, the Arnold Palmer Invitational, has grown from humble beginnings to an event which today accounts for 165 full time jobs; more than $5 million in annual earnings, which translates in to $18.5 total spending; and attracts more than 100,000 attendees each year. Plus, proceeds benefit Orlando Health’s Arnold Palmer Medical Center Foundation, the Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children and the Winnie Palmer Hospital for Women & Babies.

Mr. Palmer's commitment to the EDC goes even further. He personally invests in our organization through the membership of the Arnold Palmer Invitational Presented by MasterCard. One of his goals for addressing this group, which was reinforced by EDC Board Chair Meg Crofton, was to encourage more local businesses to support the work of the Economic Development Commission.

Posted by scurry at 05:04 PM

PALMER SHARES MEMORIES OF EISENHOWER AT WORLD GOLF HALL OF FAME PRESS CONFERENCE

November 03, 2009

ST. AUGUSTINE, FL. - Arnold Palmer's press conference yesterday at the World Golf Hall of Fame was a heart-felt one about his friend President Dwight D. Eisenhower being inducted.

Transcripts courtesy of ASAP Sports

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ARNOLD PALMER: Well, first, I'm overwhelmed with the opportunity to introduce Dwight David Eisenhower into the (tearing up) World Golf Hall of Fame. I can say that this is an opportunity that I welcome very much, and to say that the President, or Ike, or whatever you'd like to call it, The General, if there was anyone that really should be in the Golf Hall of Fame, I think he should be.

He was an avid golfer, and the part of his life that he had the opportunity to play golf was probably as happy a part of his life as he had ever spent. I had the opportunity to be with him, play golf with him, and there were times when we just sat and talked, and he enjoyed conversing about the game of golf and the things that I had done in my career, as I enjoyed listening to him talk about all his exploits in his life, from being a soldier to coming through his life to a five-star general to the President of the United States.

He was not one to elaborate too much on that. He was very conservative in his conversation. But when I pried, he was willing to talk about his exploits and some of the things that he did during the war, before the war. It just happened that he and I for some reason hit it off pretty well, and we had a lot of things in common.

I don't think many people knew that he was a pilot and flew airplanes and might have gone on to be a military pilot, but other things took the place of that as he went through his life. And when he finally got to golf, it was something, as he did everything else in his life, it was an obsession with him to do it well.

I remember talking to him about a game of golf one day, and he used to ask me what I would suggest to tell him about his game. Well, it happened to be a day that we were playing a heart exhibition in Merion in Philadelphia, and I said, "Well, Mr. President," I said, "If you kept your right elbow in a little closer to your side, I think you could get a little more power into your shots." Never thinking what was going to happen. But as you probably remember if you saw any of the military people, they always wore their belts to the side on their right side. And I suggested he keep his elbow in. I had no idea that he was going to do what he did. He kept it in so close that when we finished practicing and playing, his elbow was all bloody from keeping that elbow in close.

But that was how intent he was on playing the game of golf. And he loved to just sit and talk about what things I did in playing golf, and we exchanged. I, of course, would ask him questions about his military career and being Commander in Chief, and as I say, he didn't exploit them; he was conservative in his conversation. But the things that we talked about were fantastic. I remember a lot of them that were really very interesting.

Q. Talk a little bit about your relationship with Bob Hope and President Eisenhower.

ARNOLD PALMER: Well, of course Hope was a friend. If you see the movie downstairs, you see it started at an early age for me by appearing on his show, and he was -- he just became an instant friend, as Bob Hope did with a lot of people. Through the years I had an opportunity to play quite a lot of golf with Bob, and I played in the Hope Tournament from the inception of it. Then I won the Desert Classic in its first year, which was 1960. And then from then on, it became the Bob Hope Desert Classic, and I won it five times.

So I was close to Bob and I was close to the tournament and spent a lot of time in Palm Springs with both, and of course the President, or Ike, had a home at El Dorado, and he spent a lot of time in the desert, also. Actually when his health got bad and he couldn't play golf anymore, I used to go and sit on the front porch with him and talk about golf and talk about Bob Hope as a matter of fact and the tournament, and that was fun.

And of course the President, or Ike and Bob Hope, before he got to where he couldn't play, had played some golf in the desert. And I think they both enjoyed that, the President enjoying Hope's humor, if you want to call it that. And of course the things that they did together -- I won't say it was constant, but frequently they would go out and play a little golf.

Q. What part do you think he played in help popularizing the game? I lot of people saw him as an every-man because he had been in the military and not the son of a rich guy.

ARNOLD PALMER: Well, first of all, I think the President, when he started playing golf, really took to it in a hurry. As you know, the putting green at the White House and many things happened, and of course knowing Bob Hope was one of the things. I had no idea what was going to happen would happen, and that was that there was a relationship that -- my first trip to Augusta I had no idea that there was a relationship between Cliff Roberts and Dwight D. Eisenhower, and it was a very close relationship that I don't think a lot of people were aware of. But they conversed a lot on the phone.

I think that Cliff Roberts handled some of the President's financial wares on Wall Street and so on. I don't know the details of that. But I do know that that was one of the things that happened. And I know that they became friends, and of course Ike played a lot of golf at Augusta with Cliff Roberts, and they became friends.

And of course one of the things that happened was that the President called Cliff during The Masters Tournament in 1958, and he said to Cliff Roberts, "Cliff, do you think it would be possible if I came to Augusta? I could play with the champion of this year's tournament?" And Cliff said, "I'll arrange it. The only thing that you have to do is get approval from the player that wins." Well, no one had any idea who that was going to be at the time.

Well, as it turned out, when I won, Cliff Roberts very early after the tournament ended came to me, and he said, "Arnie, the President wants to come and play golf with you tomorrow if you can get your schedule straightened out." And I said, "Well, if he can get his schedule straightened out, I think I can get mine straightened out.

It happened, and we became, in one day, pretty close. We talked about things other than golf. We talked about everything. And of course among the things that we talked about was getting together and playing golf in the future. And of course I made a commitment to him to make sure that we would be able to do this according to his schedule.

So that was how it really started. It was a very warm relationship from the beginning.

Q. (Inaudible.)

ARNOLD PALMER: So regular, it was hard to imagine that he did all the things that he did in his life, he was so regular. Everything he did he excelled in, from being a soldier to being a commander, a leader. He did all those things well. And I can tell you that if he had started golf a little sooner than he did, he would have been a really good player. He enjoyed the competition, he enjoyed the things that happened in his golfing career, and we played a number of exhibitions together for the Heart Association, for the Heart Fund, and he really enjoyed that.

The one that we played at Merion was against Ray Bolger and Jimmy Demaret. And of course they put it together as an alternate shot exhibition, and I can't help but remind myself and you that the first hole at Merion was a slight dogleg to the right and a little uphill. I hit my tee shot, and Ike hit one, and we walked down, and I thought that he would play my shot up to the green. It was up pretty close to the green. And he said, "Arnie, I'll hit your shot to the green," and it surprised me, and I said, "that's fine."

We got to talking about it, and I said, "Well, wait a minute, you're a good putter; why don't you let me hit your shot to the green," and then he liked that idea. I remember him smiling. I hit his shot on the green, and it was about 15, 18 feet from the hole, and he had a Cash-In putter, and I remember him putting it in the hole. You can't imagine the joy he got out of that. He just really thoroughly enjoyed that. And the day from then on was really a very enjoyable day and a very successful exhibition.

Q. Could you give us a scouting report on Ike's game?

ARNOLD PALMER: Well, you must remember that he was getting pretty old, and he had a heart condition when he was playing golf. But he hit -- the tee shot that I hit to the green at Merion, he hit it good enough that I hit like a 6-iron into the green, and we made a gross 3.

We played enough golf in the early '60s, I guess, mid '60s, he could -- one day, I'm not sure where we were playing, might have been Latrobe or Laurel Valley, and he had a chance to break 80 from the regular tees. He got so doggone excited, I think he got nervous and blew the 80, shot about 82. But he was so excited about the possibility of breaking 80. And I don't know that he ever did.

He was pretty normally around 85, and he'd have a good round and get down to the low 80s occasionally.

Q. How many presidents have you played golf with?

ARNOLD PALMER: I don't know.

Q. Was he your first President?

ARNOLD PALMER: He was the first President I ever played with. And I played with ones that played golf up through the years. I missed Kennedy. Actually I was -- I'm trying to think where I was. I think I was somewhere in the South, and I had a call from his guys that said that he was coming to Palm Beach to play golf, and he would have loved it if I'd come down and play with him. I said, sure, I'll do that, I'd love to play with him.

The day was arranged and everything, and the day that we were going to play in the morning, I had a call from the White House, and they said that President Kennedy apologizes, but he had hurt his back and he wasn't going to be able to play, and we never played.

Q. (Inaudible.)

ARNOLD PALMER: Oh, I played with Clinton, two Bushes, didn't play with Carter. I don't think he ever played. If he did, I didn't know it.

Q. Nixon?

ARNOLD PALMER: Nixon, Ford, yeah, a lot with Gerry Ford. Did we mention Clinton? I played with him numerous times.

Q. President Reagan?

ARNOLD PALMER: Yes, I played with him in Palm Springs a few holes one day.

Q. (Inaudible.)

ARNOLD PALMER: Well, that set of clubs -- is that the set you're talking about, that I have? Yeah, those belonged to him, and he kept them at Gettysburg when he retired. The guy that caddied for him there, who was the pro, was a very good friend and a nice guy, a great guy, and he at one point, and I can't recall exactly when it was, called and said, would I like the President's clubs? He said he'd like to give them to me. And he gave them to me, and that's the set.

Is that the answer to the question? Yes.

Posted by scurry at 05:16 PM

PALMER PRESENTS FRIEND PRESIDENT EISENHOWER AT WORLD GOLF HALL OF FAME INDUCTION CEREMONY

November 02, 2009

St. Augustine, FL – Arnold Palmer was on hand to present his friend President Dwight D. Eisenhower posthumously into the World Golf Hall of Fame, making him the first president to join the organization in the Lifetime Achievement category. Other new members of the Hall will be 1977 PGA Championship winner Lanny Wadkins; two-time Masters champion Jose Maria Olazabal; and Christy O'Connor, who won 24 times on the European Tour.

Palmer and Eisenhower had a long and storied friendship that began at Palmer's first Masters win in Augusta Georgia in 1958. "He was not only a great president and a great general but a great person. He was a guy who you could relate to, a regular guy on the golf course and a regular guy, period. We became very close friends almost immediately." said Palmer.

Eisenhower is undoubtedly one of the most revered and influential presidents in American history and his public love of golf during the span of his presidency is why the sport received a massive boost in popularity. This was due to the national press dutifully reporting on his 29 trips to Augusta during his presidency and the more than 1,000 days of golf he played, according to his daily itinerary. The number of Americans who played golf doubled while Eisenhower was in office from 1953 to 1961, according to "First Off The Tee," a book on U.S. presidents who played golf.

"One would be hard-pressed to find anyone who did more to popularize the game of golf, not only in the United States but throughout the world, than President Eisenhower," Palmer said. "His passion for the game was the inspiration for literally millions of people picking up the game. To have the average person read about Ike and his golf and his enjoyment of the game gave golf one of the greatest shots in the arm it ever got."

Since they played often together, Palmer and Eisenhower were a powerful mixture - a President, a King, The Masters and the advent of golf on television, ultimately launching the game into popularity.

"President Eisenhower received many honors in his life, but I think he would have really enjoyed this one."

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Related Stories

• World Golf Hall of Fame: President Eisenhower Profile | Arnold Palmer Profile
• USA Today: Palmer presents Ike into World Golf Hall of Fame
• Washington Times: Golf world honors Ike with spot in Hall
• Kingdom Magazine: Ike and I
• Kingdom Magazine: All the Man's Presidents

Posted by scurry at 05:19 PM

American Legend Arnold Palmer Lends His Voice to No Plane No Gain Campaign

October 21, 2009

National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) and the General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA)

Orlando, FL, October 20, 2009 – Golf legend and accomplished businessman Arnold Palmer is lending his voice to support the value of business aviation to citizens, companies and communities in a new video and print advertising campaign for No Plane No Gain, the advocacy program jointly sponsored by the National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) and the General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA).

“Arnold Palmer has always been an advocate for business aviation, because he has a first-hand understanding of its essential role in serving towns and communities across the country,” said NBAA President and CEO Ed Bolen. “For his entire career, business aviation has made it possible for him to succeed in golf and business – all from his hometown of Latrobe, PA, which doesn’t have airline service.”

GAMA President and CEO Pete Bunce added: “Through these new ads, we will be able to draw even more attention to the messages No Plane No Gain has been communicating: that business aviation supports over a million jobs, represents a lifeline for small- and medium-sized U.S. towns, enables companies to compete and succeed, and helps provide relief to people and communities in times of crisis.”

The new advertising, rolled out during the Opening General Session of NBAA’s 62nd Annual Meeting & Convention, includes three print ads and three 30-second video ads. The print and video ads complement one another, and build upon the efforts already undertaken through the No Plane No Gain program to educate policymakers and opinion leaders about the value of business aviation to citizens, companies and communities across the U.S.

With a simple, yet powerful delivery, Palmer speaks to the benefits of business aviation in the ads and responds to those who would devalue the use of an airplane for business. For example, in one print ad, Palmer states: “People who build business airplanes make things fly. People who use them make things happen. A few others make things up.” In one of the video spots, Palmer states plainly: “For more than 50 years, using business airplanes is the single most productive thing I have done.”

Addressing the large crowd gathered at the Opening General Session, Palmer explained why he felt compelled to lend his voice to the No Plane No Gain program. “I know the value of business airplanes,” Palmer said. “I know what they have done for me and my companies. I know how important they are to my hometown. And I know how important they are to this country. So I wanted to speak out and help set the record straight.”

To view the video ads, visit the No Plane No Gain web site: www.noplanenogain.org/Video_Advertisements.htm?m=47&s=385

To view the print ads, visit the No Plane No Gain web site: www.noplanenogain.org/Print_Advertisements.htm?m=47&s=416

Posted by scurry at 10:10 AM

PALMER ATTENDS ADMINISTAFF SMALL BUSINESS CLASSIC

October 19, 2009

THE WOODLANDS, TX – Golf legend and Administaff spokesman Arnold Palmer attended the Administaff Small Business Classic presented by United Healthcare at The Woodlands Country Club Tournament Course in Woodlands Texas.

Palmer attended the draw party and played in the Thursday pro-am event with his ever-present 'army' there to cheer him on. The Champions Tour event is one of the first to offer free admission to all ages and on Thursday gave away Arnold Palmer bobbleheads to the first 1,000 fans.

Also in the tournament field was fellow legend Tom Watson whom Palmer had a chance to chat with Thursday afternoon on The Woodlands' putting green. The topic of conversation was the nail-biting British Open Championship this July and Watson's putt on the 72nd hole.

"I watched him putt the ball at the British Open and that made me think I needed to talk to him a little," Palmer said. "Nothing heavy. Just getting the ball started on the right line. He will putt better if he does that. I know that. I told him that was what he needed to do."

"It was a good tip," Watson grinned. "It was coming from the King."

On Sunday, John Cook rose to the top of the field to win the event for his third career Champions Tour title. The 11-time winner on the regular PGA Tour closed with a 4-under 68 and finished with an 11-under 205 to hold off Jay Haas and Bob Tway by two shots.

"Cook made a nice charge on the final day and kept his focus." said Palmer.

Posted by scurry at 01:34 PM

CNN: Evergreen Palmer to play until 90

October 08, 2009

(CNN) -- Golf legend Arnold Palmer has just celebrated his 80th birthday and exclusively told CNN's Living Golf that he hopes to play for another ten years.

Read the full article at CNN.com

Posted by scurry at 04:19 PM

LA Times: Arnold Palmer, the King of golf, shows no signs of slowing down

October 06, 2009

Los Angeles Times - October 6, 2009 - By Bill Dwyre

At 80, Palmer looks trim and tan and still flies his own plane. During a stop at Rolling Hills Country Club, he answers some questions, including how an iced tea and lemonade blend came to bear his name.

If you play golf, watch it on TV, think you might take it up someday, or have hit a ball under a windmill and through a clown's mouth, there was no better place to be on a sparkling clear Saturday morning in Southern California.

The King was in town. The golfer who never had a gallery, always an Army, was in the house.

Arnold Palmer got out of a car, hitched up his pants and walked into the courtyard at the Rolling Hills Country Club like somebody about to shop for a new putter. The man who made the game the multi-billion-dollar sport it is today never acts like it. People surround him, keeping an arm's length as one would for royalty. And it is Palmer, always a little embarrassed by this sort of adulation, who engages them first.

Read the full story at LAtimes.com

Posted by scurry at 05:13 PM

PALMER UNVEILS BAY HILL COURSE RENOVATIONS DURING MEDIA DAY

October 01, 2009

ORLANDO, FL - Arnold Palmer hosted select national and local media at his Bay Hill home course Tuesday September 29th to unveil the course changes he and his design company recently completed. The par on the Bay Hill course is now 72 (7,400 yards), from 70 (7,162 yards), which should yield more birdies at the upcoming 2010 Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by MasterCard.

"We're going to go with four par 4s again, with the thinking that the galleries and the people enjoy seeing players make birdies. said Palmer. "We're going to give them an opportunity to make birdies."

The media day at Bay Hill started with breakfast followed by golf, lunch, Q&A and the property was open for tours, including the design office where Palmer's Bay Hill changes were meticulously planned.

Palmer treated 10 foursomes to play the newly-renovated course by setting up groups of three media members paired with a staff member from Bay Hill, Arnold Palmer Design Company, Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by MasterCard and the Arnold Palmer Golf Academy.

Palmer's staff included:
Bay Hill: Roy Saunders, Blake Terry, Brian Kennedy
Arnold Palmer Design Company: Eric Wiltse, Thad Layton, David Couch and Brandon Johnson
Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by MasterCard: Scott Wellington
Arnold Palmer Golf Academy: John O'Leary, Tom Garner

Quite a number of golf publications and local print media were in attendance including The Golf Channel and local Channel 6 Orlando and were able to engage directly on the course with Palmer's design company architects andBay Hill grounds crew Matt Beaver and John Anderson to discuss the renovation specifics in detail.

In 2008, Bay Hill was ranked No. 18 out of 54 for course difficulty on the PGA Tour. Changing holes 4 and 16 from par 4 holes to par 5 holes is not going to make the course play any easier.The shifted and reshaped fairway bunkers on these holes add a new dimension while increasing birdie opportunities.

Also benefiting from the increase in birdies will be the "Birdies for Babies" program which benefits one of the tournament's official charities, the Winnie Palmer Hospital for Women and Babies at the Arnold Palmer Medical Center in Orlando.

Then there is Hole No. 17 which is already known as one of golf's most difficult par 3s. Palmer made it slightly more intimidating by reshaping and extending the beach bunker, increasing the number of pin locations along the perimeter of the green and reshaping bunkers that are closer to the green surface.

Bay Hill has recently been listed as one of the top 50 resorts in Golf World's second annual "Readers' Choice Awards." Golf World readers based their evaluation of the nation's golf facilities on 13 different performance criteria, such as quality of the course, course conditions, reputation/prestige and service. More than 46,000 individual facility ratings were received and the top 50 courses in each category, as voted on by their readers. The pre-renovation ranking will be published in the September 28 issue of Golf World.

Palmer expects excitement with the new birdie making potential when Tiger Woods returns to defend his title at the 2010 Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by MasterCard.

"There's a risk-reward situation there, I like that." said Palmer. "I'm really pleased with the outcome."

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Bay Hill Course Tour (Before/After)

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Posted by scurry at 12:20 PM

PALMER RECEIVES CONGRESSIONAL GOLD MEDAL

September 30, 2009

WASHINGTON D.C. – Today at 1:30pm, Arnold Palmer will stop at the White House where President Barack Obama will sign into law The Congressional Gold Medal honoring the golf legend.

The award will make Palmer the first sports person in history to receive all 3 of the United States highest civilian honors including the National Sports Award from former President Bill Clinton in 1993 (a one-time award) and the Presidential Medal of Freedom from former President George W. Bush in 2004.

"I don't know that I've done anything to deserve it, but I accept," Mr. Palmer said yesterday from his office at the Bay Hill Club in Orlando, Fla. "That's pretty fantastic."

The Congressional Gold Medal was first given to George Washington in 1776 and to 141 exemplary Americans since. "I didn't know George Washington," Palmer said with a grin. "But if I did, I would shake his hand and say, 'You're the first, and I won't be the last.'"

Palmer will become the fifth athlete to receive the honor from Congress, which is considered the highest expression of national appreciation for achievements and contributions. Byron Nelson is the only other golfer to receive the medal, which was given posthumously in 2006.

The Arnold Palmer Gold Medal Act, H.R. 1243, was introduced by Congressman Joe Baca (D-California) and first passed the House of Representatives in April and was unanimously passed by the Senate on Palmer's 80th birthday on September 10th. U.S. Sen. Mel Martinez, R-Fla., who lives in Orlando, sponsored the Senate bill nominating Mr. Palmer for the medal. Such bills must be cosponsored by at least two-thirds of the members of the House and 67 in the Senate before even being considered in the respective chambers.

"Arnold Palmer is a legend and a giant among golfers," said Rep. Baca. "Arnold elevated the game of golf both at home and abroad, and is respected across the globe. He won 92 championships in professional competition, but even more significant, he is an exemplary American who always gave back to others."

Arnold Palmer's charismatic personality, swashbuckling style of golf and unfailing sense of kindness and thoughtfulness have endeared him to millions throughout the world. Palmer and his late wife Winnie have supported numerous philanthropic causes, including the March of Dimes, nature conservation, cancer prevention and women's and children's health. He has founded the Arnold Palmer Pavilion at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center and the Arnold Palmer Medical Center in Orlando, Florida where the Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children and the Winnie Palmer Hospital for Women and Babies are located, which celebrated it's 20th anniversary on its namesakes' birthday this year.

Adding to the historical significance, one year later to this day, Coast Guardsman vet Palmer received the prestigious Lone Sailor Award in Washington by the U.S. Navy Memorial to Sea Service veterans "who have excelled with distinction at their respective careers while exemplifying the core values of Honor, Courage and Commitment." Palmer told the crowd, "Those three words are what life is all about as far as I'm concerned."

"It's pretty good stuff," Palmer said. "Quite overwhelming."

Posted by scurry at 12:28 PM

Arnold Palmer's Bay Hill Club & Lodge in Orlando: Fit for a king

September 23, 2009

Courtesy of GolfChannel.com
By WorldGolf.com
Posted: September 22, 2009

ORLANDO, Fla. - Tiger Woods and Arnold Palmer will forever be intimately linked to the Bay Hill Club & Lodge.

And that, perhaps, is the best indicator of how special this private southwest Orlando golf course really is. Marketing executives couldn't dream up a better pair of icons to be associated with their course.

Palmer has long served as the face of Bay Hill, bringing his Arnold Palmer Invitational to Florida every year since 1979. The course's daily afternoon shootout, sometimes with Palmer in the game, has become the stuff of legend. Woods is linked to Bay Hill for one reason: how thoroughly he has dominated the Invitational, winning a record six times, including a PGA Tour-record-tying four times in a row from 2000 to 2003.

Bay Hill General Manager Ray Easler calls the Woods-Palmer connection to Bay Hill "an incredible marriage."

Bay Hill is one of the toughest courses on Tour, one of the reasons why Tiger Woods has won a record six times here. "It seems to be fate that the two are tied together," Easler said. "Tiger only lives a mile and a half away. He plays with us every year. You have the new legend coming about next to the living legend."

Past champions of the Invitational reads like a hall-of-fame banquet: Ernie Els (1998), Phil Mickelson (1997), Ben Crenshaw (1993), Fred Couples (1992), Tom Kite (1989), Payne Stewart (1987) and Fuzzy Zoeller (1985), to name a few.

Only Doral Golf Resort and Spa's Blue Monster has hosted a pro tournament longer than Bay Hill. The 7,157-yard course continues to stand up to the world's best players and put on a show while doing so. The 31st annual Arnold Palmer Invitational Presented by MasterCard had a new slot on the PGA Tour calendar this past March, just two weeks before the Masters. And for the second consecutive year, Woods won with a dramatic birdie putt on the 72nd and final hole.

"I like the new dates, and it could make our field stronger, although we've always enjoyed having great fields," Palmer, winner of 62 PGA Tour titles, including seven majors, told PGATour.com.

Nothing's easy at Bay Hill

To keep up with today's long bombers, Bay Hill, designed by the venerable Dick Wilson in 1961, converted in 2007 to a par-70 layout for the tournament with two member par 5s playing as par 4s.

Playing the 27 holes of Bay Hill without a tour card requires an invitation from a member or a stay in its 64-room lodge. The added expense of spending the night is well worth the chance to tee it up at a place so steeped in history. Tennis courts, a health club, a luxury spa and the Arnold Palmer Golf Academy make Bay Hill feel more like a resort getaway than just a private club.

The layout itself has a few pedestrian Florida holes, where the typical bunkers and water hazards await. But they are offset by several stunners that confound even the world's best.

The 558-yard sixth hole bends boomerang-style around a massive pond. John Daly hit six consecutive tee shots into the water for an 18 in 1998. It was a "Tin Cup" moment in real life, showcasing how tempting it is to cut off too much of the corner.

The property has just enough humps and ridges to create several semi-blind tee shots, notably the par-5 12th and par-4 15th. Playing the proper angle off the tee on many holes could be the difference of at least two strokes.

The golf course's finish garners more than its share of the TV coverage for the simple reason that people love carnage. A train wreck is possible on any of the final three holes. The 517-yard, par-5 16th now plays as a nasty par 4, forcing players to carry the water hazard in front on their second shot or risk being called a wimp in the locker room. The skinny green on the 219-yard 17th is hard to hit and hold.

And we've all witnessed the destructive charms of the 18th hole. Years ago, Palmer himself transformed a weak par 5 into a stout par 4 of 441 yards with a hook-shaped green tucked behind the rock-lined "Devil's Bathtub," a pond that has rinsed the likes of Vijay Singh and others.

Who can forget Woods' rousing birdie putt, and subsequent fist-pump, on the green to capture the 2008 tournament? Not to be outdone, Robert Gamez holed a 7-iron from 176 yards for an eagle to beat Greg Norman by one in 1990. A plaque in the fairway still marks the accomplishment.

It's a fitting finish to a course fit for a King - Arnold Palmer himself.

Bay Hill Club & Lodge: The verdict

Easler considers Bay Hill a classic golf course that the pros love to play before The Masters.

"It really hasn't changed an enormous amount the last 40 years," he said. "A lot of the newer courses are designed for longer hitters. Bay Hill is suited to shotmakers. That is Mr. Palmer's style. Also, the way we set it up is along the lines of Augusta. We are the tuneup for Augusta. We have long rough and fast greens."

Playing where the pros play is no marketing sham. It's a thrill to tee it up at PGA Tour stops, especially dynamic layouts like Bay Hill. The course features arguably the second-best three-hole finish in Florida (behind the TPC of Sawgrass Stadium course). The chance to run into "Mr. Palmer" and shake his hand just adds to the allure.

Posted by scurry at 04:53 PM

PALMER DESIGNED COURSES DOT GOLF DIGEST'S TOP 75 GOLF RESORTS 2009

September 22, 2009

Golf Digest magazine's biannual feature, "The 75 Best Golf Resorts in North America," published in the October 2009 issue, cites eight Arnold Palmer designed resorts amongst the prestigious list.

In the number one spot sits Pebble Beach, which has been at the top of the last three of four rankings in what is considered by many as one of the most definitive rankings in golf. Ratings are based on Golf Digest's 900 plus course ranking panelists who score the resorts and courses.

Arnold Palmer and his design company recently gave Pebble Beach a small facelift, which lengthened the legendary course to 7,014 yds, for the upcoming fifth hosting of the U.S. Open Championship in June 2010. To read more about the changes visit the Kingdom Magazine Issue 14 article Pebble Beach.

Also making the list is Palmer's home course, the Bay Hill Club & Lodge in Orlando, FL, home of PGA Tour event the Arnold Palmer Invitational Presented by MasterCard. The recent renovations to Palmer's classic course were implemented with his expert vision throughout the entire process. For more information about the changes to Bay Hill please read Palmer and His Design Company Renovate Bay Hill Course.

Arnold Palmer Design Company golf resorts that made the list:

• 1. PEBBLE BEACH RESORT/INN AT SPANISH BAY (3)* Score: 89.17 Contact & Directions: pebblebeach.com, 800-654-9300 Room Rate:** $595 New & Notable: Site of the 2010 U.S. Open, Pebble has been strengthened and lengthened to more than 7,000 yards. At $495, the green fee is stratospheric -- but check its website for money-saving packages.
• 18. THE RITZ-CARLTON, HALF MOON BAY (CALIF.) (28) Score: 78.77 Contact & Directions: ritzcarlton.com, 650-712-7000 Room Rate: $419 New & Notable: Arthur Hills' super-scenic Ocean Course is being groomed to accept links-style run-up shots. This project concludes before the end of the year. The second course is an Arnold Palmer design.
• T-38. FOUR SEASONS RESORT AVIARA (44) Carlsbad, Calif. Score: 72.67 Contact & Directions: fourseasons.com, 760-603-6800 Room Rate: $395 New & Notable: Greenside bunkers are filled with high-quality silica sand, and the redesigned Aviara clubhouse opened in December, completing the resort's modernization project.
• 49. BARTON CREEK (47) Austin Score: 70.91 Contact & Directions: bartoncreek.com, 800-336-6158 Room Rate: $210 New & Notable: Fazio Canyons, one of two Tom Fazio courses at the resort, was the site of U.S. Open local qualifying. Arnold Palmer and Ben Crenshaw/Bill Coore designed the other two courses.
• 55. RESORT SEMIAHMOO (NR) Blaine, Wash. Score: 69.71 Contact & Directions: semiahmoo.com, 800-770-7992 Room Rate: $149 New & Notable: Loomis Trail was the site of the NCAA Division II Men's Golf Championship in May, and tee boxes on Arnold Palmer's Semiahmoo course have been reconstructed and enlarged.
• 56. LA QUINTA (CALIF.) RESORT& CLUB/PGA WEST (42) Score: 69.69 Contact & Directions:laquintaresort.com, 760-564-4111 Room Rate: $199 New & Notable: Three courses (out of five) have been updated: new GPS systems, bunkers and tee boxes at the Stadium and Nicklaus courses and a few new greens on the Mountain.
• 58. TURTLE BAY RESORT (64) Oahu, Hawaii Score: 69.29 Contact & Directions: turtlebayresort.com, 808-293-6000 Room Rate: $371 New & Notable: The practice area at the George Fazio Course has more than doubled to 16,000 square feet to accommodate more golfers. The Palmer Course's range is even bigger.
• 69. BAY HILL CLUB & LODGE (74) Orlando Score: 67.74 Contact & Directions: bayhill.com, 888-422-9445 Room Rate: $225 New & Notable: Home to Arnold Palmer and his popular PGA Tour stop, the course is getting a $2 million upgrade (tees, greens and bunkers) to be completed Oct. 1.

Posted by scurry at 05:16 PM

USA TODAY: Palmer's grandson set to tee it up, begin quest

September 17, 2009

By Jerry Potter, USA TODAY

When Sam Saunders realized in middle school that he was going to be too short and too slow for basketball, he turned to golf.

Lots of youngsters do that, but Saunders has a unique connection to the game: He's Arnold Palmer's grandson.

READ THE FULL STORY

Posted by scurry at 12:59 PM

PGA Historical Center unveils new PGA Championship, Arnold Palmer and PGA Cup exhibits

September 14, 2009

PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla. - The PGA Historical Center, in Port St. Lucie, Fla., is continuing a year-long series of special displays that pay tribute to the defining moments, people and Championships in the grand history of The PGA of America. This month, the golf museum celebrates the dramatic happenings at the 91st PGA Championship last month in Minnesota ... pays tribute to The King ... and looks ahead to the premier international team event for PGA Club Professionals.

The 91st PGA Championship, "The Season's Final Major, Glory's Last Shot," came down to a memorable head-to-head battle between Tiger Woods and Y.E. Yang, with Yang outplaying Woods to become the first Asian-born male to win a major golf Championship. A new display at the PGA Historical Center includes Yang's final-round scorecard, a signed Official Journal by the new PGA Champion, a Contestant's money clip and compelling images from the thrilling final round at Hazeltine National Golf Club.

Golf enthusiasts also can help celebrate the 80th birthday of Arnold Palmer, The King himself, through an enlarged copy of reminisces from his fellow PGA Professionals that appear as a two-page spread in the September issue of PGA Magazine.

Visitors will also enjoy a sneak peek at the 24th PGA Cup. Utilizing the same format as the Ryder Cup, 10-man teams from the United States and Great Britain & Ireland compete from Sept. 18-20, at beautiful Loch Lomond, Scotland, as the U.S. Team of PGA Professionals vies to capture yet another premier international golf event.

This year's rotating displays at the PGA Historical Center have already included Black History Month in February; and previews for the Senior PGA Championship in May, the PGA Professional National Championship in June and the PGA Championship in August. In October, there will be a new exhibit that previews the 27th PGA Grand Slam of Golf.

Other displays recently unveiled at the PGA Historical Center include the actual Ryder Cup trophy that was captured by the United States over Europe last September at Valhalla Golf Club in Louisville, Ky., along with tributes to the 10 PGA Honorary Members and five-time PGA Champion Walter Hagen. Items related to the final round of 2009 Senior PGA Champion Michael Allen's victory earlier this year – his shirt, visor and sand wedge, and the official scorecard – are also on display.

The PGA Historical Center is open to the public, and admission is free. Museum hours have been extended to Thursdays-Sundays, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. through Christmas Eve; and daily from Dec. 26-Easter. Researchers may access the facility during off-hours by appointment. Please visit pgavillage.com/stlucie or call 800-800-GOLF (4653) for more information.

About PGA Village
The Ryder Course, Wanamaker Course and Dye Course form a trio of world-class public courses at the PGA Golf Club, at PGA Village in Port St. Lucie, Fla. Named by Golf Digest as one of the "75 Best Golf Resorts in North America," PGA Village also features the award-winning, 35-acre PGA Center for Golf Learning and Performance (formerly the PGA Learning Center) and PGA Historical Center golf museum. The PGA Golf Club exists to be one of the premier daily fee facilities in America, and to serve as a home club for our 28,000 PGA Professionals. For more information, please visit pgavillage.com.

About The PGA of America
Since 1916, The PGA of America's mission has been twofold: to establish and elevate the standards of the profession and to grow interest and participation in the game of golf.

By establishing and elevating the standards of the golf profession through world-class education, career services, marketing and research programs, the Association enables PGA Professionals to maximize their performance in their respective career paths and showcases them as experts in the game and in the multi-billion dollar golf industry.

By creating and delivering dramatic world-class championships and exciting and enjoyable golf promotions that are viewed as the best of their class in the golf industry, The PGA of America elevates the public's interest in the game, the desire to play more golf, and ensures accessibility to the game for everyone, everywhere. The PGA of America brand represents the very best in golf.

Posted by scurry at 03:37 PM

SENATE PASSES BACA BILL TO HONOR ARNOLD PALMER

September 10, 2009

Bill Awards Congressional Gold Medal to Golfing Legend, Awaits President’s Signature into Law

Washington, DC – Today, the U.S. Senate passed legislation introduced by Congressman Joe Baca (D-Rialto) that awards the Congressional Gold Medal to world famous golf professional Arnold Palmer. The Arnold Palmer Gold Medal Act, H.R. 1243, officially recognizes Palmer for his service to the nation in promoting excellence and good sportsmanship in golf. The legislation first passed the House of Representatives this past April, and was unanimously passed by the Senate earlier today.

“Arnold Palmer is a legend and a giant among golfers,” said Rep. Baca. “Arnold elevated the game of golf both at home and abroad, and is respected across the globe. He won 92 championships in professional competition, but even more significant, he is an exemplary American who always gave back to others.”

“Arnold Palmer served his country with distinction in the U.S. Coast Guard, and has spent countless hours dedicated to improving the lives of others,” continued Rep. Baca. “He and his beloved wife Winnie did amazing work for numerous charities, including the March of Dimes, children’s hospitals, and prostate cancer research. Arnold is a humble man who loved his children and family, and never forgot where he came from. I thank my colleagues in the Senate for honoring a legend who has given so much, and I urge the President to quickly sign this recognition into law.”

Arnold Palmer’s magnetic personality and unfailing sense of kindness and thoughtfulness have endeared him to millions throughout the world. He has been the recipient of countless honors including virtually every national award in golf and both the Hickok Athlete of the Year and Sports Illustrated’s Sportsman of the Year awards. He was chosen as the Athlete of the Decade for the 1960s in a national Associated Press poll. In addition, Arnold Palmer spoke before a joint session of Congress in March of 1990, in commemoration of the 100th birthday of President Dwight Eisenhower.

Through his charitable foundation, Arnold Palmer and his wife Winnie have supported numerous philanthropic causes, including the March of Dimes, nature conservation, cancer prevention, and women’s and children’s health. He has also founded both the Arnold Palmer Pavilion at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center and the Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children in Orlando, Florida.

“I have had the opportunity to play a round of golf with Arnold Palmer,” added Rep. Baca. “My son, Rialto City Councilman Joe Baca, Jr., was also in attendance. Walking those eighteen holes with Arnold Palmer was one of the greatest experiences of my life. Not only is he a golf legend, but he also is a genuine person with a great sense of humor.”

“I truly believe that Arnold Palmer is deserving of this honor, and it is fitting the Senate passed this legislation on the eve of his 80th birthday,” continued Rep. Baca. “But it’s not just about his success on the links. Arnold also has contributed significantly to American society and culture and is an outstanding role model, especially for young people.”

Congressman Baca currently serves as a Member of the House Professional Sports Caucus, and Chair of the Caucus’ Golf Committee.

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Posted by scurry at 12:29 AM

HAPPY 80TH BIRTHDAY ARNOLD PALMER

Born September 10, 1929 to Milfred Jerome (Deacon) and Doris Palmer is Arnold Daniel Palmer.

Some September 10th birthday highlights in Arnold Palmer's life include:

• 1966 -- Palmer, 37, becomes agitated by meddling tasks given to him by Winnie in order to distract him from Secret Service men surreptitiously prowling the Latrobe countryside. Unbeknownst to Palmer, they were there to assure the safety of one of the most powerful and popular men in the world who flew to Latrobe for a surprise birthday visit. And for the first time in his life, Palmer’s plane is flown without him or his knowledge -- pilot Darrell Brown flies it to Gettysburg to pick up President Dwight Eisenhower for a surprise visit. "I was oblivious to it all," Palmer says, “until I answered the door and found General Eisenhower standing there with an overnight bag. ‘Say, you wouldn’t have room to put up an old man for the night, would you?’ One of the nicest weekends of my life followed. It was the thrill of a lifetime."
• 1972 -- Tournament volunteers at Firestone Country Club arrange for a birthday cake and surprise party for Palmer, 43, as he served as a commentator for NBC Sports during the World Series of Golf.
• 1989 -- The 255-bed Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children in Orlando opens to great fanfare. The first baby is born within hours after the ribbon cutting. Within 15 years, more than 100,000 children will be born in the Palmer hospital. Long-time friend Bob Hope serves as emcee at one of Palmer's 60th birthday events.
• 1993 -- Parade Magazine publishes a Hoest & Reiner cartoon that shows a disgruntled man telling his wife, “The doctor wasn’t in . . . His office is closed for Arnold Palmer’s birthday.”
• 1995 -- Palmer concludes the last round of the GTE Northwest Classic at Inglewood C.C. in Inglewood, California, with a stellar 66. It is on his 66th birthday and is noted for being the first time he’s ever shot his age.
• 2005 -- Palmer celebrates his 76th at the wedding of his granddaughter, Katherine Ann (Katie) Saunders, 23, to James Parker Spears at Lake Toxaway, North Carolina, the Saunders family's summer home.
• 2007 -- On his 78th birthday, Palmer is on hand at the Arnold Palmer Regional Airport in Latrobe for the unveiling of the Zenos Frudako's statue of him. An exact replica is unveiled across the Atlantic at the Tralee course in Ireland.
• Birthday luck? -- What might be most remarkable is that 66 percent of Palmer's aces - 8 of 14 - whose dates are verifiable occurred in September, with five of those being struck between September 3 through 7. Three days after his birthday Palmer carded his best score ever, a 60, at Latrobe Country Club on September 13, 1969.

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As the legend turns 80, many articles have been published by the media celebrating the storied career and life of the all-american Arnold Palmer.

ArnoldPalmer.com

• August 14, 2009 -- Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children Announces Gift Registry Honoring its Namesakes’ 80th Birthday
• August 26, 2009 -- Palmer Celebrates 80th Birthday with Style
• August 31, 2009 -- Arnold Palmer Hospital Celebrates 20 Years of Caring
• September 10, 2009 -- SENATE PASSES BACA BILL TO HONOR ARNOLD PALMER
• September 10, 2009 -- HAPPY 80TH BIRTHDAY ARNOLD PALMER

Golf Digest

September 2009 Issue

• Arnold at 80 by Editor Jerry Tarde -- Read full story
• Cover Story: Palmer In His Prime - As Arnold turns 80, it's time to savor the skill and charisma that changed golf
• Birthday Greetings for Arnie -- Read full story

Golf World

• September 10, 2009 -- Paying homage to Arnie
• September 14, 2009 -- Taking the Measure of Arnie's Greatness
• September 14, 2009 -- What He Means To Me

USGA Museum

• The Arnold Palmer Memory Book -- This site is dedicated to the fans of Arnold Palmer. It is a place for all who have a story to tell about this remarkable man and athlete. We encourage you to share your personal memories - as words, images, or videos - with others who admire, honor, and cherish Arnold Palmer as he approaches his 80th birthday.

Kingdom Magazine

• Palmer Foreward - A year, and a lifetime, to remember
• Q&A - The King Reflects - The King sits down with Chris Rodell, reflects on a lifetime of achievements and looks forward to more
• 80 Most Significant Moments by Chris Rodell

USA Today

September 2, 2009

• Arnold Palmer: Remembering 80 Years - By Jerry Potter, USA Today
• 'The camera fell in love with Arnold Palmer' - By Michael Hiestand, USA Today
• Surprise! Eisenhower visit marked Palmer's 37th birthday - By Jerry Potter, USA Today
• With fame, everybody knows Palmer's name - From staff reports, USA Today
• Palmer, 'a character' and 'competitor,' still searching for perfect swing - By Steve DiMeglio, USA Today
• Photo gallery: Images of Palmer at home in PA

Wall Street Journal

• September 5, 2009 -- "Palmer's Go-for-It Greatness: The Legend Looks Back on a Daring, Uncompromising Style Few Attempt Anymore" by John Paul Newport.

Golf Channel

• September 8, 2009 -- Golf Channel paying special tribute to Arnold Palmer's 80th -- Visit the website | Timeline | Photo Gallery | Video | Stories and Birthday Wishes
• September 9, 2009 -- Arnold Palmer ushers in golf on television
• September 9, 2009 -- The King's Crowning Achievement
• September 9, 2009 -- Players recollect memories of meeting the King

PGA Tour

• Video -- Arnold Palmer on his first Masters victory -- Watch the video
• September 8, 2009 -- For his birthday, 80 things we love about Arnie
• September 9, 2009 -- The King turns 80: Images and impact of Arnold Palmer
• September 9, 2009 -- The King's legacy: TOUR players on Arnold Palmer
• September 9, 2009 -- The King turns 80: Our favorite memories of Palmer
• September 9, 2009 -- Palmer's influence felt in the golf world and beyond
• September 9, 2009 -- By the numbers: Palmer's six decades on the PGA TOUR
• September 9, 2009 -- Special note from Palmer cheers father battling cancer

Associated Press

• September 9, 2009 -- Arnold Palmer, The King, to celebrate his 80th

ESPN

• September 9, 2009 -- Palmer hits legendary landmark by Jason Sobel
• August 31, 2009 -- Video -- Arnold Palmer Chips into an Arnold Palmer
• August 26, 2009 -- Spending the day with Arnold Palmer by Jason Sobel
• Video -- Arnold Palmer On Turning 80

Fox Sports

• September 10, 2009 -- Catching up with The King at his castle

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

• September 9, 2009 -- Love of Palmer par for the course 'A treasure to the game of golf and a gift to mankind' by Chuck Finder, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

The Desert Sun - Palm Springs

• September 10, 2009 -- Happy 80th, Arnold Palmer

The Los Angeles Times

• September 9, 2009 -- Golfer Arnold Palmer, 80, remains a game-changer

Reuters UK

• September 10, 2009 -- Golf-Tributes pour in for 'King' Palmer on his 80th birthday

The State - South Carolina

• September 10, 2009 -- Arnie's army celebrates 80

LIFE Magazine

• August 18, 2009 -- Top 10 Greatest Golfers of All Time

Posted by scurry at 12:01 AM

PALMER THROWS OUT PIRATES PITCH

September 09, 2009

The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette article "Love of Palmer par for the course" - 'A treasure to the game of golf and a gift to mankind' on Wednesday, September 09, 2009 by Chuck Finder covers the 80th birthday celebration event at PNC Park in splendid fashion with photos and video.

Read the full article. http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/09252/996582-136.stm

Posted by scurry at 09:53 AM

For his birthday, 80 things we love about Arnie

September 08, 2009

PGATOUR.COM correspondent Melanie Hauser lists 80 things to love about Arnold Palmer.

Read the full story

Posted by scurry at 07:51 PM

Golf Channel paying special tribute to Arnold Palmer's 80th

ORLANDO, Fla. -- Arnold Palmer turns 80 on Sept. 10 and Golf Channel will pay special tribute to the man simply known as "The King," who took golf to television and later co-founded the Golf Channel cable network.

GolfChannel.com's editorial team provides perspective to his career achievements and compliments a host of celebratory pages that feature trivia, photography and tributes that include a collection of the best Palmer stories that have appeared on the network's Web site.

During his birthday week (Sept. 6 - 13), Rex Hoggard (senior writer) will examine Palmer's career from a player's perspective to illustrate his importance to the growth of the game, while Randall Mell (senior writer) chronicles the camera's love affair with Palmer and the role he played in expanding golf to the then new medium of sports television. In addition, Mercer Baggs (managing editor) reveals Palmer's charitable efforts and his influence in the creation of the Arnold Palmer Hospitals.

"As a founding father of Golf Channel, Arnold Palmer's contributions to the growth of the sport and our company are innumerous," Golf Channel President Page Thompson said. "His imprint can be found in every aspect of our Channel, and we are very proud to carry on the traditions of excellence he established."

On the micro site, fans can join the festivities by contributing memories, well wishes and personal accounts of encounters with Palmer.

In concert with GolfChannel.com, Golf Channel will feature more than eight hours of programming to honor the man who won 62 times on the PGA TOUR, including seven major championships. Throughout the week, the network will air programming that includes:

* Golf Central (Mon - Thur., 6 p.m. ET) - Monday - Wednesday, Golf Central continues its "80-days to Arnold Palmer's 80th birthday" countdown with nightly features within the news franchise, including coverage of his ceremonial first pitch for his hometown team, the Pittsburgh Pirates, at PNC Park. Thursday (6 p.m. ET), Golf Central will air a special Arnold Palmer 80th Birthday Celebration show, featuring celebrity tributes from the world of sports and entertainment. Inga Hammond also will conduct a sit-down interview with Palmer to reflect on his storied career on and off the course.

* Top 10: Arnold Palmer Moments (Tue., 8:30 p.m. ET) - Top 10 will count down the 10 greatest moments in Palmer's illustrious career, including his major championship victories, his role in the development of the Champions Tour and the emergency of "Arnie's Army." The special features interviews from legendary sports agent Mark McCormack and author Bob Drum, as well as insight and commentary from Lee Trevino, Hubert Green and Palmer. Hosted by Lauren Thompson

Golf's Heart and Soul: Arnold Palmer (Tue., 9 p.m. ET) - From humble beginnings in the Pennsylvania foothills to close friendships with presidents and kings, Golf Channel embarks on a two-hour journey into Palmer's life as seen not only from "The King's" eyes, but also from the experiences from everyone who has touched him.

Golf in America (Wed, 9:30 p.m. ET) - Golf Channel visits with Palmer to discuss his three legacies: golf, philanthropy and course design. He discusses his part in ushering in a new era in sports coverage with co-founding the Golf Channel; his involvement in charities and the Arnold Palmer Hospital; and his golf course design company.

Playing Lessons From the Pros: Palmer and Saunders (Thur., 7 a.m. ET) - Palmer is joined by his grandson Sam Saunders, who in 2004 became Florida State High School Golf Champion, for a round of golf at Bay Hill Club and Lodge in Orlando, Fla.

1964 Masters Highlights (Thur., 1:30 p.m. ET) - Highlights of the 1964 Masters, where Palmer won his fourth and final green jacket by six strokes over Dave Marr and Jack Nicklaus

1960 Masters Highlights (Friday, 12:30 a.m. ET) - Highlights of the 1960 Masters, where Palmer won his second green jacket by one stroke over Ken Venturi.

For more information, contact Golf Channel Public Relations at 407-355-4653.

Posted by scurry at 09:30 AM

WSJ Feature: Palmer's Go-for-It Greatness

September 05, 2009

The Wall Street Journal featured an article on September 5, 2009 entitled "Palmer's Go-for-It Greatness: The Legend Looks Back on a Daring, Uncompromising Style Few Attempt Anymore" by John Paul Newport. Read the full story.

Posted by scurry at 04:51 PM

USA TODAY FEATURES ARNOLD PALMER AT 80

September 02, 2009

USA Today has featured Arnold Palmer in a few articles to highlight his upcoming 80th birthday.

Click the links below to read more.

• 'The camera fell in love with Arnold Palmer' - By Michael Hiestand, USA Today
• Surprise! Eisenhower visit marked Palmer's 37th birthday - By Jerry Potter, USA Today
• With fame, everybody knows Palmer's name - From staff reports, USA Today
• Palmer, 'a character' and 'competitor,' still searching for perfect swing - By Steve DiMeglio, USA Today
• Photo gallery: Images of Palmer at home in PA

Posted by scurry at 03:49 PM

PALMER WELCOMES NICKLAUS AS HONORARY MASTERS CO-STARTER

September 01, 2009

Jack Nicklaus will join his long-time competitor and friend Arnold Palmer at the upcoming 2010 Masters, which takes place April 8 to 11, at Augusta National to serve as the honorary co-starters. The two legends have a shared a long and storied career at Augusta, Palmer winning 4 times in his 50 consecutive years and Nicklaus winning 6 times in his 45 years.

Palmer is the seventh person, in 2007 and 2008, to serve as Honorary Starter in the long history of the Masters, which began in 1934. Jock Hutchison and Fred McLeod inaugurated the role in 1963. Byron Nelson and Gene Sarazen took over in 1981 and Ken Venturi filled in for Nelson in 1983. Sam Snead joined Nelson and Sarazen in 1984. The position has been vacant since Snead died following the 2002 Masters.

“I am very happy to have Jack join me as an honorary starter. It has been a pleasure to have been a part of this special tradition at the Masters these last couple of years and it’s certainly appropriate that Jack become a part of that tradition, given his great record at Augusta National. I welcome having my long-time good friend and competitor with me next year on the first tee.” said Palmer.

Posted by scurry at 03:41 PM

Arnold Palmer to Speak at Opening General Session for NBAA2009

National Business Aviation Association Washington, DC, August 31, 2009 – The National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) today announced that golf legend and esteemed businessman Arnold Palmer will be among the participants in the Opening General Session for NBAA’s 62nd Annual Meeting & Convention this October (NBAA2009).

“We're very excited to include Arnold Palmer among the speakers at this year’s Convention,” said NBAA President and CEO Ed Bolen. “Arnold is recognized around the world not just as a renowned golf professional, but also as a highly successful businessman who has long relied on business aviation as part of building his company. We look forward to hearing his first-hand perspective on how business aviation helps him succeed.”

Palmer’s storied career as a professional golfer includes a host of championships in national and international competitions. The Latrobe, PA native continues to travel extensively from his hometown in support of his many business interests, and much of the time, Palmer personally flies a Cessna Citation X to meet his business demands.

The essential role of business aviation in providing a transportation lifeline to towns like Latrobe has been a central theme in the No Plane No Gain campaign, which is jointly sponsored by NBAA and the General Aviation Manufacturers Association. Palmer and other Convention speakers will highlight the messages put forward by No Plane No Gain, to educate policymakers and opinion leaders about the many ways business aviation serves citizens, companies and communities across the U.S.

NBAA's Convention will be held in Orlando, FL, from October 20 to 22 at the Orange County Convention Center and Orlando Executive Airport.

Joining Palmer for the Convention’s Opening General Session will be Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Administrator J. Randolph “Randy” Babbitt, and Forbes publisher Rich Karlgaard, who owns and pilots a Cirrus SR22 for business.

A primary focus for the Convention will be a new Light Business Airplane (LBA) Conference designed to help concept buyers understand the considerations involved in purchasing a new airplane, as well as sessions to help NBAA Members quantify and communicate the value of their business aircraft. For more information, visit NBAA’s dedicated LBA web site: www.nbaa.org/lba.

Posted by scurry at 12:04 PM

Arnold Palmer Hospital Celebrates 20 Years of Caring

August 31, 2009

The hospital turns 20 on the 80^th birthday of its legendary namesake Arnold Palmer

August 31, 2009 (Orlando, FL) -- Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children will celebrate its 20^th birthday on September 10, coinciding with its legendary namesake, Arnold Palmer's 80^th birthday. For the past 20 years Arnold Palmer Hospital has been providing advanced, highly specialized medical care to children and women from across Central Florida and the world. To commemorate this milestone birthday, several celebration events are planned throughout the month of September including a community leader breakfast hosted by the Orlando Regional Chamber of Commerce and hospital visit by Arnold Palmer (September 4), a VIP 80^th Birthday dinner for Arnold Palmer hosted by Loews Portofino Bay Hotel at Universal Studios Orlando® (September 5) and a community block party (September 26). For more information, log on to www.arnoldpalmerhospital.com/birthday.

"We are honored to be celebrating 20 years of caring along side Arnold Palmer as he celebrates his 80^th birthday. We are extremely appreciative of all he and his family have done for the babies, children and women here in Central Florida and beyond," said John Bozard, president, Arnold Palmer Medical Center. "Through his generosity and those of others thousands of lives have been touched over the past 20 years and we look forward to continuing the Palmer legacy of caring for many years to come."

Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children opened its doors on September 10, 1989, as Central Florida's first freestanding children and women's hospital. The 281-bed facility offered pediatric, obstetric and women's services all in one facility and was built to accommodate 6,500 births. Over the past 20 years, the hospital's staff has delivered 179,000 babies, cared for 296,000 inpatients and 840,000 outpatients. It also saw the birth of a new facility, Winnie Palmer Hospital for Women & Babies, named after Mr. Palmer's late wife Winnie. The 285-bed facility opened on May 30, 2006, expanding the hospital's obstetric, neonatal and gynecological services. With the opening of Winnie Palmer Hospital, Arnold Palmer Hospital became a dedicated, 158-bed children's hospital and the two facilities in addition to the Howard Phillips Center for Children & Families formed the Arnold Palmer Medical Center, which is one of the largest children and women's facilities in the nation.

Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children, supported by the Arnold Palmer Medical Center Foundation, is a 158-bed facility dedicated exclusively to the needs of children. Located in Orlando, Arnold Palmer Hospital provides expertise in pediatric specialties such as cardiac care, craniomaxillofacial surgery, emergency and trauma care, gastroenterology, nephrology, neurology, neurosurgery, oncology, orthopedics, pulmonology and sports medicine. Visit arnoldpalmerhospital.com to learn more about all of our specialties.

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Posted by scurry at 11:28 AM

PALMER CELEBRATES 80TH BIRTHDAY WITH STYLE

August 26, 2009

This September 10th, 2009 legendary golfer and philanthropist Arnold Palmer celebrates his 80th birthday in conjunction with the 20th anniversary of his namesake hospital. The hospital opened in 1989 as the Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children & Women, becoming children-only in 2006 when the Winnie Palmer Hospital for Women & Babies opened.

The milestone birthday will be ushered in with a week long celebration beginning in Orlando and then heading to his native state of Pennsylvania.

The festivities will begin with a hospital birthday breakfast with Palmer on Friday, Sept. 4. On Saturday the 5th, Palmer will be the main guest at the Party at the Portofino Bay Hotel where his unparalleled commitment in support of the Arnold Palmer Medical Center will be honored.

The next week Palmer will fly his Cessna Citation X to Arnold Palmer Regional Airport in Latrobe, PA and on Tuesday, September 8th he will attend a dinner at PNC Park in Pittsburgh, home of the Pirates. Before dinner, Palmer will throw out the ceremonial first pitch as the Pirates play against the Chicago Cubs. That night will be Arnold Palmer Bobblehead Night at PNC Park and will mark the first time Palmer has been honored with a bobblehead created in his likeness. The following day Palmer will participate in a golf outing and dinner in his honor at Laurel Valley Golf Club.

And to celebrate his actual birthday on September 10th? Palmer and some of his closest friends will tee it up at his home course, Latrobe Country Club.

Posted by scurry at 03:03 PM

FOLLOW ARNOLD PALMER IN THE ESPN OFFICES

August 24, 2009

BRISTOL, CT – Golf legend Arnold Palmer is scheduled to visit the ESPN offices this Wednesday August 26th to film a "This is SportsCenter" commercial.

ESPN blogger Jason Sobel will be following Mr. Palmer for the day and blogging the entire days' activities live via his BlackBerry.

Visit the blog here: http://sports.espn.go.com/golf/columns/story?columnist=sobel_jason&page=liveblog

Fans can also join the Arnold Palmer group in the ESPN SportsNation section where they can share their memories of Mr. Palmer.

Posted by scurry at 03:36 PM

PALMER RENOVATES HIS BAY HILL COURSE

August 20, 2009

ORLANDO, FL – This summer, Arnold Palmer and the Arnold Palmer Design Company tweaked his classic course, the Bay Hill Club & Lodge, host course for PGA Tour event Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by MasterCard, under the thoughtful experienced eye of Palmer himself.

"Bay Hill is a great golf course. We don’t want to change it; let's tweak it.", said Arnold Palmer to his design company architects Erik Larsen, Thad Layton and Brandon Johnson during initial project meetings at Bay Hill, where the design company and Invitational offices are also located. "Let's get the greens closer to the water and take the sand where you can see it."

"We had the unique ability for our event staff to work on-site with Mr. Palmer, APDC design architects, Roy Saunders and employees of the Bay Hill Club. Matt Beaver, John Anderson and the Bay Hill grounds crew worked closely with the Landscapes Unlimited team to make this renovation a success. Having everyone here has been a distinct advantage for our event." said Tournament Director Scott Wellington. "Players are really going to enjoy the changes."

The specific goals of the renovation were focused in three distinct areas: Agronomic/Maintenance (greens), Playability and Aesthetics.

The previous greens needed to be completely removed because of nematodes in the soil, small plant-parasitic pests, that made it difficult to maintain good turf quality. "To improve the turf conditions on the greens, new Emerald Bermuda grass was installed and proved to be the best performer in test plots grown at Bay Hill prior to construction." said Matt Beaver. "This new grass requires less maintenance than the previous and the new irrigation heads around the greens will provide a more precise application of water."

With Palmer's lifetime of experience designing courses around the world, to actually building push-up greens with his father Deacon at Latrobe Country Club, he was extremely hands-on with the entire renovation process from start to finish. "I love the Bay Hill course, it's my home, which is why it was so important to me to be involved with everything." said Palmer. "The renovations really add some new dimensions of play for Tour players and our members."

"I've introduced firm, fast playing conditions on slopes around greens mowed at fairway height that run away from the green surface and take the ball farther away from the intended target instead of stopping it, like the previous heavy rough did." said Palmer. "With these new conditions we hope to add creativity to recovery shots. Along with putting new pin positions around the outside of the greens and cutting bunkers up closer to the greens we have made my course more interesting to play and view."

"PGA Tour Shotlink data was used extensively to properly site bunkers and now reflects the new distances of the modern game." said architect Brandon Johnson. Over time the edges of the greens had shrunk significantly and a few greens had too much slope to place a pin, especially on the edges of the greens. Johnson goes on to say, "The new greens allow us to increase the pinnable areas on the edges of the greens for the Invitational and make the players think a little bit more about shot and strategy in their pre-tournament preparation and during play."

"We really improved the turf conditions and playability of tees by making them all consistently level." said architect Thad Layton. "Some of the narrow "runway" tees are now more visually appealing and large enough to handle wear from high golf traffic."

Course aesthetics have received a boost in visual impact with the bunker renovation. "The bunkers will give Bay Hill a new look and will help define the tee and approach shots into more visually and strategically intimidating golf." said Roy Saunders of Bay Hill. "The entire APDC team has been a pleasure to work with on these changes. I would recommend this talented and professional team to any club seeking to revamp their course. I appreciate our members' patience during this process and am confident they will be very pleased with the end results."

"I'm very proud of everyone involved to make the Bay Hill course renovation a success. Especially, since the renovations had to be completed in 2 months so the course can properly grow in and open in September." said Arnold Palmer. "I know the 2010 Invitational will be very exciting to watch with these new course changes in place."

For detailed hole-by-hole renovation descriptions please read below. For more information on Bay Hill please visit the website at www.bayhill.com.

ABOUT THE ARNOLD PALMER'S BAY HILL CLUB AND LODGE
About Arnold Palmer’s Bay Hill Club & Lodge Located 20 minutes from downtown Orlando, Arnold Palmer’s Bay Hill Club & Lodge is the site of the annual Arnold Palmer Invitational Presented by MasterCard PGA Tour golf tournament. The 70-room property features a full-service spa, salon, fitness and aquatic center, 27 holes of golf, the Arnold Palmer Golf Academy, four dining locations, three lounges and 9,000 square feet of meeting and banquet space. For reservations or membership information, call (888) 422-9445 or (407) 876- 2429 or visit www.bayhill.com.
For more information: Arlene Wright, Chisano Marketing Group, (407) 788-7070 or awright@chisano.com Leigh Anne Mace, Bay Hill Club & Lodge, at (407) 876-8003 or lmace@bayhill.com

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Bay Hill Course Tour (Before/After)

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Bay Hill Course Renovations Hole-by-Hole

Hole #1

The tees were widened and shifted right to provide a better angle to access the fairway. Bunkers 180 yds off the tee to the right were eliminated and converted to rough. Bunkers outside of dogleg were enlarged to provide visibility from the tee. Greenside bunkers were moved closer, deepened, and flashed higher to frame the green. Interior of the old green surface was replicated and the edges softened to provide better hole locations closer to the bunkers.

Hole #2

One of the few "major" changes, this green was rotated 30 degrees clockwise to enable players to hold long iron and woods into green. A natural slope on the right utilized to feed shots onto the green enabling shorter players to access front right pin locations. The front left bunker was eliminated and converted to fairway run-off area. Tees were realigned and moved closer to cart path. With the green now rotated and back tee expanded, this hole can play as long as 245 yards.

Hole #3

The tees were realigned and moved closer to the cart path opening up an unobstructed view of the fairway. The first fairway bunker on the right was converted to fairway. The second fairway bunker was enlarged and moved closer to the landing area. The fairway leading into the green was expanded, enabling a ground approach into green. The green was expanded towards the water to create an array of pin positions tight to the hazard. The greenside bunkers were moved closer, deepened, and flashed higher to frame green.

Hole #4

This hole was converted into a true par 5 without lengthening the hole. This was achieved by moving out the fairway bunkering into the 270-300 yard range, a new lay-up bunker was added to the left of the fairway 100 yards from the green to guard the lay up area, bunkers adjacent the the green were re-configured, a reduced green size with an elevated green surface with tightly mown surrounds and deep bunkers.

Hole #5

The tees were realigned and moved closer to the cart path which opened up an unobstructed view of the fairway. Bunkers were enlarged and repositioned to force decisions off the tee. A new fairway cut over the left fairway bunker provides the opportunity for a drivable par 4 from the forward tee. A steep slope on the front right of the green will provide a new layer of difficulty on this crowned green surface.

Hole #6

The tees were raised and moved closer to the lake. The first fairway bunker was eliminated. The sand in the next two fairway bunkers were taken higher to increase visibility from the tee. The green was expanded toward the water to the front, left, and rear. A fairway cut was introduced to collect shots hit through the green and to provide shot options that were previously non-existent. This allowed us to create a new tournament viewing area behind the new #6 green.

Hole #7

The tees were expanded and fanned out to the left. The fairway cut short of the green, steepened to repel shots short of the green to the bottom of slope. The greenside bunkers were deepened and pushed tight to the green. A new front right pin location will be quite a test for members and tournament players.

Hole #8

A new tee was added on a spit of land surrounded by mature trees. The tees were shifted to the left for better views of fairway from all tees. The fairway bunker was flashed higher for better visibility from the teeing areas. Expanded the green left toward the water and softened the back right of the green to create a difficult hole location between the bunkers. The first half of the greenside bunker on the right of the fairway was filled to better show off 2 new bunkers adjacent to the green.

Hole #9

The tees were widened. The fairway bunker on the left was shifted 40 yards down the fairway to better challenge tee shots. Two fairway bunkers on the right were converted to rough. The green was rotated to the right to engage the re-configured bunker complex to the right of the green.

Hole #10

We made the left fairway bunkers slightly larger and shifted them to the right to engage the fairway. The right fairway bunker was moved 50 yards forward to bring it more into play. Very subtle green modifications were made by squaring off the edges to introduce pins on the corners. The approach and side slopes of the green surrounds were made sharper to introduce a tightly mowed slope on the surrounds.

Hole #11

The right side fairway bunkers were shifted closer to the fairway line and repositioned to fit today’s distance requirements by eliminating the first bunker and converting it to turf and replacing it with one at the 285-300 yard turning point. Certain areas around the perimeter of the green were smoothed out to introduce pins closer to the greenside bunkers and lake edge. A roll off left and behind the green that blends into the #12 tee was introduced.

Hole #12

The three hidden fairway bunkers that were located at the beginning of the fairway were eliminated and replaced with two bunkers; One protecting the inside right corner at approximately 260 - 270 yards off the tee and one protecting the outside left corner of the fairway at approximately 300 yards from the back tee. The left fairway line has been shifted slightly to the left to widen the fairway and provides an obscured view from the fairway for the second shot. The second landing area fairway bunkers were repositioned for visibility and to engage play better. Old shaping and mounds that blocked views into the bunkers and green complex were removed. The green side bunkers were reshaped, positioned for visibility and moved closer to the green to protect the corner pin locations.
Every effort was made to keep the original character of this green which was slightly modified to introduce corner pin locations behind bunkers and adjacent to the steep shaved slopes on the green surrounds.

Hole #13

The Championship tee was pushed back ten yards and all the tees were repositioned. Before the renovation there were three hidden fairway bunkers on the left side of the golf hole. During the renovation this bunker complex was reshaped to include two highly visible bunkers that were shifted and repositioned closer to the fairway to become more in play off the tee. The right fairway bunker was reshaped and shifted closer to the fairway too.
This green previously had a lot of movement along the edges that did not allow for pin positions close to the lake edge or greenside bunkers. The perimeter rolls were softened and the green enlarged on the front right and back right to introduce pin locations all along the lake edge and close to the greenside bunkers. The greenside bunkers were also reshaped for visibility from tee and fairway and shifted closer to the green.

Hole #14

This hole has a significant visual change. Previously, 90% of the bunkers on this hole were not visible from the tee and neither was the green surface. The old green had sharp rolls along the edge that did not allow for perimeter pin locations or pins behind the bunkers.
The front right bunker complex was eliminated and a tightly mown grass slope along the entire right side of the green was created. The left greenside bunkers were reshaped and moved closer to the green to better protect pin locations on the left side of this green. The greenside bunkers behind the green were reshaped, made visible and shifted closer to the green surface to protect back right and back left pin locations. The green surface has been smoothed out to allow for more pinnable space but still retains a hint of the old green contours.

Hole #15

A back tee was built that could add 50 yards to the hole if desired. If used, this new back tee will bring the reshaped fairway bunker more into play and turn it into a real obstacle off the tee. Originally there were two fairway bunkers protecting the inside right corner of the fairway. The bunker complex was reshaped with one large bunker that was slightly repositioned to bring it more into play. This green complex received three changes. Firstly, it was reduced in size and moved out of the shadows cast by the surrounding trees. Second, the green was shifted away from the cart path. Third, the green size and contours were made more appropriate for the type of shots played from the original back tee location. The front greenside bunkers were reshaped, repositioned and moved closer to the green surface allowing for a more intimidating approach shot. The right green side bunkers were removed and replaced with a tightly mown grass slope. The back greenside bunker was reshaped for visibility and moved closer to the green surface. While this green did change slightly there are several elements from the old green that were incorporated into the changes.

Hole #16

Tees – The tee complex was shifted left to utilize the natural ridge line and to increase visibility down the golf hole. A large swale was reshaped from the back tee down to the fairway that increases overall visibility and opens up a view slot down to the fairway.
The two right side fairway bunkers were reshaped, combined to make one large fairway bunker that is now highly visible from the tee, and shifted closer to the fairway to bring it more into play. Two of the left side fairway bunkers were removed and converted to rough. This allows for one prominent fairway bunker to protect the left side.
The green complex was reshaped and the beach bunker removed to incorporate shaved slopes and collection areas on the middle right, back right and back left of the green. The front greenside bunker was reshaped and moved closer to the green. A small back right greenside bunker was added to help protect the back right pin locations. The green surface was smoothed out to allow for more pin locations around the perimeter, lake edge and beside the bunkers. While the green was modified for increased pin locations the original green contours were incorporated in the renovation.

Hole #17

Visually this hole will look different and slightly more intimidating, but strategically should play better with increased pin locations along the perimeter of the green with reshaped bunkers that are closer to the green surface. The most dramatic change on this hole is the expansion of the beach bunker. The green was shifted seven to ten feet to allow for the beach bunker to be reshaped and contoured for drainage, playability and visibility.

Hole #18

A back tee was added to increase the hole yardage by approximately 10 yards. The renovated green is almost a carbon copy of the old green with slight modifications in the green size to accommodate an additional front pin location and middle back pin location.

Practice Green

The practice green tries to replicate the golf shots you can expect on the "new" Bay Hill course. A large fairway cut was introduced around the chipping green. Repositioned the bunker to hit down the length of the green, allowing golfers to practice both long and short sand shots. The bunker tripled in size and deepened to reflect new bunkers on the course. The "False front" on the chipping green will allow golfers to practice this difficult short shot.

Posted by scurry at 04:34 PM

Try My Timeless Tips

August 18, 2009

20 All-Time Favorites That Still Do The Trick Plus 5 Bonus Tips
Golf Digest | With Peter Morrice | September 2009

I've seen a lot of changes during my time in golf, and one is that the teaching of the game has gotten complicated. If you do a handful of things correctly--like take the club away without breaking your wrists and keep your head still throughout the swing--you can play pretty well without too much thought. When I was 4 years old my dad took my hands and set them on a club and said, "Now don't you ever change that." And basically I haven't. With all the ways we have now of analyzing the swing, you can make the game very difficult--and not much fun. Here I give you my favorite tips from my old books and articles. I believe they're as true today as the day I first used them.
~ Arnold Palmer

View the slideshow at GolfDigest.com

Posted by scurry at 03:50 PM

PALMER IN LIFE MAGAZINE'S TOP 10 GOLFERS OF ALL TIME

Life Magazine, one of the longest-running and most respected magazines about American culture, has chosen the Top 10 Greatest Golfers of All-Time.

The magazine is most notable for its captivating photo-journalism and amongst this legendary list of golfers, coming in at number 7, is Arnold Palmer.

"Palmer’s place in history is due to his personality as much as his play (seven majors). As the face of golf when it was first televised, the King helped the sport surge in popularity." said Life Magazine.

View the complete Life Magazine article at http://www.life.com/image/1594692/in-gallery/23372/the-10-greatest-golfers

Posted by scurry at 10:26 AM

Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children Announces Gift Registry Honoring its Namesakes’ 80th Birthday

August 14, 2009

Orlando, FL (August 14, 2009) – Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children turns 20 on September 10, 2009, the same day its legendary namesake, golfer Arnold Palmer celebrates his 80th birthday. In honor of Mr. Palmer’s birthday, a gift registry has been created where family, friends and fans can make a donation in his name to help the children, women and babies cared for at Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children and Winnie Palmer Hospital for Women & Babies. Individuals wishing to make a contribution can log on to http://www.arnoldpalmerhospitalbirthday.com/GiftRegistry.

“We are proud to be celebrating 20 years of caring along side Arnold Palmer as he celebrates his 80th birthday. We are extremely appreciative of all he and his family have done for the babies, children, and women here in Central Florida,” said John Bozard, president, Arnold Palmer Medical Center. “Through their generosity and that of our community through programs like the birthday gift registry, we have been able to provide highly-specialized care to those in need and we look forward to continuing the Palmer legacy of caring for many years to come.”

Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children & Women opened its doors on September 10, 1989, coinciding with its namesake’s, Arnold Palmer’s, 60th birthday. The 281-bed hospital was the first freestanding children and women’s hospital in Central Florida offering pediatric, obstetric and women’s services in one facility. Due to the area’s rapid population growth and increased demand for obstetrical services, Arnold Palmer Hospital expanded its obstetric, neonatal and gynecological services with the addition of Winnie Palmer Hospital for Women & Babies, a 285-bed facility, located across the street. With the opening of Winnie Palmer Hospital, Arnold Palmer Hospital became a dedicated, 158-bed children’s hospital and the two facilities in addition to the Howard Phillips Center for Children & Families formed the Arnold Palmer Medical Center.

ARNOLD PALMER HOSPITAL for CHILDREN

Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children, supported by the Arnold Palmer Medical Center Foundation, is a 158-bed facility dedicated exclusively to the needs of children. Located in Orlando, Arnold Palmer Hospital provides expertise in pediatric specialties such as cardiac care, craniomaxillofacial surgery, emergency and trauma care, gastroenterology, nephrology, neurology, neurosurgery, oncology, orthopedics, pulmonology and sports medicine. Visit arnoldpalmerhospital.com to learn more about all of our specialties.

WINNIE PALMER HOSPITAL for WOMEN & BABIES

Winnie Palmer Hospital for Women & Babies, supported by the Arnold Palmer Medical Center Foundation, is a 285-bed facility dedicated exclusively to the needs of women and babies. The hospital includes comprehensive fetal diagnostics and labor and delivery services, a regional center for neonatal intensive care, maternal intensive care and women’s services. Annually, more than 14,000 babies are expected to be born at Winnie Palmer Hospital, making it the busiest labor and delivery unit in the state of Florida. To learn more, visit winniepalmerhospital.com.

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Posted by scurry at 03:11 PM

Birthday Greetings For Arnie

August 12, 2009

Fans and friends offer memories to celebrate Arnold's 80th

Golf Digest - September 2009

In conjunction with Arnold Palmer's 80th birthday on Sept. 10, the USGA is collecting Palmer memories from friends and fans of the King. Visit usgamuseum.com/arnoldpalmer to view the stories, including the video described in the first item, or to add your memory.

Photo by Walter Iooss Jr. September 2009

CALLING ON CHRISTMAS
From Peter Deeks

I graduated from college in spring 1967, and on Christmas Eve that year four friends came to my parents' house, where I was still living, to drink some beer and catch up. We got to talking about who we had wished Merry Christmas, and someone asked if I had done so to Arnold, who was (and still is) my idol. I said, "No, but I will right now," at which point I phoned AT&T information in Latrobe, Pa.

I asked for a listing for an A.D. [Arnold Daniel] Palmer. I heard, "I have no listing for A.D. Palmer, but I have an Arnold Palmer."

I dialed the numbers and heard, "Hello?"

"Is Arnold there?"

"It's Arnold speaking."

I immediately dispatched one of my friends to an extension phone, as I needed corroboration for this call. I said it was Peter Deeks from Toronto, Canada, calling, and I added, "I hope I'm not bothering you."

He said, "No, I'm putting presents under the tree for Winnie, Amy and Peggy."

We talked about many subjects, but the best was me telling Arnold how to resolve issues in the PGA between the club professionals and the touring pros. The conversation carried on for 12 minutes, according to the bill I received from Bell Canada. The bill also showed the commencement time of the call at 1:06 a.m. Christmas Day.

In December 1989, my brother Jim and family came to our house for Christmas dinner. He gave me two presents and said, "Open the small one first." I did so, and it was a video to be watched "immediately." On comes Arnie saying, "Hi, I'd like to wish Peter, Wendy and Sarah and Jocelyn Deeks a very Merry Christmas. ... Peter, do me a favor and call me again, but don't make it on Christmas Eve, OK?"

I was stunned. Then I was to open the large present, and it was a cue card with the above message and signed, "Arnold Palmer."

Jim, a TV director, had been assigned to do a TV promo in June 1989 for the Cadillac Skins Game being played in Toronto. He'd prepared the cue card in advance, and Arnold readily agreed to do it when the serious work was completed.

The cue card has been framed and adorns a wall of our family room.

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A LIFETIME SUPPLY OF SHIRTS
From Dottie Pepper

My favorite Arnold Palmer memory didn't even take place on a golf course.

I had been invited for cocktails at the home of Charlie and Marilyn Mechem [Charlie Mechem is a former commissioner of the LPGA Tour], Arnold's next-door neighbors in La Quinta. Arnold insisted that he and I walk next door and check out a new shipment in his garage.

He had recently received word that his shirt manufacturer would no longer be making his signature hard-collar shirts, but he had been sent a lifetime supply in every color. The boxes were stacked to the ceiling, and he was just so darn proud! He didn't believe anyone would do something that thoughtful for him.

That's just Arnold.

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THE PAYING CUSTOMERS
From Bob Hammel

While in the U.S. Army in West Berlin, I was lucky enough to play in the German Open and meet Arnie at a dinner for him, Seve Ballesteros and Tony Jacklin.

What I remember most, however, was after the last 18 holes, when Arnie was surrounded by fans seeking autographs. A member of his entourage came in to say that his private plane was ready to take off and they had to go. Arnie did not bat an eye but said, "Have the plane wait; these are the people who pay for that plane."

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FROM GOLFER TO BROADCASTER
From Jim Rohr

As Arnie's friend, I have had the pleasure of observing and interacting with him in various settings. Of course, nothing beats spending time with him on the golf course. During one particularly enjoyable round, I partnered with Jim Nantz to take on Arnie and my brother Tom. We had a blast, and our best-ball match went back and forth until we came to Laurel Valley's signature 18th hole, a spectacular -- and reachable -- par 5.

After lacing their drives, Jim and Arnie found the green in two. Tom and I are serving as spectators at this point, and we watched Jim roll his approach putt toward the hole. Unfortunately, Jim didn't leave himself a gimme.

Already up a hole, Arnie looked to end the match, but his eagle putt stopped at the lip of the cup. That left Jim, who was getting a stroke on the hole, staring at a yips-inducing five-footer to bring us even.

Seizing the moment -- and turning the tables on Jim, who has captivated so many of us with his distinctive broadcasts -- Arnie lifted the grip of his putter to his chin, as if it were a microphone. Then, in a perfect golf-announcer parody, he described the situation.

"Jim Nantz is about to stroke the most important putt of his life," Arnie started. Jim had to back away as we all broke out in laughter. "It's a treacherous five-footer," the King continued, "and he'll need to play a subtle right-to-left break."

Composing himself, Jim stroked the putt -- and it slipped by on the right. He grimaced and looked at Arnie: "You misread that!"

"Hey," Arnie responded. "I was being the broadcaster, not your caddie." As with most rounds, we finished with a laugh -- and by paying Arnie his winnings.

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THE FINAL U.S. OPEN
From Rocco Mediate

I was fortunate to be paired with Mr. Palmer at the 1994 U.S. Open at Oakmont, which was his last U.S. Open.

Friday afternoon, we were walking up the 18th fairway toward the green. I was about 50 yards or so behind him, just taking it all in: huge galleries as far as you could see and applause as loud as it could possibly be, just to acknowledge and admire the man they all loved and had cheered for so long. It didn't matter what he shot; it mattered to them that he was there, and they appreciated it.

When I putted out on 18 I went to him, shook his hand and said, "You made all this possible for golf -- this is all because of you." At that we both were overcome with emotion.

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A PAUSE FOR TEARS
From Archie Ellis, a volunteer at Palmer's Final U.S. Open

I found myself assigned to shepherd Arnold Palmer from the raucous, thundering and consistent adulation of the 18th fairway and green to his first interview position behind the grandstands at the 1994 U.S. Open at Oakmont.

It was not a long journey -- maybe 100 yards -- but it was long enough for him to stop me after moving through the tunnel, but short of our intended location, by saying, "Give me a minute, please." At that point, he turned, walked a couple of feet to a large tree, placed his face on the back of his hand against the trunk, and with his back to me, quietly let the tears flow for a minute or so, his shoulders rising and falling with each wave of emotion. There were only one or two other people with us, but we all stood silently to give him his time.

Finally, his caddie walked over and put his hand on Palmer's back, whispering in his ear. The great man straightened up, wiped the tears away before turning back to us, and nodded to him. He turned to me and said, "Let's go," and we walked to an interview station for a USGA taping prior to the melee at the media center a few minutes later.

I handed him off at that time to someone else and went on my way, but that one moment of watching him grieve the end of his era has remained with me. It was so personal and involved a man of such greatness that it bordered on the religious, but he would probably object to that comparison. Arnold Palmer's greatness lies in his very real, very tangible humanity, and there was no stronger evidence of that than watching those brief tears fall in recognition of the limitations placed upon him by time.

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THE SUPREME PUTTING CONTEST
From Former U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor

I was privileged to meet Arnold Palmer at the U.S. Supreme Court. He knew Justice [Anthony] Kennedy, and the two of them came by my chambers to say hello. I kept a putting device and a couple of putters there, and we decided to have a wee putting contest. You do not have to guess who won. It was Arnie Palmer, of course. But what a treat!

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THANKS FROM TIGER
From Tiger Woods

I know I can visit Arnold for advice or a reassuring smile anytime. To have a role model like him makes us all try a little harder. I'm certain much success and friendship lie ahead.

Thank you, Arnold.

Posted by scurry at 03:33 PM

COVER STORY: Palmer in his Prime

As Arnold turns 80, it's time to savor the skill and charisma that changed golf

By Tom Callahan
Golf Digest - September 2009

By Tom Callahan
Golf Digest - September 2009

Records speak for themselves, but Arnold Palmer's splendid record speaks too softly. As he turns 80 on September 10, how important he is has obscured how great he was.

Palmer didn't invent golf, just grace and golf, just television and golf. Raymond Floyd says, "Arnold was the epitome of a superstar," even before that word was coined. "He set the standard for how superstars in every sport ought to be, in the way he has always signed autographs, in the way he has always made time for everyone." In his patience. In his decency.

"On the golf course," Floyd says, "all I ever saw was a mass of people. I saw, but I didn't see. He was able to focus in on everyone in the gallery individually. It wasn't fake." He was able to make eye contact with the entire world.

Once, he was a tremendous driver. "Oh, man," Floyd says, "one of the best drivers of the golf ball in history. Long and straight." Once, he charged putts like he charged everything. "I don't think," Floyd says, "I ever saw him leave a putt short."

"I always thought Arnold was a good iron player, too," says Jack Nicklaus, who stood in the rain and watched Palmer hitting irons even before Jack knew who he was. This was outside Toledo in 1954. Neither the 24-year-old amateur champion on the range nor the 14-year-old dreamer on the hill had any idea they would someday be hyphenated.

"I just saw a young, strong guy," Nicklaus says, "who hit the ball hard, beat it hard -- beat it into the ground." A beater of the ball originally, Palmer became a swinger of the club eventually. He was knocking down 9-irons and 7-irons under the storm. Nicklaus was drenched to the skin. "Oh, that's Arnold Palmer," he said later.

From then on, Jack followed Arnold from afar, just like everyone else in and out of golf, as old black telephones on copy desks in sports departments jangled with one question: "What did Arnie do today?"

But for a solitary stroke in regulation twice, he could have been live after three legs of the Grand Slam in 1960 and 1962. After winning the Masters and U.S. Open in '60, he lost the British Open by one shot to Australian Kel Nagle, who required nine fewer putts. (Getting some of his own back, as the British say, Palmer took the next two Open Championships on the trot, the second by six strokes over Nagle.)

In '62, of course, he lost the U.S. Open playoff to Nicklaus at Oakmont between Masters and British triumphs. From '60 to '63, Arnold won 29 tournaments and finished second 10 times. During that blitz, he had 66 top 10s on the PGA Tour. Tiger Woods isn't the first golfer who ever dominated.

A smaller moment in '62 has stayed with Nicklaus. "It was at the Phoenix Open," he says, "the first time we played as pros in the same group. I needed a birdie on the last hole to finish second to him in the tournament. I'll never forget coming to the 18th tee."

"Relax," Palmer whispered, "you can birdie this hole. C'mon, it's important."

"I did birdie it," Jack says, "finishing second, making a whopping $2,300. Oh, by the way, he nipped me that week by 12 shots."

After beating Nicklaus and Dave Marr by six in the 1964 Masters, shrugging his strong shoulders into a fourth green jacket, Palmer stopped winning majors at the now-astonishing age of 34. However, because he was second to Jack at Augusta the following spring and remained a constant on U.S. Open leader boards for the next 10 years, nobody noticed.

But for a solitary stroke in regulation thrice, Palmer would have won three U.S. Opens from 1962 through 1966, which would have brought his total to four in seven years. If it sounds like he's losing a lot of playoffs (to Nicklaus at Oakmont, to Julius Boros at The Country Club, to Billy Casper after the cataclysmic collapse at Olympic), consider that Arnold won 14 playoffs on tour, the same number as Jack. Nobody has won more.

Gary Player, who with Dow Finsterwald lost a three-man Masters playoff to Palmer in 1962, says, "Jack won majors for 25 years; I won them for 20; Arnold won them for six. But because he was so charismatic, because he did so much for golf, because the people loved him so dearly, they thought he was still winning. And, you know what? He was." He was winning hearts.

Although Palmer went through warehouses full of golf clubs, Player remembers one No. 1 wood in particular. "It was the most wicked-looking driver you ever saw in your life," he says. "It must have had 11 degrees of loft. Well, he needed it. He was a very shut-faced player. I tell you, he could hit that thing so straight and so far. Arnold was such a beautiful driver, such a wonderful putter. I've seen other players who weren't afraid to knock the ball five and six feet past, who trusted themselves to hole those comebackers one after another after another. But none of them could touch Palmer." He was the inventor.

Famously, he was adventurous. "Just as he won some tournaments taking unnecessary gambles," Player says, "he lost some tournaments taking unnecessary gambles. But that was Arnold." With a hitch of his trousers and a whirlybird swing, he could make a triple bogey proud. "That was part of the endearment," Gary says. "He did absolutely everything the same damn way. It wasn't his nature to lag a putt because it wasn't his nature to lag, period. He woke up charging, charging, charging. He fell out of bed with all this great charisma, just fell out of bed with it."

Finsterwald, loser of the last match-play PGA (1957), winner of the first stroke-play PGA (1958), came into this world exactly four days before Palmer. Four score and four days ago... Dow and Arnie christened their uncommon friendship in 1948, when the Ohio University golf team made a swing through the South and stopped off at Wake Forest.

"I don't know, I guess we just liked a lot of the same things," Finsterwald says, "like cowboy movies. Our wives were very compatible, too, which was lucky, especially in those scrambling years at the beginning when we'd sometimes throw in together on the road. But the thing Arnie and I truly had in common, the thing both of us enjoyed most of all, was playing golf. That may sound funny, but you'd be surprised how many good players, how many pros, weren't able to enjoy it nearly as much as we did. To us it was an avocation as well as a vocation. I think of him as the greatest amateur-professional who ever lived. By that I mean he never stopped playing the game for the love of it, like an amateur. Sure, he liked making a nice living. But he loved to play. Still does."

It was at a Finsterwald tribute in Athens, Ohio, where the teenage Nicklaus first shook Palmer's hand on a tee. "Arnold shot 62 playing with Jack that day," Dow says, and he tried to shoot 62, to impress the kid. Finsterwald can still see the look in both of their eyes. The look of eagles.

COMING HOME TO LATROBE
Palmer got started a bit late on tour, at the age of 25, winning the Canadian Open straightaway. But the three years in the Coast Guard, the working-man's background, the cigarette on the lip, the stern but forgiving father he called "Pap" or "Sir," and the small town of Latrobe are other necessary parts of the endearment. Especially Latrobe. The wellspring of the Palmer grace is obvious: Wherever he went over these 80 years, and he went almost everywhere in the world, he always came home to Latrobe. He's there now, in that forest-green patch of Pennsylvania, just east of Pittsburgh, just west of the Allegheny Mountains.

He's sitting at the desk in his office, gazing out the window at his childhood.

"Just where we are now," he says, "is a history in itself. When I learned to shoot a shotgun, my father and I -- he taught me -- we walked that hillside right there and shot pheasants and rabbits and squirrels, and took them down and cleaned them in the stream right over here about 200 yards away. And my mother would put them in salt water overnight, and we'd have them the next day for food.

"Right here, right on the edge of this hill, an old oak tree fell over. Like that one there. See the squirrel climbing up? The trunk was rotten -- I'll never forget this. A bunch of honeybees had moved in. Have you ever seen a honeycomb? Well, this one was full of honey. I mean, absolutely like that! [He spread his great hands like an exaggerating fisherman.] And my dad says, 'Now, Arnie, we're going to take this honey home and give it to your mother, and we're going to eat it.' But he says, 'We got to get two five-pound bags of sugar. When we take the honey out, we're going to put those two bags of sugar right there, so the bees can have their food.' By God, we did it. I was about 7 or 8 years old."

His face is creased and leathery, naturally. He's more than a little sand-blasted, to be sure. But he still has the comfortable bearing and confident look of the athlete. And sitting there smiling, especially with his eyes, he doesn't seem or sound much different than he did on the Sunday morning of the final day of the 1973 U.S. Open at Oakmont, when he and John Schlee were tied for the lead.

Hours before teeing off, Palmer sat around a clubhouse patio with a fine kettle of newspapermen. Among the countless times he held court this way, the Oakmont session has stood out somehow, maybe because of a gentle story he told in response to a prescient question.

Just in case an overnight downpour hadn't made the greens mushy enough, half of the sprinklers had been left on all night. Which prompted Jack Murphy of the San Diego Union to wonder, "What if somebody goes out early and shoots 63?"

(Had Murphy said 62 or 64, this would sound less like "new journalism." But he said 63.)

"If somebody does that," Palmer answered ruefully, "I can promise you one thing: The members will be mad as hell. They're not paying for 63s." Glancing down the road toward Latrobe, he added, "You know, some people around here think they can buy anything."

Being the son of an employee at Latrobe Country Club, young Arnold was always expected to make himself invisible on the property. His father, Deacon, was at least as much a course superintendent as a teaching pro, and far more tractor driver than Izod salesman. One day in the golf shop -- possibly the best day of Arnie's boyhood -- Pap ferociously lit into a member who was chewing out his son for nothing. But, generally, the boy tried to keep out from underfoot.

Their house adjoined the sixth tee. On ladies' days, with a cap pistol in a holster strapped to his hip, he leaned like Paladin against a back-yard tree and fixed his gunfighter's stare on a ditch in the distance.

"I was available to hit their drives over the hazard for a nickel," he said at Oakmont. "Some of them were slow pay." Sitting at his desk now, he laughs at that. He still hops when he laughs. "Helen Fritz," he says. (He remembers her name.) "She was my first customer. 'Arnie,' she said, 'if you hit this ball across that ditch, I'll give you a nickel.' " That was the day he turned pro.

When it came time for Schlee and Palmer to tee off at Oakmont, Murphy went out with a colleague to the first tee to find only Schlee. He was a Texan who liked to wear Hawaiian shirts because his high-water mark was a victory in the Hawaiian Open. Schlee was completely alone on the tee. No spectators, no caddies, no Palmer. He propped a ball up on a peg, clocked it with his driver and headed off down the fairway. What had just taken place took awhile to register, but, as it turned out, that wasn't Schlee's only drive at No. 1. He had walked all the way to his first ball, only to find it unplayable.

"Palmer," Murphy whispered, "is leading the Open." But Johnny Miller was already halfway to his 63.

"Tee to green," Arnold says, "I played better golf from the late '60s through the middle to late '70s than I played at any other time in my life. Won less, but played better. If my clubs were right, I thought I could do whatever I wanted to do with the golf ball. That's kind of how I felt about playing. The actual shotmaking was better from '65 to '76, '77, but I didn't make things happen as I did in the early years. Still, I don't regret a single thing. I'd have liked to win a PGA, but I had a good run."

FROM A GAME TO A SPORT
Palmer's impact on the sport, especially the selling of it in the United States, is mammoth. The simplest way to put it is, he is the one who made it a sport. It had been a game. In that mythical first foursome of American golf (Palmer, Bobby Jones, Dwight Eisenhower and Bob Hope), he is the connector to all of the others, and the captain. "Ike doesn't get nearly as much credit as he should," Palmer says, but the World Golf Hall of Fame is about to take care of that.
Arnold record

He has known many presidents. Richard Nixon asked his opinion about the Vietnam War. His advice amounted to: Whatever you do, don't lay up. But Ike was his friend. On the weekend of Palmer's 37th birthday, wives Winnie and Mamie conspired to spirit Eisenhower from Gettysburg to Latrobe for a surprise visit. When the bell rang and Arnie opened the front door, there stood the Commander of the Allied Forces in Europe and the 34th President of the United States, holding a little overnight bag in his hand. "We didn't play golf," Palmer says. "He couldn't play anymore. We just hung out. He was the greatest."

Arnold lost his darling Winnie to cancer in 1999, but she's still here. She's everywhere in the building. Shaking off his own cancer, he found Kit in 2005. He won the daily double. Arnie must be God's favorite golfer, too.

Eisenhower painted Palmer's picture. So did Norman Rockwell. Why wouldn't he? Millions of photographs, honors and mementos surround the place now, ranging from a Hickok Belt and a Sportsman urn to a Bill Mazeroski baseball and a Presidential Medal of Freedom. Across from Arnold's desk, a couple of golf balls are mounted under glass.

At a senior event near Washington in 1986, Palmer made a hole-in-one with a 5-iron, and on the same spot a day later, he did it again. That first morning, Player was in the group ahead, waiting beside the green. "I saw him standing there," Arnold said later. "I wanted to hit a good one." Hearing that, Gary just shook his head. "He always knew how to share a moment of triumph," he said. "Yours or his. Sometimes in life, it can be very hard to find someone to share your moments of triumph."

On the third day, the national media showed up in force to see if Palmer would score another ace. It was a little like staking out a random airport on the chance Amelia Earhart might land. But it was fun. When Arnie missed the cup, everybody moaned, cheered and left.

The boy who wasn't allowed on the course owns it now. Lock, stock and a subdivision of guesthouses. He seems to own the whole town. His face is on the phone book, and his name is on the airport. Even at his age, Arnold continues to be fully qualified to pilot his jet. Every year he is checked out again for several days in simulators, where his nickname should be Flying Colors.

Arnold is pleased by today's game. He likes it. He likes Tiger. "I spent three hours one night with him early on," he says. "More than three hours, four hours. At his request. And it was good. I met his father, but I can't say I knew him."

Earl Woods, you could say, took some knowing.

"You knew him," Palmer says. "What was he like?"

Good-hearted, once you got inside the shell. Of course, it wasn't easy to get inside the shell.

"Well, you know," he says, "you can see that and feel it in Tiger, too. My father was like that."

Palmer, Nicklaus, Player, Finsterwald, Floyd -- none of them are putting their feet up and stopping. But certain birthdays unleash memories. It's hard not to start adding up the scores.

"I've stayed in Arnold's house," Player says. "He's stayed in mine. He came to South Africa, and we took him down a gold mine. And his mother. I just loved his mother. She was a dear lady. And I loved his father. He was just as tough as they say, but that wasn't the whole story. As professional golfers, you know, we compete against each other our whole lives, and I tried to beat Arnold's ass in every single way I could. But you laugh together as you go, and you cry together sometimes. Arnold and I actually, physically, cried together. At the end of the day, we played for each other. Money was never the criterion. We were all playing for something better than money."

Nicklaus says, "Arnold and I wanted to beat each other's brains in, but I consider him one of my closest friends in the game. There's no question about his record and ability, but think of how much he brought to the game. The hitch of his pants. The fans. He paralleled the growth of television golf. He was just the right man at just the right time." "When I think of him," Floyd says, "I think of his hands. The greatest set of hands I've ever seen. I was on the practice tee once, hitting it a little crooked, and went right to him for help. He clamped my club in one hand like a vise and bent it just slightly at the neck. I started hitting them straight as can be. Somebody once took a picture of those hands. I've kept it."

Finsterwald says, "You know that PGA Tour slogan, 'These guys are good?' I wish they'd make a new commercial showing Retief Goosen missing that little putt at Southern Hills and then winning the U.S. Open playoff the next day. 'These guys are good -- and they are human.' That's Palmer, above all. Human."

DEACON'S LESSONS
The great Doc Giffin, dean of golf's media major-domos, is still on the job after 43 years, still serving Palmer. In the Latrobe locker room, he points out a cubicle that has been closed for 33 years. The nameplate says, "Milfred J. (Deacon) Palmer, Golf Professional-Course Superintendent, Latrobe Country Club, 1921-1976."

Nineteen-seventy-six was the year Doc's best friend, Bill Finigan, was killed in a private plane crash. Giffin and Finigan grew up together in Crafton, a suburb of Pittsburgh. After the funeral, Palmer urged Doc to take his vacation right away, to go to Bay Hill in Orlando. "Deacon came up to me and said, 'Can I go with you?' I was surprised, but grateful for the company. 'Sure,' I said."

In the middle of the flight, the tough guy turned to Doc and said, "You've lost your best friend. I'll try to be your best friend now." Two days later in Florida, Deacon had a heart attack and died.

Arnold shot 64 the day before at Bob Hope's tournament in California. Of course he withdrew.

Deacon taught Arnie respect, integrity, manners, empathy and how to grip a golf club. But the best thing he ever taught him was, when you take the honey out, put some sugar back in. That's what Palmer has done his whole life.

Posted by scurry at 03:16 PM

PALMER PRESENTS 2009 NATIONAL AVIATION HALL OF FAME INDUCTEE RUSSELL MEYER JR.

July 16, 2009

DAYTON, OH – Arnold Palmer is scheduled to present Russell W. Meyer Jr., retired Cessna Aircraft Company chairman and chief executive officer, at the 48th annual Enshrinement Dinner and Ceremony of the National Aviation Hall of Fame July 18th at the Dayton Convention Center.

A pilot himself, Palmer will fly to Dayton in his Cessna Citation X. Russ Meyer is one of Palmer’s closest friends, going back to the beginning of original IMG founder Mark McCormack’s association with Palmer. Meyer was a fellow lawyer with McCormack at the Cleveland law firm, Arter, Hadden, Wycoff and Van Dusen, where he handled some of Palmer's early appearances and all of his aviation needs. Arnold and Russ have shared a life-long passion for aviation from that time to date. Russ is one of Arnold’s trusted advisors in many business matters and the two men have played dozens of rounds of golf together.

In addition to Palmer, celebrities Nick Clooney and astronauts Neil Armstrong and Charles Precourt will also be serving as presenters at the event.

The 2009 inductees are: Eileen Collins, USAF test pilot and first female Shuttle commander; Russell Meyer, Jr., former Chairman and CEO of Cessna Aircraft Company; the late James M. Stewart, WWII bomber pilot, award winning actor and airpower advocate; the late Edward H. White, II, West Point grad,USAF test pilot, and Gemini and Apollo astronaut. Collins and Meyer will personally accept their honors. The daughter of Stewart and son and daughter of White will attend, accepting enshrinement on behalf of their late fathers.

The National Aviation Hall of Fame is a non-profit organization founded in Dayton in 1962 to honor America's air and space pioneers.

For more information, visit nationalaviation.org.

Posted by scurry at 04:17 PM

Greens Refurbishment On Course at Bay Hill Club & Lodge in Orlando

July 14, 2009

ORLANDO -- The golf course maintenance project which began this spring at Arnold Palmer's Bay Hill Club & Lodge continues on schedule, with the course looking to fully re-open this October.

In May, Bay Hill began refurbishment work on its Championship Course, resulting in temporary closure of that course over the summer. While the primary focus of the project is to re-grass the greens, other key elements include the addition of a few more runoff areas and the elimination of some unnecessary bunkers in exchange for new sand traps which will be more visible from the tee areas.

While it sounds like a lofty project, members and players can rest assured they won't be seeing a complete transformation of the world-famous course. As Mr. Palmer indicated during the Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by MasterCard in March, the changes to the greens and undulations will be very subtle. Players can expect the look and routing of the course to be much the same as it was prior to maintenance. The overall goal of the project was not to completely alter the course, but rather elevate its architectural and aesthetic standards to the modern level one would expect from an Arnold Palmer designed course.

Efforts for this venture began well before excavators ever broke dirt on the first green at Bay Hill. "In November 2008, we created a test green near the end of the Charger range in which we planted seven different types of grass to determine which might be best suited for conditions at Bay Hill," explains Ray Easler, general manager at Bay Hill. "Of the seven, Emerald Dwarf was the top performer - in part because its longer root system allows it to be more resistant to ground pests, and its growth rate reduces the transition time between seasons."

The selected Emerald Dwarf was cultivated at Champion Turf Farms in Bay City, Texas, a company owned and operated by father-son team Morris and Mike Brown. This spring, Bay Hill's golf course superintendent John Anderson traveled to Texas to inspect the new turf firsthand and was more than pleased. "We were very impressed with the quality of the turf and the first-class operation of Champion Turf Farms. Morris and Mike have been extremely knowledgeable and helpful, and even committed to personally overseeing the installation of the Emerald sprigs at Bay Hill. We all look forward to seeing the final results of this project on the course."

Work at the course is being done in phases, typically three holes at a time, as to minimize the impact on the environment. While the Championship course isn't scheduled to re-open until October, the Charger course remains open throughout the entirety of the maintenance project. In addition, Bay Hill Golf Shop has arranged for special discounts at many area courses to accommodate its golf members.

About Arnold Palmer's Bay Hill Club & Lodge

Located 20 minutes from downtown Orlando, Arnold Palmer's Bay Hill Club & Lodge is the site of the annual Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by MasterCard PGA golf tournament. The 70-room property features a full-service spa, salon, fitness and aquatic center, 27 holes of golf, the Arnold Palmer Golf Academy, four dining locations, three lounges and 9,000 square feet of meeting and banquet space. For reservations or membership information, call (888) 422-9445 or (407) 876- 2429.

For more information:

Arlene Wright, Chisano Marketing Group, (407) 788-7070 or awright@chisano.com
Leigh Anne Mace, Bay Hill Club & Lodge, at (407) 876-8003 or lmace@bayhill.com

Posted by scurry at 09:16 AM

ARNOLD PALMER ATTENDS 2009 'So The World May Hear' AWARDS GALA

July 10, 2009

ST. PAUL, MN – Arnold Palmer is scheduled to attend the Starkey So the World May Hear Awards Gala Sunday July 12.

The gala supports the Starkey Hearing Foundation which started with a simple premise: “Alone we can’t do much. But, together we can change the world.”

With “So the World May Hear” as his goal, Starkey Hearing Foundation founder William F. Austin built an organization upon this vision.

Today the Foundation is sustained by the efforts of thousands of volunteers and donors around the world. Through generous support the foundation delivers more than 50,000 hearing aids annually through more than 100 hearing missions a year in countries stretching from the U.S. to Vietnam.

In addition to giving the gift of hearing, the Foundation promotes hearing health awareness while supporting research and education.

Celebrities Tony Bennett, Billy Crystal, Elton John and Gladys Knight will also be in attendance at the black-tie gala.

Posted by scurry at 04:52 PM

CNN Exclusive - Arnold Palmer: Olympics can revive golf

July 07, 2009

Arnold Palmer, one of the greatest players in the history of golf, has exclusively told CNN that the Olympic Games could help to revive the recession-hit sport.

With golf being hit hard by the recent downturn in the global economy, Palmer believes the sport needs all the help it can get if it is to come out the other side of the recession.

Palmer said: "The downturn in the economy has affected many golf clubs and I hope we've reached the bottom on that.

"It is probably being felt most severely in America. I'd like to see that stop and for players to return to the golf course. It's tough right now but I'm sure things will improve.

"Golf has changed so much from when I turned professional. My main goal was always to increase the awareness of golf and that has happened.

"In places like India, China, Japan and South and Central America, people are becoming avid golf fans because the climate is perfect for the game."

"Golf is now an international competition and it is bringing people in from all around the world."

"But if golf gets accepted by the Olympic Committee it would be a wonderful thing for the continuing growth of the game. Bringing people together on the course is one of the most important things we can do."

It has been over a century since golf was an official Olympic sport, with George Lyon of Canada claiming the last gold medal in 1904.

Read the full story at CNN

Posted by scurry at 11:30 AM

PALMER ATTENDS THE FIRST 'FREE TO THE PUBLIC' CHAMPIONS TOUR EVENT

July 06, 2009

Arnold Palmer will be attending the 3M Championship — held July 10-12 at the Tournament Players Club (TPC) Twin Cities in Blaine, an Arnold Palmer designed course — which is offering free admission, parking and shuttles to the public.

"Giving back is the right thing to do," said Hollis Cavner, tournament director. "We've received such tremendous support from fans and corporate partners over the past 17 years. We are thrilled that we have an opportunity to say thank you and provide this free gift to golf fans."

"It's very exciting that the 3M Championship is giving golf fans the opportunity to see this great event for free." said Palmer. He adds, "I also hope this offer will introduce some new people to golf as well."

Joining Palmer for the annual 2009 Greats of Golf Challenge Saturday, July 11th and Sunday July 12th will be some of his contemporaries Chi Chi Rodriguez, Lee Trevino, Billy Casper, Gene Littler, Miller Barber, Tony Jacklin, Charles Coody and Don January.

The Greats of Golf Challenge Presented by Post-it Brand Products is a two-day tournament that features nine PGA Champions Tour professionals playing in a three-person scramble format.

The 3M Championship consistently ranks as one of the top Champions Tour events for crowds and charitable giving. Last year, the 3M Championship was voted the No.1 event on the Champions Tour by the players, earning the coveted Champions Tour Players Award.

Posted by scurry at 02:09 PM

PRESIDENT DWIGHT D. EISENHOWER INDUCTED INTO WORLD GOLF HALL OF FAME

July 01, 2009

ST. AUGUSTINE, Fla. — Former U.S. President Dwight D. Eisenhower has been voted into the World Golf Hall of Fame as part of the class of 2009. Eisenhower was selected in the Lifetime Achievement Category for his genuine love for the sport of golf and his role in popularizing the game after the second world war. He will become the first President to enter the Hall when he is inducted posthumously on Nov. 2 at the World Golf Village in St Augustine, Florida.

During the 60's Eisenhower and Palmer became friends out of mutual admiration and respect for one another. Both Eisenhower and Palmer hailed from ‘blue collar’ backgrounds—Eisenhower as the progeny of Mid-west farming ‘stock’ from Kansas and Palmer as the son of Latrobe’s professional and course superintendent—which perhaps explains the affinity they clearly felt for each other.

"One would be hard pressed to find any single person who did more to popularize the game of golf, not only in the United States but throughout the world, than President Eisenhower," Arnold Palmer said in a statement on Friday. "His visibility, coupled with his passion for the game, were the inspiration for literally millions of people picking up the game for the first time. Those involved in golf today owe him a great debt of gratitude," added Palmer.

The Arnie and Ike relationship goes on to this day with the Palmer Prostate Center at Eisenhower Luci Curci Cancer Center located in the heart of the Coachella Valley near Palm Springs California. The Coachella Valley is where their desert connections converged with another friend, Bob Hope, making many headlines that ultimately led to popularizing the game.

The number of Americans who played golf doubled while Eisenhower was in office from 1953 to 1961, according to "First Off The Tee," a book on U.S. presidents who played golf.

Eisenhower will be inducted along with two-time Masters champion Jose Maria Olazabal of Spain, former PGA champion Lanny Wadkins and Christy O'Connor of Ireland.

Eisenhower joins a very short list of Hall of Famers who never played competitively, such as Bob Hope and Dinah Shore.

Posted by scurry at 03:30 PM

Arnold Palmer Memorabilia Featured in New Las Vegas Golf Hall of Fame Exhibit

June 10, 2009

The Las Vegas Golf Hall of Fame is scheduled to unveil a museum-quality exhibit featuring classic photos and memorabilia on June 29, 2009 at 1 PM at the historic Las Vegas National Golf Club, in conjunction with the inaugural Las Vegas Golf Hall of Fame Classic Pro-Am. Plus, the Class of 2009 will be recognized and is made up of Jimmie Bullard, Edward Fryatt, Dwaine Knight and Jack Sheehan.

Arnold Palmer memorabilia and photos will be on exhibit along with other golf champions Jim Colbert, Jack Nicklaus, Annika Sorenstam and many others. Palmer's connection to Las Vegas is not only his professional wins there, but also the seven courses at five golf clubs he's designed with the Arnold Palmer Design Company.

The Hall of Fame was formerly known as the Southern Nevada Golf Hall of Fame, but committee members voted to change the name to best capture the essence and passion of the Las Vegas golf community. The new exhibit will be the first all-encompassing tribute to the long history and tradition of Las Vegas golf.

For more information please visit the Las Vegas Golf Hall of Fame website at www.lasvegasgolfhof.com.

Posted by scurry at 11:59 AM

PALMER RETURNS TO CHERRY HILLS FOR 2009 PALMER CUP

June 08, 2009

CHERRY HILLS VILLAGE, Colo. — Arnold Palmer returned to the site of his legendary 1960 U.S. Open victory at Cherry Hills last week to attend The Palmer Cup, his namesake collegiate Ryder Cup style event.

As he spoke from a podium Tuesday, Palmer jokingly said to the young golfers; "I'm going to be on the first hole. And the first guy that pulls out a 1-iron or 2-iron or 3-wood, I'm going to run out and hand him his driver." This aggressive play is how Palmer birdied the first hole at Cherry Hills when he began his most famous charge from seven shots back to claim victory at the 1960 U.S. Open, still a record for the largest comeback victory in U.S. Open history.

"He has given more back to golf than just about anybody," USGA president Jim Vernon said Tuesday during the Palmer Cup's opening ceremonies. "There's a lot to learn from Arnold."

Due to rain delays, Tuesday's college-am fundraiser was postponed until Wednesday. But that allowed Palmer more time to share stories and to speak with players entered in the four-round competition with a U.S. vs. Europe format patterned after the Ryder Cup.

Palmer stayed to witness the fierce competition. "These guys played well and it was a joy to watch." said Palmer.

Final score was Europe 13, United States 11. The victory was the Euros second in a row and second on American soil. The win evened the all-time series, 6-6-1.

---

Final Results

Palmer Cup Presented by Fisher Capital Partners
Cherry Hills Country Club
June 5

Europe 13, United States 11

Four-Ball Matches Results
Jorge Campillo/Tim Sluiter, Europe def. Bud Cauley/Trent Leon, USA, 2-up
Henrik Norlander/Robin Wingardh, Europe def. Erik Flores/Adam Mitchell, USA, 6 and 4
Leonardo Motta/Andrea Pavan, Europe def. Mike Van Sickle/Steve Ziegler, USA, 2-up
Morgan Hoffmann/Cameron Tringale, USA def. Stephan Gross/Chris Paisley, Europe, 2-up
Europe leads 3-1

Singles Matches Pairings
Bud Cauley, USA def. Robin Wingardh, Europe, 4 and 3
Jorge Campillo, Europe def. Mike Van Sickle, USA, 1-up
Tim Sluiter, Europe halved Cameron Tringale, USA
Leonardo Motta, Europe def. Morgan Hoffmann, USA, 2-up
Stephan Gross, Europe def. Erik Flores, USA, 3 and 1
Steve Ziegler, USA def. Andrea Pavan, Europe, 2 and 1
Adam Mitchell, USA def. Chris Paisley, Europe, 4 and 2
Henrik Norlander, Europe def. Trent Leon, USA, 3 and 2
Europe leads 7.5-4.5

Foursomes Matches Results
Jorge Campillo/Tim Sluiter, Europe def. Bud Cauley/Mike Van Sickle, USA, 5 and 4
Erik Flores/Steve Ziegler, USA def. Stephan Gross/Chris Paisley, Europe, 1-up
Leonardo Motta/Andrea Pavan, Europe def. Trent Leon/Adam Mitchell, USA, 3 and 2
Morgan Hoffmann/Cameron Tringale, USA def. Henrik Norlander/Robin Wingardh, Europe, 1-up
Europe leads 9.5-6.5

Singles Matches Results
Jorge Campillo, Europe def. Bud Cauley, USA, 2 and 1
Stephan Gross, Europe def. Steve Ziegler, USA, 5 and 4
Tim Sluiter, Europe def. Morgan Hoffmann, USA, 1-up
Cameron Tringale, USA def. Chris Paisley, Europe, 1-up
Mike Van Sickle, USA def. Leonardo Motta, Europe, 8 and 7
Andrea Pavan, Europe halved Erik Flores, USA
Trent Leon, USA def. Robin Wingardh, Europe, 2 and 1
Adam Mitchell, USA def. Henrik Norlander, Europe, 3 and 2
Europe leads 13-11

Posted by scurry at 02:57 PM

Palmer's "On a Tour"

May 19, 2009

Today, Arnold Palmer flew his Citation X from Nashville to Dallas to take part in an HP Byron Nelson Championship luncheon ceremony where he received the Byron Nelson Prize and a $100,000 contribution to a charity of his choice. The Byron Nelson Prize is awarded each year to a person or organization in the golf world who exemplifies the ideals of sportsmanship, integrity and philanthropy that Byron Nelson personified. The T.Boone Pickens Foundation is the presenting sponsor of the Byron Nelson Prize that was created by the Salesmanship Club of Dallas, the tournament organization.

On Monday, Palmer attended The Vinny, an annual pro/celebrity event hosted by music star Vince Gill that benefits youth golf. Palmer spent much of the day posing for pictures, signing autographs and chatting with players at the Golf Club of Tennessee.

When asked for comment on his recent stint philanthropic visits, Palmer simply stated "It was a very heart-warming two-day tour."

Palmer fielded many questions at The Vinny; read the full article at The Tennessean.

Posted by scurry at 03:51 PM

USGA MUSEUM LAUNCHES ARNOLD PALMER MEMORY BOOK

May 18, 2009

The United States Golf Association is inviting the public to participate in a very special project to celebrate a true sporting legend and a great American.

Arnold Palmer will be celebrating his 80th birthday on September 10, 2009. To honor the occasion, the USGA Museum has launched an online Arnold Palmer Memory Book. The purpose of the Web site is to collect personal stories and memories of Arnold, and allow the public to view other fans’ appreciation of him. Fans can submit their reflections about Arnold in the form of words, images or video.

Arnold’s influence on the game of golf and sports in America has been felt for many years. Collectively, these testimonials will document the remarkable contributions Arnold has made to golf, not simply as a player, but as the embodiment of all that is honorable and exceptional about the game.

“Even if you’ve never had the opportunity to meet him, it seems that almost everyone in and around the game has their own Arnold Palmer story,” said USGA Director of Communications & Museum Rand Jerris. “Perhaps he was a childhood hero, maybe you once saw him play, or you just have a favorite story about him. The key is that we’re looking for personal stories – honest, from-the-heart sentiments that capture the essence of what Arnold Palmer has meant to the game.”

Later this year, the USGA Museum will edit and assemble the very best submissions into a bound volume, for presentation to Arnold as an 80th birthday present.

To participate in the Arnold Palmer Memory Book, log on to usgamuseum.com/arnoldpalmer .

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About the USGA Museum and Arnold Palmer Center for Golf History

The USGA Museum and Arnold Palmer Center for Golf History is home to the world’s premier collection of golf artifacts and memorabilia. The greatest champions and greatest moments in American golf history come alive through entertaining and engaging exhibits. The USGA Museum features a world-class collection of more than 70,000 artifacts.

Visitors also have the opportunity to tour the USGA Research and Test Center and play a round on the Pynes Putting Course, a Himalayas-style green that is open annually from early spring through late fall.

The USGA Museum is located in Somerset County, N.J., near the intersection of Interstates 78 and 287. For more information, please call (908) 234-2300 or visit the Museum Web site at www.usgamuseum.com.

About the USGA

The USGA is the national governing body of golf in the USA and Mexico, a combined territory that includes more than half the world’s golfers and golf courses.

The Association’s most visible role is played out each season in conducting 13 national championships, including the U.S. Open, U.S. Women’s Open and U.S. Senior Open. Ten USGA national championships are exclusively for amateurs, and include the U.S. Amateur and the U.S. Women’s Amateur.

The USGA also writes the Rules of Golf, conducts equipment testing, provides expert course maintenance consultations, funds research for better turf and a better environment, maintains a Handicap System®, celebrates the history of the game, and administers an ongoing “For the Good of the Game” grants program, which has allocated more than $63 million over 12 years to successful programs that bring the game’s values to youths from disadvantaged backgrounds and people with disabilities. For more information about the USGA, visit www.usga.org.

Posted by scurry at 03:00 PM

Arnold Palmer calls on Tiger Woods to play Celtic Manor ahead of Ryder Cup

May 07, 2009

From WalesOnline.co.uk -- AMERICAN golfing legend Arnold Palmer has joined a growing list in the game demanding Tiger Woods play the Twenty Ten Course at the Celtic Manor before next year’s Ryder Cup.

The 79-year-old seven times Major champion yesterday took a first look at the host venue for the third biggest sporting event on the globe after the Olympic Games and Football World Cup and admitted: “It’s a fantastic stage for the Ryder Cup.”

Read the full article

Posted by scurry at 03:48 PM

PALMER HONORED AT GOLF BUSINESS FORUM, PLAYS ST. ANDREWS

May 01, 2009

Arnold Palmer takes off in his Cessna Citation X from Arnold Palmer Regional Airport at his Latrobe, PA, hometown on Monday, May 4, and flies to Cardiff, Wales, to attend the Golf Business Forum, at which he will receive a Lifetime Achievement Award the next day.

"I am honored to be accepting this award from the Golf Business Forum and am very proud to be associated with an organization that does so much to further the sport of golf." said Palmer.

Palmer is scheduled to conduct a golf clinic and meet with some upcoming young Welsh golfers that afternoon.

Staff members of Arnold Palmer Design Company will attend the Tuesday sessions with Palmer. "The Golf Business Forum has continually provided excellent support to APDC and the golf development industry throughout the world." said Erik Larsen, Executive Vice President of APDC. "We are very appreciative for all that the GBF does to help grow the sport."

On Wednesday, Palmer and his group will fly on to St. Andrews, Scotland, where Palmer will play the Old Course in the Spring Medal of the Royal & Ancient with Sir Michael Bonallack, the former Secretary and Chief Executive of the R&A and British Amateur champion, and Harmish Ritchie, the current R&A captain. Palmer will participate in other activities at St. Andrews later in the day before he, his wife Kit and the rest of his party fly back to Latrobe on Friday.

Posted by scurry at 09:45 AM

HOUSE PASSES BACA LEGISLATION HONORING ARNOLD PALMER

April 29, 2009

Bill Awards Congressional Gold Medal to Golfing Legend

Washington, DC – Today, the House of Representatives unanimously passed legislation introduced by Congressman Joe Baca (D-Rialto) that awards the Congressional Gold Medal to world famous golf professional Arnold Palmer. The Arnold Palmer Gold Medal Act, H.R. 1243, officially recognizes Palmer for his service to the nation in promoting excellence and good sportsmanship in golf, and was passed in the House by a 422 to 1 vote.

“Arnold Palmer is a legend and a giant among golfers,” said Rep. Baca. “He won 92 championships in professional competition, but even more significant, he is an exemplary American. He has served his country with distinction in the U.S. Coast Guard, and has spent countless hours dedicated to philanthropy and improving the lives of others. I thank my colleagues for joining me in support of this legislation granting Congressional recognition on the life and achievements of Arnold Palmer.”

“I have had the opportunity to play a round of golf with Arnold Palmer,” added Rep. Baca. “My son, Rialto City Councilman Joe Baca, Jr., was also in attendance. Walking those eighteen holes with Arnold Palmer was one of the greatest experiences of my life. Not only is he a golf legend, but he also is a genuine person with a great sense of humor.”

Arnold Palmer’s magnetic personality and unfailing sense of kindness and thoughtfulness have endeared him to millions throughout the world. He has been the recipient of countless honors including virtually every national award in golf and both the Hickok Athlete of the Year and Sports Illustrated’s Sportsman of the Year awards. In addition, he was chosen as the Athlete of the Decade for the 1960s in a national Associated Press poll.

Through his charitable foundation, Arnold Palmer and his wife Winnie have supported numerous philanthropic causes, including nature conservation, cancer prevention, and women’s and children’s health. He has also founded both the Arnold Palmer Pavilion at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center and the Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children in Orlando, Florida.

“I truly believe that Arnold Palmer is deserving of this honor,” continued Rep. Baca. “But it’s not just about his success on the links – although as a competitive golfer myself I certainly respect his athletic talent and winning results. However, Arnold also has contributed significantly to American society and culture and is an outstanding role model, especially for young people.”

“His legions of fans have often been called ‘Arnie’s Army’,” concluded Rep. Baca. “After today, he can now call it ‘Arnie’s Congressional Army’! Long live his legacy.”

Arnold Palmer has had great success in the business world, forming the Arnold Palmer Design company. With his unfailing personality he has almost single-handedly brought golf out of the elite country clubs and into the consciousness of mainstream America. He is also know for one of his favorite drinks, a combination of half iced tea and half lemonade, a drink which is often referred to as an "Arnold Palmer" in his honor.

Palmer served his country for 3 years in the United States Coast Guard and was among those chosen to address the Joint Session of Congress on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the birth of President Dwight D. Eisenhower. Rep. Baca first introduced legislation to award Arnold Palmer the Congressional Gold Medal in 2002.

###

Posted by scurry at 02:14 PM

Arnold Palmer to Present Winnie Palmer Award To Aide Doc Giffin at Met Golf Writers Dinner

April 28, 2009

Golf legend Arnold Palmer will present the Winnie Palmer Award to his long-time assistant Doc Giffin at the 2009 Metropolitan Golf Writers Association’s 58th National Awards Dinner on Tuesday, June 16, at the Hyatt Regency Greenwich in Old Greenwich, Connecticut.

Louise Suggs, the Hall of Fame LPGA great, will receive the MGWA’s Gold Tee Award; Rolex the Bing Crosby Tournament Sponsor Award and Gene Westmoreland, Met Golf Association executive, the Distinguished Service Award at the annual dinner.

The MGWA established the Winnie Palmer Award in 2000 in honor of Palmer’s late wife, who devoted much of her life to charity work for literacy programs and health care. The accolade acknowledges individuals who have consistently given their time, energy and enthusiasm for the less fortunate. Over the last 20 years, the Palmer family has been heavily involved in the establishment of hospital facilities for mothers, children and babies that are incorporated into the Arnold Palmer Medical Center in Orlando, Florida.

“Winnie’s life-long dedication to philanthropy and caring for people is something that I always admired and learned from,” said Giffin, Palmer’s personal assistant for the last 43 years. “I am particularly honored to receive this award in her name.”

Palmer last attended what has been called “golf’s social event of the year” in 2001, when he received the association’s Golden Anniversary Award with Jack Nicklaus and Gary Player. Palmer also earned the MGWA’s highest honor, the Gold Tee Award, in 1965 for career achievements that exemplify the best spirit and traditions of the sport of golf.

The MGWA’s National Awards Dinner is the largest (and longest running) golf dinner held annually in the U.S. All of golf’s governing bodies actively support the dinner—the USGA, PGA of America, the PGA TOUR and Champions Tour, the LPGA—and some 700 industry leaders and local golfers attend. Proceeds from the dinner are distributed to three Metropolitan area caddie scholarship programs and the MGA Foundation. More than $950,000 has been raised over the years for charitable endeavors.

Golf fans are encouraged to attend this popular event and join Arnold and Doc for a night of celebrating the spirit of golf and philanthropy. For advance ticket reservations or additional information, please contact Kate Keller at (914) 347-4653. Tickets also may be obtained online at www.metgolfwriters.org.

Posted by scurry at 04:06 PM

PALMER HONORED BY SELECTION INTO THE FIRST SOUTHERN CONFERENCE HALL OF FAME

April 22, 2009

This May 4 marks the date of the first Southern Conference’s Hall of Fame Induction ceremony. 

Eight of the 10 inductees will be present for the event.  Unfortunately, Arnold Palmer (Wake Forest) had a previous commitment and has taped a video message which will be played for those in attendance.

Inductees that will be in attendance are Megan Dunigan (Furman), Dick Groat (Duke), Sam Huff (West Virginia), Melissa Morrison Howard (Appalachian State), Adrian Peterson (George Southern), Frank Selvy (Furman), Jerry West (West Virginia) and Valorie Whiteside (Appalachian State). The relatives of the late Charlie Justice (North Carolina) will be present to accept the honor on his behalf.

Palmer attended Wake Forest from 1948-50 and 1953-54.  He was the NCAA medalist for stroke play in 1949 and 1950. He captured the Southern Conference individual championship in 1948 and 1949 and was runner-up in 1950, the same season Wake Forest won the conference championships. 

About the Southern Conference
The Southern Conference, in its 88th season of intercollegiate competition, is the national leader in emphasizing the development of the student-athlete and helping build lifelong leaders and role models. The conference has been on the forefront of innovation and originality in developing creative solutions to address issues facing intercollegiate athletics. From establishing the first conference basketball tournament (1921), tackling the issues of freshman eligibility (1922), developing women’s championships (1984) to becoming the first conference to install the three-point goal in basketball (1980), the Southern Conference has been a pioneer. The Souther Conference is the nation’s fifth-oldest NCAA Division I collegiate athletic association.

For more information on The Southern Conference please visit www.soconsports.com.

Posted by scurry at 03:39 PM

Palmer Supports Stephens Charity Tournament

April 17, 2009

Arnold Palmer will co-headline the annual Jackson T. Stephens Charitable Golf Tournament in Little Rock Arkansas with Phil Mickelson. Scheduled for April 20 at the Alotian Club in Roland, the tournament benefits Arkansas charities supported by the late Jack Stephens, former chairman of Augusta National Golf Club and the Masters Tournament.

On Monday, Palmer will attend a dinner where he will speak for a short time before opening the floor for a question-and-answer session. Tuesday he will be present for photos with charity supporters.

The tournament has raised more than $3 million dollars by individuals and companies invited to participate in the fundraiser since it's inception in 2006. First Tee program in Little Rock and Fort Smith, and the Episcopal Collegiate School in Little Rock are among the charities that benefit from the tournament. Jack's son, Warren, is expected to present Palmer with a generous check to go to one of his own charities that he designates.

"I'm glad to support this event. I came to Little Rock in 2001 to support Jack Stephens when his namesake First Tee Golf Academy was dedicated. Furthering the sport of golf and supporting the First Tee is something I proud to be a part of." said Palmer.

Posted by scurry at 04:29 PM

PALMER HEADS TO THE MASTERS

April 01, 2009

Arnold Palmer’s string of consecutive playing appearances in the Masters Tournament ended at 50 when he competed for a final time in the 2004 championship, but Arnold Palmer will be in Augusta, Georgia, again this April, a stop he has made every year since 1955.

As he did last year, Palmer will go to Augusta Tuesday, April 7, to attend the Champions Dinner that evening in the historic Augusta National clubhouse. Trevor Immelman, the defending champion, hosts the dinner, at which virtually all of the living former winners of the classic event, playing or non-playing, will gather.

On Wednesday, April 8, the “Big 3” reunites for the annual Par 3 Contest where Palmer joins Jack Nicklaus and Gary Player for a 3:05 tee time. First played in 1960 and won that year by Sam Snead, the Par 3 Contest has become a Wednesday tradition at the Masters. Tournament participants, non-competing past champions, and Honorary Invitees are invited to participate in the Contest. Palmer won the Par 3 Contest in 1967 in a playoff. The event will be televised on ESPN.

Palmer serves as the Honorary Starter on Thursday, April 9. Palmer will be just the sixth person to serve as Honorary Starter in the long history of the Masters, which began in 1934. Jock Hutchison and Fred McLeod inaugurated the role in 1963. Byron Nelson and Gene Sarazen took over in 1981 and Ken Venturi filled in for Nelson in 1983. Sam Snead joined Nelson and Sarazen in 1984. The position was vacant since Snead died following the 2002 Masters until the 2007 event when Palmer assumed the role for the first time.

"As you know, Augusta is one of my favorite places and the Masters has meant so much to me personally throughout my career. I have always been treated so warmly there by the patrons. I hope in some way I can show my gratitude to the fans who have followed and supported me these many years” said Palmer.

Posted by scurry at 05:19 PM

THE PRINCE MEETS THE KING

March 25, 2009

The Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by MasterCard was the setting for a potentially historic photograph Wednesday, as 17-year-old rising Japanese star Ryo Ishikawa - known as the Bashful Prince for his unassuming demeanor - came to meet the King of golf, the tournament host, Arnold Palmer.

"To have our young friend from Japan here to play is great," Palmer said later in a press conference. "I hope he has a good week and enjoys the game."

"We're certainly very pleased. I've heard everything from (him being) a young Tiger Woods to just a really great young man, and having met him and talked to him, he has a great personality. I see from what he's done playing golf that his future is very bright, and not just in Japan but around the world."

Ishikawa arrived at Palmer's second-story executive offices at the Bay Hill Club & Lodge at 9:40 a.m., precisely the appointed time. Ushered to the King's corner office, Ishikawa shook hands with Palmer then in perfect English expressed his appreciation for the invitation.

Palmer took a lapel pin with his umbrella logo and attached it to Ishikawa’s shirt and also gave him several logoed ball markers. Then they headed downstairs for the photo opportunity in front of a large gathering of photographers and television cameramen, mostly from Ishikawa’s home country, who have been following his American tour.

In a press conference later, Ishikawa said: “I (was) so honored when I received Mr. Palmer’s invitation to this tournament. It is going to be my lifetime treasure. I just met Mr. Palmer this morning. It was my wonderful memory, and it’s hard to explain how I feel at the moment. But I could feel he’s a warm-hearted person, just shaking hands.”

At Palmer’s request, the PGA Tour designated Ishikawa to receive an exemption reserved for foreign players in the Arnold Palmer Invitational. “I’ve had a relationship in Japan that has gone on for many, many years,” Palmer said. “When something happens like this young man, who is a real hero, it is obvious that we’re going to hear about it and hear how good he is.”

Ishikawa made history in 2007 when, as a 15-year-old high school freshman, he became the youngest champion ever on one of the world’s major golf tours, winning the Munsingwear Open KSB Cup on the Japan Tour. He became a professional last year and won again at the mynavi ABC Championship and placed second in the Japan Open. He was fifth on the 2008 Japan Tour money list and earned $1,074,469 converted to U.S. dollars. He is presently ranked No. 69 in the world.

While Palmer’s was the first, Ishikawa also accepted invitations from the Masters Tournament and two other PGA Tour events, the Northern Trust Open and the Transitions Championship. “I’ve been in Florida for two weeks now, and I’ve found that orange juice tastes great, and hamburger. So I’m enjoying America,” he said.

This is Ishikawa’s second visit to Bay Hill. Four years ago, he played in an AJGA junior event here.

--Bev Norwood

Posted by scurry at 09:30 PM

RYDER CUP AND PRESIDENTS CUP STARS ENTER ARNOLD PALMER INVITATIONAL PRESENTED BY MASTERCARD

March 21, 2009

Defending champion Tiger Woods leads field of 120 players

The 31st Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by MasterCard will feature defending champion Tiger Woods along with most of the players from the recent Ryder Cup and Presidents Cup teams. The PGA Tour event is scheduled for March 23-29 at the Bay Hill Club & Lodge in Orlando, Florida.

The world’s No. 1 player and a five-time winner at Bay Hill, Woods will be joined by the other two current major champions, Trevor Immelman and Padraig Harrington, among 29 players entered from the top 50 of the Official World Golf Ranking.

In addition to Woods, past Bay Hill winners in the field of 120 players are Vijay Singh, Kenny Perry, Fred Couples, Paul Azinger, Chad Campbell, Rod Pampling, Tim Herron, Andrew Magee, Paul Goydos and Robert Gamez. Nine members of Captain Azinger’s victorious 2008 U.S. Ryder Cup team are entered. They are Campbell, Perry, Stewart Cink, Ben Curtis, Jim Furyk, J.B. Holmes, Anthony Kim, Hunter Mahan and Boo Weekley. From the European Ryder Cup team are Harrington, Graeme McDowell, Ian Poulter, Justin Rose and Oliver Wilson.

The latest Presidents Cup teams, from 2007, will be well-represented with 10 players from the American team and eight from the International team. These include U.S. players Woody Austin, Lucas Glover, Charles Howell III, Zach Johnson, David Toms and Scott Verplank, and International players Stuart Appleby, Angel Cabrera, Retief Goosen, Nick O’Hern, Adam Scott and Mike Weir.

Among the 19 players who received sponsor exemptions is Rocco Mediate, appearing in a tournament with Woods for the first time since their playoff at the U.S. Open last June. Woods had surgery on his left knee after that and did not play again until last month. This will be his third tournament of 2009.

For tickets or more information on the Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by MasterCard, log on to the tournament web site, www.arnoldpalmerinvitational.com or call the Bay Hill ticket office at 407-876- 7774 or toll free at 1-866-764-4843. Tournament proceeds benefit the Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children and the Winnie Palmer Hospital for Women and Babies.

Posted by scurry at 05:31 PM

MEDIATE WANTS TO MAKE PALMER PROUD

March 16, 2009

U.S. Open runner-up among 19 to receive sponsor exemptions to 2009 Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by MasterCard

Rocco Mediate will get his wish – another chance to make Arnold Palmer proud.

Mediate was among the 19 players who received sponsor exemptions to the 2009 Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by MasterCard, scheduled for the week of March 23-29 at the Bay Hill Club & Lodge in Orlando, Florida.

In a hand-written note to Palmer requesting the exemption, Mediate wrote: “I would once again love to play in your tournament. I tried so hard to make you proud last June at the U.S. Open. I hope to have another opportunity to do so at Bay Hill.”

At the U.S. Open Mediate, who had five career victories at age 45, became a hero to millions of golf fans as he battled through 19 playoff holes before finishing second to Tiger Woods, age 32, the world’s No. 1 golfer, with 65 career victories including 14 major championships.

“They say that nobody remembers who finished second in a golf tournament,” Palmer said. “I don’t think that will be the case with the 2008 U.S. Open and Rocco Mediate.”

Woods is the defending and five-time champion of the Arnold Palmer Invitational. He has until Friday March 20 to commit to the PGA Tour that he will be at Bay Hill this year. If Woods plays, this would be the first tournament since the U.S. Open to include both Woods and Mediate. Woods had surgery on his left knee in June and did not play again until last month.

Mediate, who is from Greensburg, Pennsylvania, close to Palmer’s home in Latrobe, will be playing for the 21st year (not consecutive) at Bay Hill, where his best finish was second place in 2007, two strokes behind champion Vijay Singh.

Sponsor exemptions also went to three others who have played at Bay Hill for more than 20 years: Corey Pavin will be making his 25th appearance, along with Brad Faxon (23rd) and Billy Andrade (21st). Andrade’s total is consecutive, as he has not missed a year since starting in 1988. Faxon placed second at Bay Hill in 1995 and tied for second in 2003.

In addition to Pavin, the 2010 U.S. Ryder Cup captain and 1995 U.S. Open champion, exemptions went to 2006 U.S. Ryder Cup captain and 1996 British Open champion Tom Lehman, 1993 and 1998 U.S. Open champion Lee Janzen, and 2001 British Open champion David Duval. Lehman tied for fifth at Bay Hill in 2007 and tied for eighth last year.

Others receiving exemptions included Japanese teenager Ryo Ishikawa, whose position as a foreign player designated by Commissioner Tim Finchem was announced earlier.

In the category of eight PGA Tour regular or past champion members, exemptions went to Andrade, Faxon, Janzen, Lehman, Mediate, Brian Davis, Jason Gore, and Skip Kendall.

In the category of two players from the top 25 finishers in the 2008 Qualifying Tournament and the 2008 Nationwide Tour, exemptions were given to Greg Owen, who was second at Bay Hill in 2006, and Harrison Frazar.

Eight unrestricted exemptions were awarded to Pavin, Duval, 2008 Southern Amateur champion Kyle Stanley, Erik Compton, D.A. Points, Steve Flesch, Notah Begay, and Vaughn Taylor.

For tickets or more information on the Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by MasterCard, log on to the tournament web site, www.arnoldpalmerinvitational.com or call the Bay Hill ticket office at 407-876-7774 or toll free at 1-866-764-4843. Tournament proceeds benefit the Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children and the Winnie Palmer Hospital for Women and Babies.

Posted by scurry at 01:35 PM

Navigating the 31st Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by MasterCard

March 13, 2009

All the information you need to attend the 31st Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by MasterCard.

Tournament Dates:

Monday, March 23, 2009 – Sunday, March 29, 2009

Location:

Arnold Palmer’s Bay Hill Club & Lodge 9000 Bay Hill Boulevard Orlando, FL 32819

Schedule of Events:

• Monday, March 23, 2009 – Youth Day/Monday
  PRO-AM
  7:30 a.m. – Junior Golf Breakfast in the Arnold Palmer Terrace Room.
  9:00 a.m. – Monday PRO-AM Tournament begins.
  4:30 p.m. – Coca-Cola® Youth Clinic at the Driving Range.
  ALL YOUTH admitted FREE with paying adult on March 23.
• Tuesday, March 24, 2009
  Practice rounds for PGA TOUR players.
  Wednesday, March 25, 2009 – Wednesday PRO-AM
  PRO-AM Tournament tee times throughout the day, #1
  and #10 tees. (Pairings available day-of.)
• Thursday, March 26, 2009*
  Round 1 of Competition.
• Friday, March 27, 2009*
  Round 2 of Competition.
  College Day - $20 entry for ALL current college students.
• Saturday, March 28, 2009*
  Round 3 of Competition.
• Sunday, March 29, 2009*
  Final Round of Competition.

*All pairings and tee-times will be available on the tournament Web site – ArnoldPalmerInvitational.com – the evening prior to play.

Daily Ticket Information:

• Practice/PRO-AM Ticket (Monday – Wednesday) – $35 Grants admission into the event on any one day, Monday – Wednesday. Monday is a ticketed day for adults, with the addition of a second PRO-AM event ticket.
  All youth are admitted free on Monday with a paid adult. On-site parking included.
• Any One Day Ticket (Thursday – Sunday) – $45 Grants admission into the event on any one day, Thursday – Sunday. Parking at Universal Studios, with complimentary shuttle to the tournament provided.
• Youth Ticket, Ages 11 to 17 – $15 (10 and under free) Grants admission into the event on any one day, Tuesday – Sunday. All youth admitted free with a paid adult on Youth Day – Monday, March 23.
• College Students (Friday, March 27) – $20
  On Friday, March 27, current college students can purchase a discounted ticket with their student ID at Universal Studios tournament parking.
• Military – FREE
  All military receive free admission, any day, all day with a
  valid military ID. Military present their ID to pick up a
  ticket when parking on-site at Bay Hill, Monday –
  Wednesday, and when parking at Universal Studios
  tournament parking, Thursday – Sunday.

Ticket Packages:

• The King’s Club – $2,000
  The King’s Club is the ultimate tournament experience.
  This exclusive ticket package grants weeklong entrance to
  the tournament and access to the King’s Club (Thursday –
  Sunday), an elevated, air-conditioned structure offering
  beautiful views of the 16th and 17th greens. A very
  limited number of tickets are available. Tickets include:
  full food and beverage service; on-site parking with shuttle
  to the front of the venue; player meet and greets;
  premium, limited edition giveaways; access to the Palmer
  Pavilion, Clubhouse and MasterCard Club; and one round
  of golf at the Bay Hill Club.
• Bay Hill Badge – $300
  Includes weeklong access to the Clubhouse and Palmer
  Pavilion. This limited edition badge offers a prime view of
  the putting green, as well as access to the grounds and
  Palmer Pavilion on the 18th tee. Badge holders enjoy the
  privilege of guaranteed on-site parking.
• Clubhouse Badge – $190
  Includes access to the tournament grounds and Bay Hill
  Clubhouse. The Clubhouse offers a prime view of the
  putting green. On-site parking on a space available basis
  is also included.
• Palmer Pavilion Badge – $185
  The Palmer Pavilion features a comfortable, covered
  hospitality area and patio with unique views of the 18th
  green. This badge grants access to the grounds and into
  the Palmer Pavilion Monday – Sunday. It includes on-site
  parking on a space available basis.
• Grounds Badge – $95
  Includes grounds-only admission to the entire
  tournament, Monday – Sunday. Parking with shuttle bus
  is provided at Universal Studios.
• Gold Patron Package – $3,500
  Includes 20 Clubhouse Badges and 10 parking passes for
  guaranteed on-site parking in Lot 10.
• Bay Hill Patron Package – $2,800
  Includes 10 Clubhouse Badges as well as 10 Palmer
  Pavilion Badges. Includes on-site parking on a space
  available basis.

To Purchase Tickets:

Purchase tickets online at ArnoldPalmerInvitational.com, call the Arnold Palmer Invitational Ticket Office at 407-876-7774 or toll-free at 866-764-4843, or purchase at your local participating Edwin Watts stores.

Parking Information:

• On-Site –
  Any One Day (Thursday – Sunday) $20
  Full Week (Thursday – Sunday) $65
  Guaranteed parking on the tournament grounds. Limited availability.
• Free General –
  Thursday – Sunday parking and shuttle service is provided from Universal Studios for all Arnold Palmer Invitational ticket holders.
• Disabled –
  Thursday – Sunday, ALL disabled spectators will be required to park in a handicap-specific, hard surface, covered area at Universal Studios. This handicap area will be serviced by special handicap–equipped shuttles. The drop-off at Bay Hill will be at the end of the Clubhouse area.

Will Call Information:

The Will Call trailer is located on the East side of Turkey Lake Road, between Sand Lake Road and Hollywood Way.

Directions to Will Call:

Traveling either direction on I-4, take exit 74A and head west on Sand Lake Road (once on Sand Lake Road, stay in the far Right lane) to Turkey Lake Road. Turn Right on Turkey Lake Road. Travel approx. one mile. You will come to a traffic light at Wallace Road. The Will Call trailer will be just north of Wallace Road and on the East side of Turkey Lake Road (there will be signs).

Will Call Hours:

Monday, March 23 7:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Tuesday, March 24 7:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Wednesday, March 25 6:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Thursday, March 26 6:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Friday, March 27 6:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Saturday, March 28 6:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Sunday, March 29 6:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.

Directions:

To Universal Studios – General Parking

• From Daytona/Sanford: Take I-4 West to Exit 74B;
  Follow signs to tournament.
• From Tampa: Take I-4 East to Exit 74A; Follow signs to
  tournament.

To Bay Hill Club & Lodge

• From Daytona/Sanford: Take I-4 West to Exit 74A; Exit
  right onto Sand Lake Road. Take Sand Lake Road. until
  you end at Apopka-Vineland Road and turn right. Follow
  signs to Gate C for public parking.
• From Tampa: Take I-4 East to Exit 74A; Exit left onto
  Sand Lake Road. Take Sand Lake Road until you end at
  Apopka-Vineland Road and turn right. Follow signs to
  Gate C for public parking.

 

Posted by scurry at 09:00 PM

A Week with the King

March 03, 2009

PGA Tour players enjoy perk of spending time with host at the Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by MasterCard

It was autumn when Davis Love III last ran into Arnold Palmer. “ When I saw him, Arnold asked me, ‘You’re going to be at Bay Hill, right?’” Love recalled. “Well, I said I wouldn’t miss it for anything, and you know, I wouldn’t.”

Love is a three-time runner-up of the Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by MasterCard, so he’s naturally eager to add that title to his 20 career PGA Tour victories. But beating an elite invitational field on a tough golf course isn’t his only motivation for wanting to return to the Bay Hill Club & Lodge for the 31st edition of Palmer’s prestigious event in Orlando, Florida. Neither is playing for a handsome $6 million purse.

“I love the tournament, and I’ve enjoyed the golf course, though I haven’t quite gotten over the hump, but one of the best things about playing at Bay Hill is the time you get to spend with Arnold,” Love said. “You don’t get to do that very much. It’s in honor of him that you want to be there. That’s what was great about playing for him on the Presidents Cup when he was the captain (in 1996) – it’s that the time you get with him that really means something. You don’t forget it.”

Love’s outlook on the long-running PGA Tour event hosted by one of the game’s most beloved figures is shared by many of his peers. When the Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by MasterCard is held March 23-29, many of the 120 players in the elite invitational field will use the trip to renew acquaintances with golf’s recognized “King.”

“We all know about his success on the golf course but it’s what he’s done for the game, and his tournament is a visible example of that,” said Tim Herron, who won the 1999 edition at Bay Hill. “There’s an aura about him that makes him the man, someone who is a great example for golfers and nongolfers. You conduct yourself like Arnold Palmer, and you aren’t going to go wrong. Being around him for that reason is worth the trip.”

“It’s always great to play there, and the course has gotten harder, so it’s even more of an accomplishment to win there, I think,” Paul Goydos, the 1996 champion, added. “But when you go there, it’s still about being there with Arnold. He treats the pros great; the pros are what matter at Bay Hill. It goes back to who he is. It’s all about the professionals there, and you have to come ready to play because you know that’s what he would do.”

There certainly appears to be no shortage of players who have shaped their decisions by thinking about what Arnold Palmer would do. Two-time winner Loren Roberts is among them, and he believes that all golfers would benefit from some informal lessons from the King.

“I’ve always thought that it’s kind of like our young guys who come out of Q-School or the Nationwide Tour or wherever … rookies ought to have to play a couple of rounds of golf with Arnold Palmer, just to see how he treats everyone on the golf course, how he treats the fans, how he conducts himself,” Roberts said. “It should be a prerequisite to play with Arnold and learn a few things.”

Some PGA Tour members who live in Orlando find that one of the perks of a central Florida residency is a greater opportunity to visit with Palmer away from the stress and bustle of tournament week.

“I saw him at a charity event at home in Orlando for the Winnie Palmer and Arnold Palmer Hospitals in December, and he looks great, and he doesn’t look like he’s slowing down at all,” two-time Tour winner Charles Howell III said. “He’s just unbelievable how he interacts with people. I always get a kick out of seeing him, especially in settings like that where you really see what he’s about, which is, basically, that he’s the same no matter the situation. He’s just a phenomenal person.”

“Personally, I love hanging out at Bay Hill, just to be around Arnie. What a lovely man,” Daniel Chopra, another two-time winner, said. “The first time I met him, it was like he was so much larger than life. It was like meeting John Wayne. It has nothing to do with records and such. It’s who he is. He is approachable, and he makes everyone around him feel good. Just a regular guy, and that is his charm.”

According to Goydos, there’s one additional legitimate reason to journey to Bay Hill in late March. “What do we play for that week? (The purse is $6 million.) That’s not even close to what Arnold Palmer has done for us and for the game,” Goydos said. “More than anything, you just want to go there and play well and then be able to say thanks. Really, you can’t thank him enough.”

For tickets to the 2009 Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by MasterCard or for more information, log on to the tournament website, www.arnoldpalmerinvitational.com or call the Bay Hill Club ticket office at 407- 876-7774 or toll free at 1-866-764-4843. Proceeds from the tournament benefit the Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children and the Winnie Palmer Hospital for Women and Babies.

Posted by scurry at 09:16 AM

Kenny Perry has sights set on more Bay Hill success

February 27, 2009

ANOTHER WIN AT ARNOLD PALMER INVITATIONAL PRESENTED BY MASTERCARD WOULD BE JUST AS SPECIAL FOR 2005 WINNER

At the outset of the 2009 season, veteran PGA Tour player Kenny Perry decided to share with the media his goal to win 20 titles by the time he closes the book on his career. But even before he won the FBR Open earlier this year in a playoff for his 13th Tour title, Perry was looking ahead to one of his favorite events, the Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by MasterCard, as a potential spot for adding to his total.

“There are places I love that I can play, and there are places I love where I can’t seem to get anything going ever,” said Perry, who is ranked No. 9 in the world. “Bay Hill is one of those golf courses where I just feel real comfortable. Guys always talk about a golf course suiting their eye. I can’t really say that about Bay Hill, but I like the course, and I love going there to see Arnie. I haven’t always played well there, and maybe it’s just that I enjoy being there that I feel like I have a good chance to win when I go there.”

Perry, 48, of Franklin, Kentucky, is expected to be among a number of former champions returning to the 31st Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by MasterCard. The prestigious invitational event, which is hosted by Palmer and contested on a gem of a layout that Palmer designed, is scheduled for March 23-29, the final event on the Tour’s Florida Swing.

Winner of the 2005 edition, Perry has a commendable record at Bay Hill, including a tie for second in 2003. His victory two years later represented the eighth of his professional career, which started in 1982. Perry remembers the nervousness he felt coming down the stretch. “It was a big deal because I really wanted to win that tournament. I have always looked up to Arnold; when I was growing up, he was the man. It just seemed like I always got in my own way, but I didn’t that time.”

Perry fired a closing 70 on the Championship Course for a two-stroke victory over Vijay Singh and Graeme McDowell in what was essentially a threeman race. Perry finished at 12-under 276, while Singh and McDowell closed at 10 under par. Retief Goosen was fourth another five shots back at five-under 283.

“Bay Hill is a tactician kind of golf course,” Perry said. “You really have to navigate around all the problems, and you have to hit it good and be smart at the same time. I’ve always been a good ball-striker. My whole career I’ve been pretty solid from tee to green. Normally the rough is very tough at Bay Hill, and the greens are firm. The year I won, I hit more fairways than anybody else. I drove it great, and that’s what you have to do because that sets up everything else.

“That was a special week,” Perry added. “I played so well, and when you get in that position in an event that means something to you … you try not to think about it. You start to think about what it means to win Arnold Palmer’s tournament and you could mess up real quickly. And then to have him standing out there with that big sword … getting the trophy from him, that was magical stuff.”

Perry, who did not get to defend his title in 2006 because of knee surgery, admits that trying to win 20 times isn’t necessarily a realistic goal, but it gives him something to strive for. He thinks he does have one attribute in common with the tournament host: a natural strength that keeps him competitive against waves of younger players.

“Arnold was such a strong guy in his prime, and that made him exciting,” Perry said. “I’m not saying I’m like Arnold, but I’m lucky that I’m still healthy and I can still do what I want with my golf swing. I am a pretty big guy. I might have lost a little clubhead speed, but the game has not passed me by yet. New equipment, new ball … I can still hit it as far as anybody, and I still feel like I can compete with anybody.”

For tickets or more information on the Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by MasterCard, log on to the tournament web site, www.arnoldpalmerinvitational.com or call the Bay Hill ticket office at 407-876- 7774 or toll free at 1-866-764-4843. Tournament proceeds benefit the Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children and the Winnie Palmer Hospital for Women and Babies.

Posted by scurry at 09:19 AM

Trump, Rahr Give $350,000 to Palmer Hospital

February 26, 2009

Arnold Palmer took philanthropists Stewart Rahr and Donald Trump on a tour of the Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children and the Winnie Palmer Hospital for Women & Babies in Orlando and the two prominent business executives presented him with a $350,000 check for the Children’s Hospital in return.

“Arnold, you should be really proud,” said Mr. Trump after flying in from New York for the visit. “This is a great hospital. The world needs to know about this place.”

Added Mr. Rahr, CEO of Kinray Inc., a major pharmaceutical distribution firm: “Donald and I both made this possible. I hope it helps.”

Rahr previously donated $400,000 to the Arnold Palmer Hospital through a charity event in which he purchased a round of golf with Mr. Palmer.

“We appreciate the generosity of both Mr. Trump and Mr. Rahr and their support of our mission to provide state-of-the-art, specialized care for our patients,” remarked John Bozard, the president of the Arnold Palmer Medical Center Foundation, which supports both hospitals. “Their donation will touch the lives of many children and families.”

Mr. Palmer concurred, stating that “I am most appreciate that these two very busy business executives accepted my invitation to come to Orlando for this visit and am particularly grateful for their extremely-generous contribution.”

Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children is a 158-bed facility in Orlando dedicated exclusively to the needs of children. The hospital provides expertise in pediatric specialties such as cardiac care, craniomaxillofacial surgery, emergency and trauma care, gastroenterology, nephrology, oncology, orthopedics, pulmonology and sports medicine. Visit arnoldpalmerhospital.com for further information.

Posted by scurry at 04:18 PM

IMMELMAN SIGNS ON FOR HIS SEVENTH

February 25, 2009

Masters champion Trevor Immelman has never missed the Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by MasterCard since coming to America to play full-time, and Immelman confirmed his seventh consecutive appearance Tuesday with his official commitment to the PGA Tour.

The 3lst annual Arnold Palmer Invitational will be held March 23-29 at the Bay Hill Club & Lodge in Orlando, Florida. Tiger Woods is the defending and five-time champion at Bay Hill. Woods also was the runner-up by three strokes to Immelman in the 2008 Masters.

“Besides the majors, there are some tournaments everyone would like to win in their careers. The Arnold Palmer Invitational is one of those, because of the tournament’s namesake and the tremendous golf course,” said Immelman, now ranked No. 25 in the world. “I have been at Bay Hill every year since I started playing regularly in America, and one of these years I want to be there at the end for Mr. Palmer to shake my hand. That would be a moment to remember.”

Palmer and Immelman share a Masters distinction. Immelman’s 75 in buffeting winds, gusting to 35 miles an hour on the last day, matched Palmer’s score from 1962 for the highest final round by a Masters champion. Immelman tied for 48th in the 2008 Arnold Palmer Invitational despite his 64 in the second round. His best finish at Bay Hill was his tie for ninth in 2007, when he shot 66 in the first round. He tied for 46th in 2004 and missed the 36-hole cut in his other three appearances.

The 29-year-old South African posted his first American victory in 2006 in the Cialas Western Open and entered 2009 with PGA Tour career earnings over $9 million. He also has six international victories plus the 2003 World Cup with South African teammate Rory Sabbatini.

For tickets or more information on the Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by MasterCard, log on to the tournament web site, www.arnoldpalmerinvitational.com or call the Bay Hill ticket office at 407-876- 7774 or toll free at 1-866-764-4843. Tournament proceeds benefit the Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children and the Winnie Palmer Hospital for Women and Babies.

Posted by scurry at 09:05 AM

HARRINGTON LEADS THE WORLD TO BAY HILL

February 19, 2009

Padraig Harrington, the 2008 PGA Tour Player of the Year, made his commitment Wednesday to play in the Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by MasterCard.

When the dates were moved forward two weeks to March 23-29, Tournament Director Scott Wellington predicted a stronger field of international players for the 31st annual event at the Bay Hill Club & Lodge in Orlando, Florida.

"I was delighted when I saw that the Arnold Palmer Invitational was two weeks before the Masters, because it fits my schedule perfectly. I have played the tournament only twice, early in my career, but I look forward to returning," said Harrington, the 37-year-old Irishman who won last year's British Open and PGA Championship.

"The admiration which the players have for Arnold Palmer and the character of the golf course make the tournament one of the most respected on the PGA Tour. I look forward to playing Bay Hill, which offers a tough challenge with an exciting finish – the 16th, 17th and 18th holes make up one of the toughest finishes in golf."

Harrington, currently No. 3 on the World Ranking, is the highest-ranked player who has not competed in the tournament in recent years. He tied for 50th at Bay Hill in 1998 and missed the cut in 2000. His commitment opens the possibility that the Arnold Palmer Invitational could feature all the top-10 players in the world. The other nine have competed at Bay Hill regularly or at least as recently as 2007 or 2008.

"Padraig obviously has been on our wish list," Wellington said. "We have always had one of the best fields of players in the world, including most of the highest-ranked players. But this year we should have more players who have not previously included us on their schedules, and we hope to get several more highly-ranked players."

Harrington has 17 career victories worldwide, including five on the PGA Tour. He won the Honda Classic and Barclays Classic in America in 2005, and claimed the 2007 British Open at Carnoustie for his first major championship and the first by an Irishman in 60 years.

Last year Harrington repeated in the British Open at Royal Birkdale then won the PGA Championship at Oakland Hills. He was the first European to win back-to-back major titles, the first European since James Braid in 1906 to win consecutive British Opens, and the first European since Tommy Armour in 1930 to win the PGA Championship.

His first victory was in the 1996 Spanish Open. He has been among the top three European money leaders for seven of the last eight years and won the Order of Merit in 2006.

For tickets or more information on the Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by MasterCard, log on to the tournament web site, www.arnoldpalmerinvitational.com or call the Bay Hill ticket office at 407-876-7774 or toll free at 1-866-764-4843. Tournament proceeds benefit the Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children and the Winnie Palmer Hospital for Women and Babies.

Posted by scurry at 09:00 AM

SOME VICTORIES MEAN MORE THAN OTHERS

February 18, 2009

A champion golfer will tell you that winning any tournament is memorable and rewarding, for many reasons, one of the most prominent being that victories are so difficult to attain. They also are likely to say that some mean more than others.

Players who have won the Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by MasterCard are inclined to agree that claiming victory at Palmer's robust Bay Hill Club & Lodge in Orlando, Florida, ranks among the most special of their careers. It is not just the prestige the invitational event carries that makes this a coveted crown, but also the experience of receiving a trophy from the tournament's namesake, the Hall of Fame player known as "the King."

"I played the PGA Tour for 12 1/2 years before I broke through, and to have my first win at Arnold's event, and to have Arnold Palmer hand me the trophy, was about as meaningful as it can get for a first-time winner, or, I think, for anyone," said Loren Roberts, who won the 1994 and 1995 titles. "I was emotional about it, truly emotional. We all know what he's meant to the game. We all know what he stands for, and his tournament, by extension stands for the very best of the game of golf, plain and simple."

If anyone holds his victory at Bay Hill more dear than Roberts, it might be Paul Azinger, the 1993 PGA champion and the captain of the victorious 2008 U.S. Ryder Cup team. Azinger was a member of the Brevard Junior College golf team when he went to work as a summer counselor and instructor in 1979 at the Arnold Palmer Golf Academy. The eight weeks at Bay Hill literally altered his prospects as a golfer.

"I was on the C Team at Brevard at the time, and I had never broken 70 in my life up to that point. I just wasn't a very good player," Azinger recalled. "But living at Bay Hill, working with kids, playing the course every day, it really changed me. I went out and broke 70 later that summer, moved up to the A Team, then I got a scholarship to Florida State University, where I played for one year. Six years later I was the PGA Tour Player of the Year (in 1987). How about that?"

Yes, how about that?

But there's even more to the story. Azinger was heading out to the West Coast in early 1988, and a magazine story drew his ire; the gist of the piece was to question whether or not the Florida native was a fluke. He arrived at Bay Hill with the question still dogging him, even though he had posted five top-25 finishes in his first seven starts. He quieted the doubters with a five-stroke victory over Tom Kite.

"That was a huge deal for me, just a gigantic win," Azinger said. "I kind of got that monkey off my back. The fact that I used to work there, and then to win, was really a neat thing. And then to have Arnold standing there with me ... that was the topper to it all. So, yeah, it was a very big deal."

Others who conquered Bay Hill would agree. Andrew Magee, the 1991 champion, has said that only the major championships carry more cachet than the Arnold Palmer Invitational. Paul Goydos considers his 1996 triumph "as good as a major." Two-time Masters champion Ben Crenshaw, who captured the 1993 title, said Palmer's tournament ranks among the finest in golf simply because of its host. Chad Campbell lists among his career highlights the 2005 edition, when he not only captured his second PGA Tour trophy, but also had the honor of playing with Palmer in the first two rounds of what was the King's final appearance as a competitor.

"When you win a tournament that has the name of Arnold Palmer on it, obviously, it's going to be special. It means a lot," says Ernie Els, the 1998 champion. "I've been very fortunate. I've won tournaments hosted by Arnold, Byron Nelson and Jack Nicklaus and you feel those have a little bit more to them.

"You also have to look at the golf course; that is one tough place," Els added with a grin. "You're never going to scrape it around there and expect to do well. It asks a lot of your game there. It keeps you on your toes, and at the end of the week, if you're the winner, you know you've earned it."

One of Kenny Perry's 10 victories since turning 40 came at the 2005 Arnold Palmer Invitational, and he admits it took some of his best golf to register his two-stroke victory over Vijay Singh and Graeme McDowell.

"Bay Hill is a tactician kind of golf course," said Perry, who won the FBR Open in February. "You really have to navigate around all the problems, and you have to hit it good and be smart at the same time. Normally the rough is very tough and the greens are firm. The year I won, I hit more fairways than anybody else. I drove it great, and that's what you have to do because that sets up everything else.

"That was a special week," Perry added. "I played so well, and when you get in that position in an event that means something to you ... you try not to think about it. You start to think about what it means to win Arnold Palmer's tournament and you could mess up real quickly. And then to have him standing out there with that big sword ... getting the trophy from him, that was magical stuff."

The 31st Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by MasterCard is scheduled for March 23-29, the final stop on the PGA Tour's Florida Swing. Tiger Woods is the defending champion of the premier invitational event that features 120 of the game's best players from around the world.

For tickets or for more information, log on to the tournament web site, www.arnoldpalmerinvitational.com or call the Bay Hill ticket office at 407-876-7774 or toll free at 1-866-764-4843. Tournament proceeds benefit the Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children and the Winnie Palmer Hospital for Women and Babies.

Posted by scurry at 09:35 AM

GEARING UP FOR MORE GREAT GOLF

February 11, 2009

Host Arnold Palmer relishes new date, expects great field for 31st annual PGA Tour tournament that bears his name

He is nearing his 80th birthday and doesn't play golf quite as much as he used to, but Arnold Palmer still has a passion for the game, still wants to give back to it and still enjoys talking about it, especially when the tournament that bears his name is one of the topics.

"My mind never strays too far from the game. It's what I love, and it's something that has given me great joy and satisfaction through the years," Palmer said. "If you want to talk about golf, I'm always a willing participant. And that's true in regards to anything else related to golf, be it playing, watching or hosting a golf tournament."

On that last score, Palmer is pulling double duty in 2009. Having just recently served as host for the 50th Bob Hope Classic in Palm Desert, California, the legendary leader of Arnie's Army now is gearing up to host the 31st annual Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by MasterCard. The invitational tournament contested at Palmer's Bay Hill Club & Lodge in Orlando, Florida, has a new slot on the PGA Tour calendar, being played March 23-29 as the anchor tournament in the Tour's Florida swing. Palmer, now age 79, is expecting another strong field as the tournament moves to a position just two weeks before the Masters Tournament, the year's first major championship.

"I like the new dates, and it could make our field stronger, although we've always enjoyed having great fields," said Palmer, winner of 62 PGA Tour titles, including seven professional major championships. "I think being two weeks before the Masters, that's something new to talk about, and I like it, obviously. I'm optimistic that we'll have a great event."

Could the new dates warrant a change in golf course setup?

"I think we'll want to speed the greens up just slightly to give the guys a feel for faster greens," Palmer said. "Since we're closer to the Masters, we want to justify guys coming here to not only compete, but also to get ready to attack Augusta. By and large the course will be about the same as it has been, a very good test."

The Champion Course at Bay Hill Club, converted in 2007 to a par-70 layout, plays to 7,157 yards with fast fairways lined by three inches of rough, and firm greens. Tiger Woods is the defending champion after sinking a 25-foot birdie putt on the 72nd hole to score a one-stroke victory over Bart Bryant and win Palmer's tournament for the fifth time.

"It will be tough to top that finish," Palmer said enthusiastically, "but every year brings something pretty exciting. We have had great tournaments, and we are expecting another great one this year. The golf course is the best it's been in a long time. I'm pleased with how it's shaping up. I think the players will enjoy it."

One of the premier stops on the PGA Tour, the Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by MasterCard traditionally draws one of the strongest fields among golf tournaments from around the world. In addition to Woods, still rehabbing his knee after reconstructive surgery last summer, other past champions who could return include Phil Mickelson, Ernie Els, Vijay Singh, Fred Couples, Kenny Perry, Chad Campbell, Tim Herron, Rod Pampling and Paul Goydos.

For tickets to the 2009 Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by MasterCard or for more information, log on to the tournament web site, www.arnoldpalmerinvitational.com or call the ticket office at Bay Hill at 407-876-7774 or toll free at 1-866-764-4843. Tournament proceeds benefit the Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children and the Winnie Palmer Hospital for Women and Babies.

Posted by scurry at 04:16 PM

Palmer Chosen for Southern Conference Inaugural Class of 10

January 29, 2009

The Southern Conference, once the home of most Atlantic Coast Conference and Southeastern Conference schools, chose Arnold Palmer among its inaugural Hall of Fame class of 10.

"We're extremely proud of this announcement, one that's been 88 years in the making," league commissioner John Iamarino said. "The achievements of this first group of inductees are truly remarkable."

Palmer, a member of the World Golf Hall of Fame, played at Wake Forest from 1948-50 and 1953-54. He was the NCAA's stroke-play medalist in 1949 and 1950, helping the Demon Deacons win the 1950 SoCon title. Palmer won the Southern Conference championship in 1948 and 1949. As a pro, Palmer won seven major championships, including four Masters.

Others named to the hall were Jerry West of West Virginia; Sam Huff of West Virginia; Dick Groat of Duke; Charlie "Choo Choo" Justice of North Carolina; Frank Selvy of Furman; Adrian Peterson of Georgia Southern; Melissa Morrison Howard of Appalachian State; Valorie Whiteside of Appalachian State; and Megan Dunigan of Furman.

Others named to the hall were Jerry West of West Virginia; Sam Huff of West Virginia; Dick Groat of Duke; Charlie "Choo Choo" Justice of North Carolina; Frank Selvy of Furman; Adrian Peterson of Georgia Southern; Melissa Morrison Howard of Appalachian State; Valorie Whiteside of Appalachian State; and Megan Dunigan of Furman.

Posted by scurry at 04:21 PM

Arnold Palmer and Bob Hope

January 14, 2009

Two old friends will be getting together in the desert this week and the golf world is invited to whoop it up right along with the chuckling chums.

Arnold Palmer and Bob Hope have been linked in golf and fun for more than 50 years. The gala 50th anniversary of the Bob Hope Classic, Jan. 19-25, will be hosted by Palmer, the man who through dint of being a five-time Hope winner, could for years have practically claimed co-ownership of the tournament.

“It is very special to me to be asked to serve as host of the 50th anniversary Bob Hope Classic,” Palmer says. “I enjoyed some of my greatest success in the Hope in the early years and have loved the Palm Springs area ever since I first laid eyes on it.

“I consider it a great honor to follow in the footsteps of Bob Hope as host of this wonderful tournament, which has been a PGA Tour mainstay for so many years. I thought the world of Bob Hope and spent many priceless hours with him on and off the golf course.

“He loved the game and was a great contributor to its growth and popularity.”

The Hope, coming  just two months prior to the March 23-29 Arnold Palmer Invitational at Bay Hill Club, (www.arnoldpalmerinvitational.com), puts Palmer in the unique position of hosting two marquee PGA tournaments before the season’s first major, a fact not lost on Hope organizers.

“We are privileged to have Arnold Palmer as our host for this special year and we know Bob would agree,” says Hope Classic president Dave Erwin. “There is not a more appropriate person to help us celebrate our 50th year of this wonderful event. In addition to his success here as a player, it was because of Arnold’s classic style and unmatched connection to his adoring fans that we ever reached such an honorable milestone.”

The Palmer-Hope relationship predates by nearly four years the wave of sporting and celebrity popularity that would make the Palmer name as famous as Hope’s. It was in 1954 after the Latrobe golfer’s pivotal U.S. Amateur victory that Hope invited the 25-year-old Palmer to New York to appear on the monthly “Bob Hope Show” in the then-still fledgling television industry.

“I was in awe of Bob Hope and the situation,” Palmer told Kingdom Magazine recently. “Bob made me feel like I had known him for years from that very first show. And I was surprised at how casual he was about it. He made some offhand comments about how to play golf and how good he was.”

No one, not even the soon-to-be professional himself, sensed at the time just how good Palmer was about to become.

It wasn’t until the Masters in 1958 that Palmer truly vaulted onto the national consciousness, a place from which he’s never been dislodged.

He went on to win 92 times on the PGA Tour, highlighted by seven major championships. The total ranks him fifth on the all-time winner’s list, but it was his go-for-broke style and approachable, charismatic personality that’s made him an indelible fan favorite.

Many of his career playing and course design highlights have Coachella Valley desert roots. He played his first tournament there in 1956 at the Thunderbird Invitational, a tournament that was home to his first desert win in 1959 with a come-from-behind final-round 62.

The next year he won the inaugural Palm Springs Golf Classic, the tournament that would be renamed for host and golf fanatic Bob Hope. He won the Hope again in 1962, ‘68, ‘71 and in ‘73 overtook and fended off a tenacious Jack Nicklaus for what would be his final victory of his stellar PGA Tour career.

He returned in 1986 to participate in the first Skins Game played at PGA West.

He skipped the tournament for the first time in 1997 when he underwent successful prostate cancer surgery. But he was back the next year and in 2001 he shot a 1-under par 71 to become the first player in tournament history to shoot his age.

And, competitive golf aside, Palmer’s had more than his share of memories that had nothing to do with pressure putts and high-stakes golf.

In 1963, he appeared in Hope’s popular movie, “Call Me Bwana.”

Palmer’s left his mark in other ways, as well. Arnold Palmer Design Company has designed five Palm Springs-area courses, three of which -- SilverRock Resort, Bermuda Dunes and Palmer Private at PGA West -- are in this week’s Hope rotation.

After a week of galas, golf and recollections about both Palmer and Hope, who died at age 100 in 2003, Palmer will return to Bay Hill and begin immersing himself in the upcoming Arnold Palmer Invitational. Much of the pre-tournament buzz centers on speculation if defending and five-time champion Tiger Woods will make his heralded return to Tour golf after following up his stirring 2008 U.S. Open victory with knee surgery.

“We’re sure hoping that it will be his time to make his return to professional golf,” Palmer says. “I hear he’s training very hard. I hope he’ll be ready to make his return to defend again at Bay Hill. The tournament date’s moved to the end of March and that should help our field, always a strong one, be stronger still. Also, being later in the spring will improve weather and course conditions. We’re very excited at Bay Hill.”

But first things first: Palmer will be spending time treading much-loved and familiar ground. It’s a place studded with so many Palmer courses, memories and events (and don’t forget Arnold Palmer’s Restaurant, www.arnoldpalmers.net, in La Quinta!) that reporters filing stories from the  desert can be excused if the datelines refer to PALMER SPRINGS, Calif.

Because that’s what it’ll be all next week.

Posted by scurry at 02:13 PM

Palmer, Grandson Sam Saunders Impress in Father/Son Event

December 10, 2008

Arnold Palmer and his grandson, Sam Saunders, teamed up again in the Del Webb Father/Son Challenge tournament and for the second year in a row put on an impressive performance.

Palmer and Saunders, a junior on Clemson University golf team, followed up a tie-for-sixth finish in 2007 with a tie-for-seventh this December at ChampionsGate Golf Resort near Orlando, Florida. They posted two rounds of 64 in the 36-hole scramble event won by Larry Nelson and his son, Drew, with a score of 123.

Eighteen fathers who have won major championships on the PGA Tour team up with sons or daughters in the unique tournament televised by NBC that showcases the greatest players in the modern era of the game. Palmer was extended a special invitation several years ago to play with his oldest grandson in the event.

The Arnold Palmer Medical Center Foundation in Orlando is among the beneficiaries of the tournament proceeds.

Posted by scurry at 04:39 PM

NEWPORT DUNES OPENS TO GREAT REVIEWS

New Arnold Palmer Design golf course in Port Aransas, Texas Newport Dunes Golf Club in Port Aransas, Texas, just opened this autumn, but the Arnold Palmer-designed course is already being recognized as one of the few true links courses in the United States. It has no trees and lots of wind and roll, making it a must-play destination for links course lovers.

“I always wanted to design a golf course in the traditional style, and I am excited to have had the opportunity with Newport Dunes. It is a hidden gem that will draw the attention of golfers throughout the region and across the country,” Palmer said of the latest work by his Arnold Palmer Design Company, with headquarters at Palmer’s Bay Hill Club & Lodge in Orlando, Florida.

APDC was founded in 1972 and has been responsible for the design of approximately 300 golf courses around the world. Newport Dunes is located on historic Mustang Island in the vintage town of Port Aransas, a location along the Gulf of Mexico noted – in addition to golf -- for its deep-sea fishing, bird watching, beach, ocean and leisure activities.

The par-71 golf course stretches to 6,985 yards from the championship tees and plays through the sand dunes of the Texas coast. It will be sure to challenge any golfer with a warm gulf breeze, fast and rolling greens, and deep stacked and walled bunkers.

“The signature holes are Nos. 13, 14, and 15,” Palmer said. “These holes are located along the Gulf of Mexico and are routed through natural sand dunes. Each of the holes offers spectacular views of the beach and the ocean. The course is designed in the true links style with pot bunkers that are very similar to the classic courses such as St. Andrews.

Posted by scurry at 09:08 AM

PALMER COURSE SELECTED BEST IN CHINA

October 31, 2008

A golf course designed by Arnold Palmer Design Company – Beijing Cascades – has been selected as the "Best New Course in China 2007-2008" by Golf Magazine China.

"It’s very nice to be recognized as doing the best work in China right now. We intend to maintain that reputation with our work there in the future," said Arnold Palmer about the No. 1 designation.

The design of the 18 holes at Beijing Cascades Country Golf Club began in May 2005 and the 7,272-yard, par-72 golf course opened in 2007. The location is in Beijing’s Chaoyang District, on Dongwei Road.

Arnold Palmer Design reached the Chinese capital three decades after Palmer reintroduced golf to that country. Palmer's Chung Shan Hot Spring design in southern China in the 1980s was the first new golf course in the country in more than half a century and touched off China’s still-on-going golf boom.

A private golf club for members only, Beijing Cascades features deluxe villas designed by DFS Architects of Canada and a top-notch clubhouse which includes a swimming pool, restaurant, cafeteria, pro shop, business center, meeting rooms and guest rooms.

Beijing Cascades takes its name from the breathtaking scenes of cascading water to be found on the property. Clear lakes, winding bridges and manicured gardens may also be seen.

An additional nine holes at Beijing Cascades have been designed and are currently under construction. The new holes should be open next year, and Palmer promises they will be "just as stunning as the first 18."

Work is also underway on a new Arnold Palmer Design course in Kunming, China, and should be completed next year.

Posted by scurry at 05:45 PM

Palmer Honored at United States Navy Memorial's 2008 "Lone Sailor" Awards Dinner

October 01, 2008

WASHINGTON, D.C. [October 1, 2008] – Sports legend and Coast Guard veteran Arnold Palmer was honored last night for his service to country and community at the United States Navy Memorial’s 2008 “Lone Sailor” Awards Dinner. Joining Mr. Palmer were honorees A. G. Lafley, Chairman and CEO of Procter and Gamble and former Navy Supply Corps Officer; and Congressman Norm Dicks (D-WA), currently serving his 16th term of office and member of the Appropriations and Homeland Security Committee. John McConnell, recently deceased founder of Worthington Industries, was also recognized posthumously. The black tie gala was held at The National Building Museum, 401 F. Street, NW, Washington, D.C.

Palmer was honored with the Lone Sailor Award, given to Sea Service veterans who have distinguished themselves in their respective careers while exemplifying the core values of Honor, Courage and Commitment. He joins an impressive list of men and women who have distinguished themselves by drawing upon their military experience to become successful.

For further information on the U.S. Navy Memorial and the Lone Sailor Awards Dinner, visit www.navymemorial.org, or call (202) 737-2300.

(l-r) Former Secretary of Homeland Security Tom Ridge, presenter at the 2008 Lone Sailor Awards Dinner, with sports legend and Coast Guard veteran Arnold Palmer and Rear Adm. Richard A. Buchanan, USN (Ret.), President and CEO of the United States Navy Memorial, at the September 30 gala benefit in Washington, DC.

Posted by scurry at 02:30 AM

Arnold Palmer's Guide to the Ryder Cup 2008

September 19, 2008

Rarely has a Ryder Cup been more eagerly awaited than the 37th version of this 81-year-old series which tees off in earnest on the morning of Friday 19 September.

Valhalla Golf Club in Kentucky, where two PGA Championships have been staged over the past dozen years, is the venue for this imminent biennial contest between the best male professional golfers from the United States and Europe.

Enjoy the Arnold Palmer foreward and interview from this years guide or visit the official Ryder Cup website.

Posted by scurry at 12:42 PM

THE KING ON THE CUP

Fresh off a design visit to White Oak Plantation in Tryon, North Carolina, where he relaxed with back-to-back major winner Padraig Harrington, Arnold Palmer was feeling expansive. With his dog Mulligan, as always, by his side, Palmer talked at length about the impending 2008 Ryder Cup with correspondent Chris Rodell. Palmer's Ryder Cup record of 22-8-2 in Ryder Cup play remains one of the top records ever in the vaunted competition.

Q: Tell us about the 1967 Ryder Cup at Houston's Champion's Club - you did a little low altitude reconnaissance over the Champion's Club?

Arnold Palmer: It was in my Jet Commander. I got a call and had to explain to the FAA what I did. I didn't really violate any aviation rules, but I was low enough that I scared some cattle. I had the whole British team on board with me at the time. They all threw up.

Q: The Euros have so much exuberant camaraderie and when the Americans try to duplicate it they come off looking stiff. What would you advise to get them to loosen up?

AP: The European team spends a lot of time traveling together on the European tour. They stay at the same hotels and they have a camaraderie that comes from the nature of the travel. It puts them together and consequently they all become buddies and friends. They know each other. The American guys are less inclined to travel together. They usually fly airplanes to the tournaments. They're not put in any atmosphere where they are together constantly, as the European team is. It keeps the Americans from ever getting really close. It's not something that's planned. It's just the nature of the beast.
It's tough. They can make an effort to get together and play together, and that would help their attitude as far as competitiveness is concerned.

Q: What is it about the Ryder Cup that causes some players like Colin Montgomerie to become so surprisingly dominant when they can't seem to close in the big ones during medal play? Would you pick him for your team?

AP: I know Colin, but I don't know him well enough to forecast his nature. He's certainly played will in the Ryder Cup and has played well in general for a lot of years. I'd sure pick him for the team. He's a player of great renown and has proven he has the ability to compete at the top level at the Ryder Cup.

Q: There has been some talk that the Ryder Cup might stretch to four days of competition and adopt the Presidents Cup format. Would you agree with this?

AP: If four days would be better, then that's fine. I suppose that would have to be determined by the officials and the networks. I think the galleries would support it.

Q: Paul Azinger was expected to set up Valhalla to suit a long-hitting American team. But with the likes of Justin Leonard and Ben Curtis among the eight automatic qualifiers, should he re-think that strategy?

AP: I think Justin and Ben are good enough players that they can handle any situation on any length golf course.

Q: What effect will the absence of Tiger Woods have on the Ryder Cup?

AP: It certainly is a downer, but on the other hand I could take a positive attitude and say the other players will spine up and show they have the ability to carry the flag without him.

Q: Do you believe Padraig Harrington's back-to-back majors will give the European team any significant boost?

AP: I don't think it's going to make a great deal of difference. Having won three majors in the last year is certainly a positive. I talked to him the other day and he's certainly a very nice young man. I give him all the due I can, but I don't think winning any major will have any influence at the Ryder Cup. I'd met him before, but didn't get to spend as much time with him as I did the past days. I got him to commit to playing Bay Hill and I'm very pleased about that. And it didn't take a bit of arm twisting. He was very, very willing to tell me he'd be at Bay Hill, and we'll be glad to have him.

Q: Padraig's an investor at White Oak. How's that course coming along?

AP: He's going to have a house there. It's an Irish property owned by the famous Irish rally car racer Austin McHale. It's in the North Carolina foothills with a lot of stones and streams. It's very attractive. They've done a very fine job. We're all very enthused with how White Oak's going to turn out.

Q: When he lost to Harrington at last year's Open, it took Sergio Garcia the best part of nine months to rediscover his form and confidence. How long will it take him to recover from this latest disappointment and will the Ryder Cup help in that respect?

AP: I think he'll do very well. I think Sergio's a great player. Some guys, it just takes a little longer. I was one of them. I was older when I started winning. I think Sergio has a great chance to be an outstanding player as time goes on. I think he needs to just slow down and really get to it, and I think that's going to happen.

Q: How big an advantage is it to have the Ryder played in your home country?

AP: Not much. I think most of the guys who play on either side have enough experience to understand the circumstances. They're veterans or they wouldn't be on the team. The crowds won't affect them.

Q: What will you be doing during the week of the Ryder Cup?

AP: I'll certainly watch it and I'll certainly be very interested in it. I've toned down my travel and am going to fewer events unless I've been asked participate in a charity event. I'm really becoming more of a homebody and not traveling so much. I've been enjoying watching the Olympics, too. I think those two American gals that won the gymnastics gold and silver are really attractive and are wonderful athletes. It's been fun to watch.

Q: What ingredients does a course need to be a Ryder course?

AP: Heritage and tradition are certainly important, but I don't think things like that matter much to the audiences. I don't think an older golf course with lots of heritage and tradition is going to make a difference when it comes to playing the matches.

Q: Are there any courses you are currently constructing that could be future Ryder Cup venues?

AP: I think all of them would be outstanding venues. Some would be less likely to host because of the venue or the surroundings wouldn't be appropriate, but we've built some great quality courses that would be outstanding for Ryder Cup purposes.

Q: Which was harder to arrange, persuading the PGA of America to stage the 1975 event at Laurel Valley, or helping your course at The K Club become the host venue in 2006?

AP: In each case, it required an effort that I was more than happy to make. I was very pleased to have the world see the Ryder Cup at the K Club and participate in it. And even though I wanted the Americans to win and they didn't, I think it was extremely successful. Same with Laurel Valley with the opposite outcome where I was pleased to be the captain and have it at my club, which is something that doesn't happen very often.

Q: Golf is, for the most part, an individual's sport. How does a Ryder captain build a team dynamic?

AP: Sometimes I think we talk too much publicly. I think we need to deal with the individuals on a more private basis. The hype for the Ryder Cup is very important and it's important for the press to get enough to do their big stories. But I also think it's important for the players to have a confidence among themselves. And, more importantly, they have to have the confidence, the knowledge and the feeling that they can win. If they go with the attitude that they're the underdogs and are not as good as the opposing team then they're in trouble and I think that's been the case as of late.

Q: You were the last playing captain of the U.S. team, are there any current players that you think could fulfill that dual duty, or is the modern captain's role just too large a job?

AP: I'd like to think there's still room for a playing captain. I think it adds a little intrigue to the matches. I'd like to see Paul Azinger play his way onto the team. I think that would be wonderful. And I think that would certainly be possible. Most of the recent captains have been in the twilight years of their PGA Tour careers, but I'd like to see it happen again someday with a younger captain.

Q: This year Azinger has four picks. Do you think that makes his job easier or more difficult?

AP: I think it gives him more of an opportunity to select guys that he knows are hot and are playing very well. I suppose I would consider that a plus.

Q: What's the off-course Ryder Cup experience like for the teams? Do you think it's changed from when you were playing, and if it has, then how?

AP: I enjoyed watching the guys and encouraging them. I wanted to be there to add some confidence to their mind set to help pull them together. That was important to me, to get all the guys in a frame of mind where they were really starting good and could keep that momentum going. I'm sure that still goes on.

Q: How was it possible that you won The Masters in 1958 (and several other tournaments) but weren't selected for the 1959 Ryder Cup team?

AP: I wasn't earning points because I wasn't a PGA member. I was still in my apprentice period and back then that lasted for five years. They changed all the rules right away after that, but it was too late for '59. Had that same system been in place in 1997, neither Tiger Woods nor Justin Leonard would have qualified to play at Valderama.

Q: What was you worst Ryder Cup moment?

AP: (ponders) I don't know that I'd ever had a worst moment at the Ryder Cup. Every team I played on won. I didn't like losing, but when I did lose matches to Peter Oosterhuis or Peter Allis, with whom I had some great matches, it was after I'd done my best. And sometimes that's going to happen.

Q: What was your greatest Ryder Cup moment?

AP: The first Ryder Cup I played on when they played 'God Save the Queen' and 'The Star-Spangled Banner' were certainly touching moments. I was very proud. Then there was the time in '67 on Hogan's team where Julius Boros and I were getting trounced in a four-ball against Hugh Boyle and George Will. I looked up and saw Jackie Burke. He said, 'Well, Palmer. Let me see you get out of this one.' I said, 'C'mon, Jackie, give me a break.' He says, 'I'll give you a break. I've heard about all your charges. If you win this match I'll hand make you a beautiful clock.' Well, that clock's sitting on the shelf in my workshop over there. That was special.

Q: Who was your toughest ever opponent in all the Ryder Cups in which you played, and why?

AP: I think they're all tough. Anyone who earns his way onto the Ryder Cup is good and capable of kicking anybody's rear at some point or another.

Q: If you could re-play one shot from your prestigious Ryder Cup history, which one would it be and why?

AP: No, I can't think of a single shot that had me saying, 'Gee, I'd love to have that one back.' That would really take some very deep thought and that kind of deep thought isn't there anymore (laughs).

Q: Who do you think will win at Valhalla, and why?

AP: I think it's a toss-up. It's going to be tough. I suppose if I had to give one team an edge, I'd give it to the European team. Both teams have some very fine players, but the Europeans have some players with the real hot hand and will be difficult to beat.

Posted by scurry at 07:37 AM

Arnold Palmer Forward to the 2008 Ryder Cup

September 18, 2008

Courtesy of Victory at Valhalla Arnold Palmer's Guide to the Ryder Cup 2008

THE RYDER CUP has been a marvelous event over more than eight decades, and it particularly pleases me that its prestige on both sides of the Atlantic continues to grow. It is now without question one of the most important occasions, not just in golf but the whole of sport.

Unfortunately, the U.S. team has been on the receiving end of some sound beatings during our past three encounters with Europe and all patriotic American golf fans, including myself, are keeping fingers crossed that fortunes will be reversed at Valhalla.

The absence of Tiger Woods, will be a blow to captain Paul Azinger––but the Ryder Cup is a team event and if his team-mates rally round, pull together and play the course they can emerge victorious. Each one of them is going to have to stand up and be counted.

Quite a few rookies will be turning out for the U.S. this time and I think that can only be a good thing. Some of them may be inexperienced, but playing without fear will be the key in the pressure-cooker arena of Valhalla.

It is quite clear we can expect another strong display from the Europeans. I have been particularly impressed by Padraig Harrington, but there have been some other standout performances this season from the likes of Sergio Garcia, Lee Westwood, Henrik Stenson, Miguel Angel Jimenez, Justin Rose and Ian Poulter. It's going to take quite and effort from our Americans if they are to regain Sam Ryder's iconic trophy.

Some of my fondest golfing memories are from the Ryder Cup, both as a player and as a captain, and it was therefore a matter of considerable pride that the 2006 matches were staged over the Palmer Course at The K Club near Dublin. Despite the weather––and they had plenty of it that week––the course held up well and delivered a memorable, if ultimately one-sided spectacle.

Enjoy this magazine. I hope it provides you with an insight into the event, its history and the players, and prove to be a useful companion to the three days of the Ryder Cup.

I hope that in terms of the quality of golf and the ethics of fair play that the 37th installment in this historic series lives up to the standards set by so many of its predecessors.

Whatever the result, my fervent wish is for the game of golf to be deemed the winner.

~ Arnold Palmer

Posted by scurry at 09:30 AM

EXCITEMENT IS THEME AS TICKET SALES START FOR 2009 Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by MasterCard

September 03, 2008

With its latest dates ever – two weeks before the Masters – expectations are high as ticket sales begin today for the 2009 Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by MasterCard.

The API will be played on the week of March 23-29, the same slot on the PGA Tour schedule occupied until two years ago by The Players Championship and last year by a World Golf Championship event. Those tournaments attracted large numbers of highly ranked players from the World Ranking, playing their way to Augusta.

The 2009 Masters will be on the week of April 6-12.

Tournament Director Scott Wellington said: “We have always had one of the best fields of players in the world, according to the World Ranking, including most of the highest-ranked players. But we believe next year we will have more depth of players who previously have not included us on their schedules.

“We also hope we will get several more higher-ranked players.”

This will be the 31st year of the PGA Tour event which started in 1979 at Arnold Palmer’s Bay Hill Club & Lodge in Orlando, Florida. The latest tournament dates previously were March 22-25, 1990, and the earliest dates were February 26-March 1, 1981.

The 2009 API ticket brochure features defending champion Tiger Woods and the theme line for the year: “The Signature of Excitement.” – a reminder of Woods and his fist-pumping finale in 2008, when he holed a rousing 24-foot putt on the final green to win by one stroke. Woods posted a pair of 66s on the weekend for a 270 total, 10 under par, and his fifth professional victory at Bay Hill.

“No one knows when Tiger will return, but with Tiger here the excitement would be over the top. Regardless, we believe we will have one of our best fields ever,” Wellington said. For tickets to the 2009 Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by MasterCard or for more information, log on to the tournament web site, www.arnoldpalmerinvitational.com or call the ticket office at Bay Hill at 407-876-7774 or toll free at 1-866-764-4843. Tournament proceeds benefit the Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children and the Winnie Palmer Hospital for Women and Babies.

Posted by scurry at 12:06 PM

Arnold Palmer to be Recognized for Service to Country & Community

August 14, 2008

Sports Legend and Coast Guard Veteran One of Four Sea Service Veterans and Supporters Fêted at 2008 Lone Sailor Awards Dinner September 30

WASHINGTON, D.C. [August 14, 2008]– Sports legend and Coast Guard veteran Arnold Palmer will be honored for his service to country and community at the United States Navy Memorial’s 2008 “Lone Sailor” Awards Dinner on Tuesday, September 30. Joining Mr. Palmer are honorees A. G. Lafley, Chairman and CEO of Procter and Gamble and former Navy Supply Corps Officer; and Congressman Norm Dicks (D-WA), currently serving his 16th term of office and member of the Appropriations and Homeland Security Committee. John McConnell, recently deceased founder of Worthington Industries, will also be recognized posthumously. The black tie gala is set for The National Building Museum, 401 F. Street, NW, Washington, D.C.

Palmer will be honored with the Lone Sailor Award, given to Sea Service veterans who have distinguished themselves in their respective careers while exemplifying the core values of Honor, Courage and Commitment. He joins an impressive list of men and women who have distinguished themselves by drawing upon their military experience to become successful.

“Our honorees are living examples of how service to country changes lives and helps develop leaders – whether it be in the world of sports, politics, government, the private sector or the arts,” said Rear Adm. Richard A. Buchanan, USN (Ret.), President and CEO of the United States Navy Memorial. “The common theme they all express is that their public service has made them who they are today and motivates them to continue to give back to our society.”

A budding golf career came to full life after Palmer completed his three-year hitch in the Coast Guard in early 1954. Later that same year, he won the U. S. Amateur Championship, turned professional, married and launched one of the greatest careers in the history of the game.

In the process, he became a very successful business executive, prominent advertising spokesman, skilled business jet pilot and prominent golf course designer and consultant. He has participated in countless philanthropic activities both locally and nationally during his lifetime, among them nearly 20 years of service as Honorary National Chairman of the March of Dimes and more recently supporting national programs dealing with prostate cancer prevention, treatment and research.

On the golf courses of the world, he amassed 92 professional victories, including the Masters Tournament four times, the 1960 U.S. Open championship and the British Open championship in 1961 and 1962. His exploits were recognized by the Associated Press as the “Athlete of the Decade” in the 1960s and with the Hickok Belt (professional athlete of the year) and Sports Illustrated Sportsman of the year in 1960.

“Certainly, my three years in the Coast Guard played in big part in what came along later in life for me,” said Palmer. “It helped prepare me to deal with the ups and downs that everyone faces as an adult in today’s world. I wouldn’t trade those three years in the service for anything.”

Conveniently located on Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W. (between 7th and 9th Streets), the United States Navy Memorial, known as “the Anchor of Penn Quarter,” honors the men and women of the United States Navy – past, present and future. The outdoor plaza features a “Granite Sea” map of the world, towering masts with signal flags, fountain pools and waterfalls and The Lone Sailor© statue. Adjacent to the outdoor plaza is the Naval Heritage Center, where visitors can find educational displays about the contributions of the men and women of the Sea Services (Navy, Marine Corps, Coast Guard and Merchant Marine). Also housed in the Naval Heritage Center is The Navy Log, the National Registry of Sea Service, where members, veterans and their families can search for shipmates and register a permanent record of their service for free. Call (202) 737-2300 or visit www.navymemorial.org for more information.

Posted by scurry at 05:58 PM

Palmer Attends USGA Grand Opening

May 30, 2008

On June 3, 2008, Arnold Palmer will attend the USGA Museum and Arnold Palmer Center for Golf History grand re-opening ceremony.

Moving forward The Palmer Center will be the premier institution in the world for the study and education of golf history.

The Palmer Center will offer more than 7,500 square feet of public space, with more than 5,000 square feet of that space devoted to permanent exhibitions discussing key moments in USGA Championship history. A collection of the nation's most significant golf artifacts and documents also will be displayed here. Many of these artifacts will be on display to the public for the first time.

The museum's galleries will provide visitors with engaging displays enhanced by multi-media elements and interactive kiosks. Collectively, the exhibits will present a new history of golf in the United States, focusing on the relationship between the game and the major historical, political and cultural events of the nation.

The signature architectural feature of the Palmer Center, the Hall of Champions, will celebrate every USGA champion and championship, beginning in 1895 with the first U.S. Amateur. A rotunda, illuminated by a clerestory, will feature all 13 USGA trophies, while listing winners of every championship on bronze panels that encircle the hall. Several kiosks situated throughout the exhibition galleries will host a new USGA Championship database that will allow visitors to search every championship by player, site and year.

For more information on the USGA Museum visit www.usga.org.

Posted by scurry at 12:30 PM

Five guys, one question: What's your favorite Palmer story?

May 26, 2008

Frank Nobilo, Robert Trent Jones II, Chi Chi Rodriguez and others tell their favorite Palmer stories.

Five guys, one question: What’s your favorite Arnold Palmer story?

A U.S. Open always draws experts from diverse fields to what for one week is the absolute center of the golf universe.

That makes it a good time to ask a variety of golf industry people -- players, architects, golf journalists -- about the one story they like to tell about golfing icon Arnold Palmer above all others. Here are some of their answers:

• Frank Nobilo, former PGA player & current commentator The Golf Channel: “You could say that Arnold Palmer kept me from quitting golf. It was back in 1995 at the Masters and I was playing dreadfully. I’d shot an 81 the day before and had thought about withdrawing. I was really about my game. I told my coach I was planning on quitting and he said, ‘Man, you couldn’t if you wanted to. You’re scheduled to golf tomorrow with Arnold Palmer.’ What was I going to do? Let Arnold Palmer play Augusta as a one-ball? So I showed up the next day determined to do my best. He didn’t know me from Adam, but Arnold greeted me on the first tee with the warmest handshake and twinkle in his eye. Just that look let me knew he was out there to have fun and I was invited to be a part of it. And what a time it was. Neither one of us was going to nudge our way onto the leader board, but it was a lively round and I got to have my own mini-Masters with Arnold Palmer.”

• Bubba Watson, professional golfer: “My favorite Arnold Palmer story? That was the day I got to meet him and shake his hand. Yeah, he probably shook a couple hundred other hands that day, but I spent the next week showing people that hand that shook the hand of Arnold Palmer.”

• Chi Chi Rodriguez, World Golf Hall of Famer: “People on tour used to complain that Arnold Palmer got preferential treatment. I’d ask them, ‘Do you want preferential treatment, too? Then start treating everyone the way Arnold Palmer does.’ When I came on tour in 1960, he was the man who came up and offered his friendship. He treated me with great respect. He’s old school like that. He treats everyone with respect. And, man, I loved the way he played the game. Some guys went for the pin some of the time, but Arnold always went for the pin. Still does. Man, you could put the pin thousands of feet below sea level on the deck of the Titanic and Arnold would scramble to find a scuba suit and get diving. He’ll always go for it. That’s why I like Sean O’Hair this week. He plays like Palmer. Had O’Hair hit a 9 iron instead of a wedge into the 17th at TPC everybody would be talking about him as a favorite here at Oakmont. Keep your eye on him.”

• Cameron Morfit, senior writer, Golf Magazine: “My favorite Palmer moment may have came during the end of an interview I did with him a few years ago. He’d just gotten married and was a happy newlywed. I figured I’d ask him about if he used Viagra or not. I was a little reluctant to ask because I knew we’d get a lot of letters from people saying I was an impudent young jerk with no manners -- and I was afraid he might react that way, too! But I asked him and he came to life. He got a big smile on his face and said he didn’t need it. That he was still charging. I think the interview would have gone much better if I’d have asked him that first. He welcomed the question and was happy to talk about his virility. We got some letters complaining about the question, but Mr. Palmer didn't mind one bit.”

• Robert Trent Jones Jr., architect of more than 240 courses in 40 countries: “I could tell you tons of stories, but it would always come back to his warmth and generosity. The think I like about him, too, and this may surprise some people, are the courses he designs. I’m a big fan. Some marquee players design courses for their own ego, They never can get it through their heads that the key to designing courses is drainage, drainage, drainage. You need to spend 10 years working on bulldozers or hire people who have done the nitty-gritty. Arnold’s been smart enough to surround himself with the best people in golf, starting with Ed Seay and Erik Larsen. They're wonderful course designers and great people, too. Really, Arnold's building himself a nice legacy apart from his competitive career with the great courses he and his team have put together. My favorite Palmer designs? I like Orchid Island Golf Club in Vero Beach, Florida. I think they did a tremendous job at PGA West in La Quinta and Tralee Golf Club in Ireland has some brilliant holes out on the dunes.”

Posted by crodell at 06:23 PM

Exclusive 2008 Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by MasterCard Reports

March 16, 2008

Final Round

WOODS HAS ANOTHER UNBELIEVABLE FINISH FOR HIS FIFTH VICTORY IN ARNOLD PALMER INVITATIONAL PRESENTED BY MASTERCARD

As Tiger Woods studied his 25-foot birdie putt on the final hole of the 2008 Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by MasterCard, he was convincing himself that he could make it, because he had a similar putt in the same situation seven years earlier at the Bay Hill Club.

He was not alone in his thinking.

Arnold Palmer, the tournament host, stood behind the 18th green, waiting to present the trophy. He said to tournament director Scott Wellington: "You know what's going to happen, don't you?"

On the green, Woods struck the putt then started backing up, his eyes riveted on the ball. A third of the way along, the putt took a break to the right as Woods lowered into a crouch, his right hand moving towards his hat.

When the putt tumbled into the hole, Woods produced a celebration like none before. He arose, turned and slammed his hat to the ground as he let out a roar.

Moments later, Woods looked perplexed when caddie Steve Williams handed him his hat. "I was like, 'How did he get my hat?'" Woods said. "Evidently, it came off. I need to see the highlights. I was so into the moment of the putt going in and winning the golf tournament."

Woods and Palmer hugged, and Palmer said: "It doesn't surprise me you made the putt." To those around him, Palmer added: "Damn, I used to play and I know about these things. That's unbelievable."

It was the 64th victory on the PGA Tour for Woods, just 32 years old, tying him with Ben Hogan for third place on the career list behind Sam Snead (82) and Jack Nicklaus (73). Earlier this year, Woods passed Palmer (62). "It's pretty amazing to be in that kind of company," Woods said. "I've had an amazing run in my career, and hopefully, it continues."

The victory was his fifth in the Arnold Palmer Invitational. He became the first player in PGA Tour history to win four different tournaments at least five times each. It also extended his then-current PGA Tour winning streak to five (he placed fifth in his next tournament).

He closed with a six-under-par 66 for a 270 total, 10 under par, to win by one stroke over Bart Bryant, who shot 67 but said he was not surprised by the winning putt. "That's why he's Tiger Woods," Bryant said. "He has an incredible way of pulling off the shot or the putt when he needs to. He's done it before. He'll do it again."

Following Bryant, tied for third place at 273, were Cliff Kresge, who also shot 67, and Vijay Singh and Sean O'Hair, both with 69s.

Not since 2001, here against Phil Mickelson, had Woods won a PGA Tour event by one stroke with a birdie on the 72nd hole.

"I kept telling myself, 'I've done this before. I did it against Phil, and this time it's a bit deeper into the green and the putt has a little bit more break and it has a little more grain. I've done it before, and I can do it again," Woods said.

While everyone else was talking about the putt, the next morning when Woods called his swing coach, all he wanted to talk about was the shot that set it up. "He was so happy with himself," Hank Haney said.

It was a 5-iron from 164 yards, and those two numbers are an example why that was an exquisite shot. The wind had switched and was coming into him from the right. The flag was tucked behind the lake on a green framed by rocks. Bunkers guard the back of the green, which slopes toward the water.

Woods could have hit an 8-iron that distance, but Haney said Woods is all about control, and he prefers to use more club than usual in the wind.

On the shot, Woods held a slight cut with his 5-iron against the wind and posed over the shot until it landed safely, 25 feet above the hole. Williams, his caddie, held out his hand and Woods slapped it with force.

"It's always fun to see shots he gets excited about," Haney said.

"The hardest thing to do under pressure is play a delicate shot," Haney added. "Under the hardest conditions, you'd rather have a shot that you can swing at hard. All he could talk about was the shot on 18. He told me, 'I knew if I didn't do it right, I could up-shoot it into the wind and it's in the water. If I flipped it, I hit it into the back bunker.' He had to commit to do it correctly. And he pulled it off.

"That was phenomenal. That made him feel good."

Said Williams: "I just hope people, whether they like Tiger Woods or not, whether they like sports or not, realize what we're seeing. This is the greatest golfer ever they are looking at."

"You've all heard what I've had to say about Tiger in the past," Palmer said. "I can't see him doing anything but continuing to pass other people's records in the future. I don't see any change in what he's doing or how he's doing it. I think he is just in a position to continue to do the things that he's done very well up to this point."

The Associated Press, The New York Times, and Golf World contributed to this report.

First Round

COUPLES, HENRY POST 65s TO SHARE LEAD

Two men who haven't been in the lead for quite some time were well out in front of the one player who isn't used to being anywhere but at the top.

Former Bay Hill champion Fred Couples, who missed nearly all of last year because of his chronically bad back, fired an early 5-under-par 65 to set the pace in the first round of the Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by MasterCard. Late in the day, J.J. Henry posted one of only three bogey free rounds at the Bay Hill Club for his best score ever here to join Couples in the lead.

The two veterans were among the 33 players ahead of world No. 1 Tiger Woods, who has won his last four PGA Tour starts and eight of his last nine overall. The winner of four straight titles at Bay Hill (2000-2003), Woods couldn't get out of first gear with his swing in posting level-par 70.

"I just did not hit my irons very good," said Woods after his round of two birdies and two bogeys on a day with plenty of sunshine and mild breezes. "I missed some greens that I don't normally miss. "I missed one with a sand wedge, one with a pitching wedge - mistakes I don't normally make.

"I drove it well today. I drove a few drives to the right with my driver, but other than that, drove every single fairway. Just didn't take advantage of it."

Plenty of others did, however, though No. 2 Phil Mickelson wasn't among them. He bogeyed his opening hole and struggled to a 2-over 72.

England's Lee Westwood forged the lead alone with six birdies in his first 12 holes, but he couldn't sustain the run and ended up one-shot back at 4-under 66, tied with defending champion Vijay Singh, 1999 runner-up Tom Lehman and Lucas Glover.

Five men, including No. 8 Jim Furyk, were two behind with 67s.

Couples and Henry aren't the most likely pair to be perched on top.

Newly minted as the U.S. Presidents Cup captain for 2009, Couples, 48, started just three events last year because of his creaky back. He hadn't led a tournament since the third round of the 2005 Memorial Tournament and hadn't led after the first round since the 2003 Players Championship.

"I like to play well, and this year I've hit the ball pretty well," Couples, who won the 1992 Arnold Palmer Invitational, said after his second-best score in 55 rounds at Bay Hill. "Today was a good round on a very, very tough course, and that's kind of what I got out of it."

Henry, 32, who had missed four of seven cuts this year, hadn't broken par in eight rounds over three previous starts at Bay Hill. He hadn't held a lead since the first round of the 2004 AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am.

"Thanks for reminding me of that. Appreciate that. I shoot the best round of the day and all I hear is that," Henry said jokingly when his record at Bay Hill was mentioned.

"To be honest with you, it's been a little bit frustrating the start of the year for me," he said, turning serious. "I felt like I've actually worked hard early this year and towards the end of last year, and was really excited about starting the '08 season. I feel like I've been close, I really have. I had not quite figured it out. Maybe my ball-striking has been pretty good, and today finally just everything clicked and hit a lot of fairways and greens, which you have to do on a difficult golf course like this."

Couples also hit plenty of fairways (12) and greens (11), but unlike a week ago at the PODS Championship he was able to convert more opportunities. He needed a mere 23 putts.

He admits that he's excited by being named Presidents Cup captain, but his performance was more a product of feeling better and being able to put more work into his game.

"There's definitely a boost. It's very exciting," Couples said of his role as captain. "(But) nothing that I know of except for practice is going to make you play better. I did work with [instructor] Butch (Harmon) before I went to Tampa and I started to feel pretty good. I actually played OK there.

"But coming here, you know, I think just seeing everyone and having Tiger laugh at you and Mickelson, and have a few young guys tell me they want to make the team ... you know, it's all a nice feeling. I don't know how long it's going to last. But you know, it's good. It's good, because I'm playing."

And playing quite well, at that.

First Round

LEHMAN HAS HIS BEST ROUND OF THE YEAR

It's no surprise that Tom Lehman is playing well again at the Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by MasterCard. After all, he's finished in the top 10 at Bay Hill on four occasions, including a runner-up showing in 1999, and seven times overall in his 15 appearances.

But at age 49 and coming off a dispiriting run on the West Coast, Lehman wasn't exactly brimming with confidence when he arrived in Orlando.

His fortunes dramatically improved when the former British Open champion opened the Arnold Palmer Invitational with a 4-under-par 66 to put himself on the leaderboard for the first time this year.

"The ability to play good golf is always there no matter how old you are. It just seems that it gets more difficult to do it consistently," Lehman said after traversing Bay Hill suffering one bogey against five birdies, including a 7-footer at the treacherous 18th. "I can play extremely well at times, but I don't play extremely well for extended periods of time like I used to."

Lehman hopes he can extend Thursday's play three more days after a solid performance - a vast departure from recent results. In five starts this year he's missed three cuts and was 55th and 58th in the other two.

"I play well here, generally. I like the course. It seems to fit my game," said Lehman, who lost to fellow Minnesota native Tim Herron in a playoff in 1999. "I like the way it looks. And I've played here a lot, so I've learned how to play it."

Since his last start at the Northern Trust Open, Lehman has relearned a bit about his swing with the help of close friend and former Tour player Dennis Trixler, who visited him in Scottsdale, Arizona. Trixler figured out Lehman's problem - a reverse pivot that was making his head dip on the backswing. That flaw removed, he's swinging well again, and hopeful for the rest of the week.

"I hate to play poorly, I just hate it," Lehman said. "The first five weeks of the year was a comedy of errors. Sometimes you just have to try to figure out, 'where do I have to go from here?' You go back to the simple little things, and just take care of the small things. If I can do the small things right, then the big things will take care of themselves."

First Round

HELLO AGAIN FOR WOODS, WILSON

Mark Wilson is no stranger to playing alongside the No. 1 player in the world. It's just that it's been awhile.

Wilson was paired with Tiger Woods for the first time in his professional career in the first round of the Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by MasterCard, and despite a quadruple-bogey 8 on the 18th hole, Wilson ended equaling Woods's score of even-par 70.

The last time Wilson shared the fairways with Woods was the final of the 1992 USGA Junior Amateur Championship at Wollaston Golf Club in Milton, Massachusetts. Woods won his second of three straight Junior Amateur titles, 1 up, after rallying from two down with five holes to play. (Woods won his first in 1991 at Bay Hill.)

"Things have changed a lot since then for both of us," Wilson said with a wry smile. "I have one win (at last year's Honda Classic) and he has a few more. He's a little better now than he was then.

"It was fun. We have children about the same age, and we talked about that ... dirty diapers and all," Wilson added. "You know, it wasn't something that was going to be overwhelming. I think I've been around long enough to be pretty secure with what I'm doing on the golf course."

Said Woods: "It's good to see him out here and a lot of guys that I grew up playing junior golf with and college golf with are all out here now. So a lot of good memories."

FURYK UPSWING

Jim Furyk, who has dipped to No. 8 in the world, wasn't happy with his play on the West Coast. After tying for fifth at the Mercedes-Benz Championship, he didn't post another finish better than 20th and was knocked out in the first round of the World-Golf Championships-Accenture Match Play Championship.

His game appears on the upswing after an opening 67 at Bay Hill.

"I think it's decent. It's not where I want it to be, but I'm not upset with it," said Furyk, whose best finish in the Arnold Palmer Invitational is a tie for eighth in 1998. "I played a good round. I would like to get a good week under my belt and build that one week to a few weeks and right now get some confidence."

TENNIS ANYONE?

Sergio Garcia, who briefly dated female tennis star Martina Hingis, hasn't lost his affection for the courts. The talented Spaniard was engrossed in a singles match with Andy Martinez, Tom Lehman's longtime caddie, late in the afternoon on Bay Hill's clay courts. Garcia was unwinding after shooting an even-par 70, tied for 35th place, in the opening round of the Arnold Palmer Invitational.

Second Round

SINGH STAKES HIS DEFENSE WITH 66-65 START

Thin to win is a common expression in golf.

Vijay Singh might be taking it to new extremes.

Eighteen pounds lighter after contracting food poisoning on a recent trip to a tournament in India, Singh is nonetheless playing the heavy again at the Bay Hill Club. The defending champion chipped in from off the green twice to shoot a 5-under-par 65 and forge a two-stroke lead in the Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by MasterCard.

Singh, 45, completed 36 holes in 9-under-par 131, two strokes better than Carl Pettersson, who also shot 65 for 133. Jim Furyk, Lee Westwood and Ken Duke were another stroke back at 134. Furyk and Duke shot 67 and Westwood 68.

Playing for the 16th year in a row at Bay Hill, where he has three times been runner-up, Singh posted his 13th straight sub-par score here and leads at the halfway mark for the second time.

"I hit the ball really good off the tee. I gave myself a lot of birdie opportunities," Singh said after matching his career low at Bay Hill. "It also helped by chipping in twice, as well, so those are always good to have. You know, playing solid, not doing anything special. Not doing anything too much wrong, either, of the just cruising along."

While Singh was cruising, four-time Bay Hill champion and No. 1 player in the world Tiger Woods was snoozing. Woods, who has a four-tournament winning streak on the PGA Tour on the line, fell farther off the pace after a 2-under 68. At this stage last year, Singh was in an identical position to Woods now, 138 and seven back of Rocco Mediate.

"I just wasn't swinging the club very well today, and when I did put myself in position to make a putt, I didn't make them," said Woods, who won his four titles consecutively from 2000-03. "I'll have to play better and make a lot more putts than I have been."

The cut fell at 2-over-par 142 with 71 players advancing.

Among the casualties sent packing were Dan Forsman, the 1986 winner, Tim Herron, the 1999 winner, Rod Pampling, the 2006 champion, and Rocco Mediate, last year's runner-up. Other notable players missing the cut included Paul Casey, Colin Montgomerie, Luke Donald, Scott Verplank, Stuart Appleby, Charles Howell III and Bay Hill member Daniel Chopra, who captured the season-opening Mercedes-Benz Championship.

Meanwhile, Wake Forest senior Webb Simpson birdied the last two holes and became the sixth amateur in tournament history to make the cut, shooting his second straight 71 for a 142 total.

Pat Perez recorded the 11th hole-in-one in tournament history and the second of his career on the way to 65, knocking in a 5-iron from 218 yards. He's among eight players tied with Woods for 20th place, as is first-round co-leader Fred Couples, who shot 73. J.J. Henry, who shared the first-round lead with Couples, is among four players tied for sixth after an even-par 70.

Singh, who lost a playoff at Pebble Beach earlier this year, played solidly but also benefited from two shots finding the hole from off the green. He canned a 45-foot chip at the par-3 14th hole for birdie, and then, after missing the green right of the par-5 sixth hole, found the bottom of the cup again, this time from 32 feet.

A famous practice player, Singh was down for five days with food poisoning, a "forced rest," he said. He didn't start hitting balls again until last Friday and didn't start to feel up to full strength until Wednesday's pro-am.

Fortunately, he's familiar with Bay Hill and comfortable here, and it's showing.

"I've played here, for, goodness, 15 years, every year, and it's very familiar," said Singh, winner of 31 PGA Tour titles, the last coming at this event. "I played more golf here than I did in TPC (Sawgrass, where he has a home) more or less, because TPC, I just go and play the tournament there. Here, it's every year I've played it. I've played more rounds here than any other tournament I've played.

"So, I'm just very familiar, very aware of where to hit it and where not to hit it, and just the familiarity I have with the golf course, the better I play," he added. "My game plan is the same. I don't change my game plan. More or less, sometimes I don't need a yardage from the caddie. I just know where to hit it; that's how much I know the golf course."

Second Round

IMMELMAN, DAVIS PLAY ON AFTER 64s

Moving day came early - but not a moment too soon - for two international players during the second round of the Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by MasterCard.

Taking advantage of a friendly mix of soft greens and softer breezes, South Africa's Trevor Immelman and England's Brian Davis each fired 6-under-par 64s, the low rounds of the tournament, to save themselves from what looked like a short week of work.

Immelman, 28, who has a home in Orlando, improved nine strokes thanks to a round of seven birdies against one bogey. The key to his day was hitting 15 greens in regulation.

Davis, 33, improved even more dramatically, trimming 11 shots off his opening score after converting nine birdies. Ironically, Davis hit the same number of greens each round - 13 - but his luck proved diametrically opposite. He needed just 24 putts compared to 36 the first round.

"I found something," said Davis, who tied for seventh at the Honda Classic two weeks ago after leading through 36 holes. "I played good today. I played good. I just hit it close quite a lot of times, and again, I left myself four-footers underneath the hole and that makes such a difference."

"I would say in general it was one of my best rounds," added Davis, who moved up from a tie for 101st to a tie for 29th place.

Immelman improved 66 places to a share of 16th place.

"It's been a massive difference between today and what I've produced the rest of the season, which has been pretty rubbish," said Immelman, who tied for seventh two weeks ago at the Honda Classic, his only top-10 finish of the season. "You know, I got off to a nice start and birdied my first hole which was the 10th, and just kept it going. And today I was able to make some free swings out there and hole the putts. When I hit it close, I holed the putt, and it was a great feeling to finally get a good round under my belt.

Like Davis, putting was the difference for Immelman.

"Yeah, I've put a lot of work into my putting in the last few weeks, and didn't putt very well yesterday and did some more work when I was done last night," Immelman said. "It's all about confidence. Once you start rolling a few in, that hole starts to look slightly bigger."

Second Round

SIMPSON ADDS NAME TO AMATEUR LIST

Amateur Webb Simpson, a senior at Wake Forest - attending on the Arnold Palmer Scholarship - joined a distinguished group in making the 36-hole cut at the Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by MasterCard.

With his second straight 1-over-par 71, Simpson became the seventh amateur to qualify for the weekend at Bay Hill in the tournament's 30-year history. John Cook was the first in 1979, followed by Mitch Voges in 1992, John Harris in 1994, Matt Kuchar in 1998 and 1999 and Bubba Dickerson in 2002.

Simpson, 22, who plans to turn professional this summer, birdied the 17th and 18th holes at Bay Hill, two of the most difficult on the course, to sneak in on the number with a 142 total. He holed a 12-foot putt on the par-3 17th, and then holed out from off the green from 15 feet at the 18th.

"I'm just trying to soak it in," said Simpson, a U.S. Walker Cup player competing for the second time at Bay Hill after winning his second Southern Amateur title in 2007. "This year I feel a lot more at home than in 2006, which is good because I need to get used to being out here."

HOMETOWN HERO

After shooting an 83 in the second round of last week's PODS Championship, Cliff Kresge returned to his Orlando area home and worked hard on some adjustments to his swing. Now his fortunes are on the upswing.

Kresge is tied for sixth place after two rounds at Bay Hill at 5-under 135. His 68 followed 67 in the first round. Both scores better than any of his six previous rounds here.

"A couple of weeks ago I made a little bit of a swing change, and it seemed to have really paid off," Kresge said. "I'm getting a little more confidence with it, and I'm able to hit consistent shots, and I'm just ready to play now."

He's also ready to win on the PGA Tour, particularly at Bay Hill. "This would be as special as any major in my book because it's my hometown, so it would be really special for me."

MAJOR PHIL

Phil Mickelson, winner at Bay Hill in 1997, fired a 67 to move to 1-under 139 for the championship - a good round on a golf course that he has seen evolve into one of the toughest on the PGA Tour. "It has slowly become that," Mickelson said when asked about the course being on par with major venues in terms of its demands. "With the conversion of the par-5s to par-4s ... it's just getting a lot more difficult."

Third Round

WOODS, SINGH IN RECORD LOGJAM AT TOP

An unprecedented logjam atop the leaderboard at the Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by MasterCard sets up a final round of priceless possibilities.

Five men, including four-time Bay Hill winner Tiger Woods and defending champion Vijay Singh, share the lead at 6-under-par 204 after a topsy-turvy day full of highs and lows, eagles and others. Also in the mix are Bubba Watson, Bart Bryant and last week's winner of the PODS Championship, Sean O'Hair, who fired a bogey-free 63, the low round of the tournament.

The five tied at the top eclipsed by two the previous record for the number of players sharing the 54-hole lead set in 1990.

Just like Singh did a year ago, Woods, the No. 1 player in the world, made up seven shots in the third round after a solid 4-under 66. Woods, who has 63 career victories, has won 42 of 45 on the PGA Tour when holding at least a share of the 54-hole lead. A victory would tie him for third on the all-time list with Ben Hogan.

"It was a lot better today," said Woods, who won four straight at Bay Hill from 2000-03, all while playing in the final group, as he will with O'Hair. "Certainly hit the ball a lot more clean today and I was controlling my trajectory. If you don't hit the ball, you know, well today, you can shoot a pretty high number pretty easily."

Singh looked like he was going to be one of them, spilling five shots in the first eight holes before steadying himself for a 3-over 73. Bryant, one of seven men who were in first place at some juncture, posted his third consecutive 68. Watson also had 68.

"I just hung in there. I knew there was a lot of golf to be played," said Singh, 45, seeking his first win since last year's victory at Bay Hill. "I just believed in my swing and kept going. I fought back, and at least I have a chance."

Join the crowd. Twenty-four players are within four shots of the lead, including Nick Watney, whose eagle at No. 12 elevated him to a two-shot edge, only to see that evaporate with a quadruple bogey at 16. He ended up with 70.

The hot and increasingly windy day produced results so odd that one of the leaders, O'Hair, shot an inward 30, tying the nine-hole record, and another, Singh, stumbled to an outward 40 to end up in the same place. The top three players on the leaderboard at the start of the day - Singh, Lee Westwood and Carl Pettersson - combined to shoot 9 over par.

"I think it's anybody's game," Bryant said. "But if you're going to say, does it have somebody's game, obviously, he (Tiger) is the guy to beat, there's no doubt about it. That's not to say that somebody can't go out and play a great round and beat him, and not to say he's going to play perfect golf, either. It's definitely there for the taking."

O'Hair's score, which lifted him 49 places, was the lowest since Palmer converted the course to a par 70 last year. He had a chance to tie the course record shared by Andy Bean and Greg Norman but left short a downhill putt for birdie at the 18th.

Singh began the day with a two-shot lead, but gave way to Watney, who after an eagle at the 12th got to 9 under par. He yielded control to Bryant, who couldn't hang on either, promptly dunking a ball in the water at 16 and making bogey.

Ken Duke also had a piece of first place until bogeys at two of the last three dropped him into a tie for seventh with Watney, Westwood, Tom Lehman and Orlando's Cliff Kresge.

In sixth place alone is Hunter Mahan, who was 7 under par through 13 holes before settling for 65, moving up 32 places.

Of course, all eyes will likely be on Woods, who responded not only to a pre-round pep talk from Palmer, but also a bit of ribbing Friday night from Watson, who frequently joins him for practice rounds.

"You knew he was going to play good," Watson, the only left-hander in the lead group, said. "I sent him a text last night and said, 'You'd better get off your butt and start doing something,' and he did. No matter if he's struggling he finds a way just like today he found a way."

Watson added that "everything he (Woods) does, it's going to be incredible and it's going to be unbelievable." Still, he wasn't about to capitulate. "I think it's going to be a good battle coming down the stretch," he said. "It's going to be fun."

Third Round

BAY HILL AGAIN IN TIGER'S SIGHTS

Tiger Woods in first place is the last place his peers would like to see him.

All Woods wanted at the Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by MasterCard was to shoot a score that would get him in contention for his fifth straight PGA Tour victory and fifth professional win at Bay Hill, where he began his march through the record books with the 1991 USGA Junior Amateur Championship.

Instead, after a clutch 4-under-par 66 on a hot and increasingly windy day, Woods rose all the way to the top, tied with four others, with 18 holes remaining. Given that he is 42 of 45 on the PGA Tour when holding at least a share of the 54-hole lead, his chances for adding to his 63 Tour titles improved appreciably.

"I'm back in the tournament," Woods, 32, said early in the afternoon, before the winds freshened and pacesetters started falling back towards the No. 1 player in the world. "It's nice to have to go out there and play a good round of golf and win the tournament instead of having to play a great round of golf to hopefully get myself back in the mix. I did the work today to get myself back in the tournament."

Woods, indeed, did the work, mixing six birdies against two bogeys to improve his score by two strokes for the second day in a row. His 70-68-66 progression puts him at 6-under-par 204 and in a good frame of mind for the sprint to the finish.

"I feel good. I just wanted to get myself back in the tournament," said Woods, who won the Arnold Palmer Invitational four straight times from 2000-03. "I was on the periphery there, seven back. A good round can win the tournament."

After struggling with his swing the first two rounds and making few putts, Woods went back to his home in nearby Isleworth and worked out a few kinks. In the third round, he hit 10 fairways and 14 greens. The last of his six birdies - after he hit it to 2 feet at 15 - came at the difficult 485-yard par-4 16th when he stiffed a 6-iron to four feet. It was just one of three birdies for the day on a hole that played the most difficult with a 4.507 average.

"It worked out perfect," he said.

Just like most of the events that unfolded."It's very wide open," he said. "A bunch of guys have a chance. If the wind blows like it did today, then it will be very interesting tomorrow."

Third Round

O'HAIR EQUALS RECORD WITH 30

Sean O'Hair was pondering a trip to Sea World with his children in the afternoon. This after a spotless round of golf at Bay Hill that had him swimming with the big fishes once again.

Winner last week at the PODS Championship in Palm Harbor, Florida, O'Hair glided around the Bay Hill Club with a bogey-free 63, the low round of the tournament, which lifted him from the ranks of also-ran to contender in the Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by MasterCard.

O'Hair, a former Orlando resident, began the day 1 over par for the tournament and 10 strokes behind 36-hole leader Vijay Singh. When he holed out with a closing 30 on the inward nine, O'Hair had moved up from a tie for 49th to a tie for third and was three behind Singh, who hadn't yet hit a ball.

He'll begin the free-for-all final round tied for first place with a chance to become the only player besides No. 1 Tiger Woods in the last two seasons to win back-to-back starts.

"That (repeating) would be cool," said O'Hair, 25, who last week overcame a three-stroke deficit to Stewart Cink for his second PGA Tour title. "I just need to do my part and let it fall into place, not think too much, not try too hard. I need to do the same things I've been doing and stay out of my own way."

O'Hair's score was the lowest since Palmer converted the Bay Hill course to a par 70 last year. He had a chance to tie the course record shared by Andy Bean and Greg Norman, but he left short a downhill putt for birdie at the 18th.

"That green is just a little slow than the rest and I didn't adjust," shrugged O'Hair, who eagled the par-5 12th hole for the second day in a row and added five birdies. One was a chip-in from off the green at the 14th from 65 feet.

"That kept some momentum going," he said.

O'Hair hit 12 fairways and 16 greens, which were soft after overnight rains and relatively smooth given that he and partner Retief Goosen were in the seventh group to tee off. As the round progressed, O'Hair simply went with what turned out to be a very good flow.

"You can't think about what you are shooting. You can't think about what you want to shoot. You can't think about anything but the next shot," O'Hair said. "You are literally going one shot at a time and just allowing it to happen rather than trying to make something happen."

Tournament:Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by MasterCard
Ending:March 16, 2008
Purse: $5,800,000
Total FedExCup Points: 25,000
Course:Bay Hill Club & Lodge
Par:70

Posted by scurry at 06:28 PM

WORLD GOLF HALL OF FAME MEMBER ARNOLD PALMER DONATES GOLF CLUBS TO THE FIRST TEE OF PITTSBURGH

February 08, 2008

ST. AUGUSTINE, FL - Arnold Palmer has donated hundreds of golf clubs to The First Tee of Pittsburgh. The clubs are the remaining inventory of the Arnold Palmer Golf Company when it closed in 2000 and includes multiple sets of woods, irons and drivers for men and women. Palmer has served as honorary chairman of The First Tee of Pittsburgh since its inception in 2000 and has been supportive to the Chapter in many ways.

Palmer has strong ties to Pittsburgh going back to his amateur days and teen years when he was competing in events of the Western Pennsylvania Golf Association. He has received many honors over the years from Pittsburgh organizations and is a member of Oakmont Country Club. His golf at Oakmont is an important part of his personal history in the game.

“I have wanted to do something useful with these clubs for a long time. I can’t think of anything that would serve that purpose better than to put them in the hands of The First Tee for its wonderful programs,” said Palmer. “I am very happy with the decision to give them to The First Tee of Pittsburgh, where I am proud to serve as honorary chairman. I grew up and played virtually all of my golf in my early years in Western Pennsylvania.”

The Chapter will use the adult clubs for age appropriate participants. They will also be used for clinics held at the Chapter and some will be provided to young people who have shown a keen interest in golf and The First Tee.

“We are very happy and grateful for Mr. Palmer’s donation. He has been a wonderful part of The First Tee of Pittsburgh and has always been very available to us despite his busy schedule,” said Bruce Stephen, former Chapter executive director and current board member of The First Tee of Pittsburgh.

About The First Tee
The First Tee (www.thefirsttee.org) is an initiative of the World Golf Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization based in St. Augustine, FL at World Golf Village, home of the World Golf Hall of Fame. Its mission is to impact the lives of young people by providing learning facilities and educational programs that promote character development and life-enhancing values through the game of golf. Since its inception in 1997, The First Tee has introduced the game of golf and its values to more 2.2 million participants and students in 48 states and five international locations – Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, and Singapore. Former President George Bush serves as honorary chairman.

Posted by scurry at 11:55 AM

An Arnold Palmer with an Arnold Palmer chaser

December 03, 2007

Pittsburgh eatery develops a sandwich in honor of Palmer

For fans who’ve longed to break bread with Arnold Palmer, it’s a dream come true. And all it costs is $6.50. That’s how much it'll set you back to enjoy an Arnold Palmer sandwich at a popular string of independent Pittsburgh restaurants that are world famous for honoring local heroes.

The Arnold Palmer is ringing up steady sales at Peppi’s, according to sandwich entrepreneur Lou Bosser of Peppi’s Restaurants in Pittsburgh.

“It has a chicken breast, bacon, onions, ranch dressing and provolone cheese and people are snapping them up,” Bosser says. “It’s a popular sandwich.”

And it's named after a popular man. The sandwich debuted just weeks after GQ magazine declared Palmer to be one of the 50 most stylish men in history.

Arnold Palmer, the sandwich drew its inspiration from another increasingly popular Arnold Palmer, the refreshing half iced tea and half lemonade concoction that can be ordered online at www.arnoldpalmer.com or at www.arnoldpalmertee.com.

“A couple of my young guys were drinking some Arnold Palmers,” Bosser says, “and I told them that he’s one of the most legendary guys to ever come out of western Pennsylvania. I started telling them all about him, all he’s done and what he means to our region and it dawned on me that it was time to name a sandwich in his honor.”

Peppi’s has three Pittsburgh locations and earned national recognition when Sports Illustrated, The New York Times and major television broadcasters began reporting about the restaurant’s delicious Rothlis-burger sandwich when the Pittsburgh Steelers were advancing in 2006 toward their fifth Super Bowl.

Named in honor of Steeler quarterback Ben Rothlisberger, the sandwich is a combination hamburger, hot sausage and grilled onions topped with scrambled egg and two slices of American cheese.

Posted by crodell at 05:27 PM

Palmer, Saunders finish strong at Father-Son

Palmer, 78, and Clemson sophomore forge best finish in years

The name Arnold Palmer was on the leader board again this week and the world of golf felt good about it. Palmer and grandson Sam Saunders finished the Del Webb Father-Son Challenge at Champions Gate near Orlando at 18-under and tied for sixth place behind winners Larry and Josh Nelson at 24-under.

According to Phil Stambaugh’s news story posted on www.pgatour.com, “One of the feel-good stories of the week came from 78-year-old Arnold Palmer and grandson Sam Saunders, who enjoyed their best finish in their five-year history in the event. Behind the prodigious length and the maturing game of Saunders -- a Clemson sophomore -- Palmer and Saunders followed their opening-round 62 with a 63 to finish tied for sixth. Their previous best finish in the event was 12th-place finishes in 2003 and 2004.”

“It's been a while (since I played),” Palmer said. “Sam played really well, there's no doubt about that. Once in a while I was there for him to tap in a putt for a birdie or par."

The strong finish came on the heels of the announcement that Palmer will be honored January 14 in Orlando by the Golf Coaches Association of America as only the third non-coach to earn its Lifetime Achievement Award and induction into its Hall of Fame.

"I am certainly looking forward to receiving the Lifetime Achievement Award of the Golf Coaches Association of America," Palmer said. "I consider it a particular honor in as much as my golf at Wake Forest played a major role in leading me into a career in professional golf. I have kept in close contact touch with collegiate golf through the years and was very pleased to lend my name to the Palmer Cup when it was founded a decade ago."

Palmer joins Karsten Solheim and Byron Nelson as previous recipients of the Lifetime Achievement Award.

The GCAA's marquee event, The Palmer Cup presented by Monster, is named in Palmer's honor. The annual event between top college players from the U.S. and Europe was first held in 1997 and has become one of the most widely respected amateur events in the world. Additionally, the national championship medalist in NCAA Divisions I, II and III, as well as the NAIA, are honored with the Arnold Palmer Award presented by Callaway Golf.

Posted by crodell at 05:15 PM

Palmer to Receive GCAA Lifetime Achievement Award

November 12, 2007

Golf legend to be honored at Hall of Fame Banquet Jan. 14

NORMAN, Okla. — Arnold Palmer will be honored with the GCAA Lifetime Achievement Award at its annual Hall of Fame Banquet Jan. 14 at Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort in Orlando, Fla. In addition, Palmer will become only the third non-coach inducted into the GCAA Hall of Fame.

“I am certainly looking forward to receiving the Lifetime Achievement Award of the Golf Coaches Association of America,” said Palmer. “I consider it a particular honor inasmuch as my golf at Wake Forest played a major role in leading me into my career in professional golf. I have kept in close touch with collegiate golf through the years and was very pleased to lend my name to the Palmer Cup when it was founded a decade ago.”

Besides the magnificent performance record, Palmer’s magnetic personality and unfailing sense of kindness
and thoughtfulness to everybody with whom he comes in contact have endeared him to millions throughout
the world and led to the informal formation of the largest non-uniformed “military” organization in existence -- Arnie’s Army. Seven of his victories came in what the golfing world considers the four major professional championships. He won the Masters Tournament four times, in 1958, 1960, 1962 and 1964; the U.S. Open in spectacular fashion in 1960 at Cherry Hills Country Club in Denver and the British Open in 1961 and 1962. He came from seven strokes off the pace in the final round in that U.S. Open win and finished second in four other Opens after that. Among the majors, only the PGA Championship eluded him. He finished second in the PGA three times. Palmer was also a two-time NCAA medalist, in 1948 and 1949, while at Wake Forest.

The golfing great has been the recipient of countless honors, the symbolic plaques, trophies and citations scattered throughout his personal, club and business worlds, the epitome coming in 2004 when he received the Presidential Medal of Freedom from President George W. Bush at a White House ceremony. He has received virtually every national award in golf and after his great 1960 season both the Hickok Professional Athlete of the Year and Sports Illustrated’s Sportsman of the Year trophies. He is a charter member of the World Golf Hall of Fame and a member of the American Golf Hall of Fame at Foxburg, PA, and the PGA Hall of Fame in Florida. He is chairman of the USGA Members Program and served as honorary national chairman of the March of Dimes Birth Defects Foundation for 20 years. He played a major role in the fund-raising drive that led to the creation of the Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children and Women in Orlando in the 1980s. A long-time member of the board of directors of Latrobe Area Hospital he staged a major annual fund-raising golf event for that institution for six years that led to the formation of the Latrobe Area Hospital Charitable Foundation.

The GCAA’s marquee event, The Palmer Cup presented by Monster, is named in Palmer’s honor. The annual
event between the top college players in the United States and Europe was first played in 1997 and has become one the the most widely respected amateur events in the world. Additionally, the national championship medalist in NCAA Divisions I, II and III, as well as the NAIA, or honored with the Arnold Palmer Award presented by Callaway Golf.

Palmer joins Karsten Solheim and Byron Nelson as previous recipients of the Lifetime Achievement Award.

- GCAA -

For Immediate Release
Contact: Dustin Roberts
Golf Coaches Association of America
(405) 329-4222
http://gcaa.collegiategolf.com

Posted by scurry at 02:51 PM

"Legendary" Palmer Scores on Influential List

October 10, 2007

Business Week Ranks him among top 100 in all sports

The Business Week list of the 100 most influential people in the world of sports contains all the job descriptions you’d expect. There’s commissioner, owner, president, CEO, chairman and other titles drawn straight from corporate elite’s financial reports.

But one title stands out for looking like it was lifted from fables about King Arthur or Harry Potter. The title?

Legend.

That’s what Business Week chose to put beside Arnold Palmer’s name (and only one other) when it dubbed Palmer the 76th most influential figure in 2007 sports: Arnold Palmer, PGA Legend.

Great work, if you can get it.

Palmer’s name is unique to the list in that he’s nearly four decades removed from the heydays of the profession that first made him famous. The other 98 are still actively engaged in their life’s pursuits. Fellow “legend,” Earvin “Magic” Johnson, comes in at 95.

According to Business Week, the top 10 are:

1. Roger Goodell Commissioner, NFL
2. Tiger Woods Golfer
3. David Stern Commissioner, NBA
4. George Bodenheimer President, ESPN, ABC Sports; co-chairman, Disney Media Networks
5. Bud Selig Commissioner, MLB
6. Brian France Chairman, CEO NASCAR
7. Dick Ebersol Chairman, NBC Universal Sports & Olympics
8. Phil Knight Chairman, Nike
9. Sean McManus President, CBS News and Sports
10. Rupert Murdoch Chairman, CEO, News Corp.

Besides Palmer and Woods, the only other golf-associated names to make the list are PGA Commissioner Tim Finchem, no. 34, and IMG Senior Vice President and global managing director of golf, Mark Steinberg, no. 72.

Palmer’s lucky, too, in that his is the only occupation on the list where if he says, “Hey, I’m taking the day off to play golf,” he’s not going to hear any griping from angry shareholders. In fact, people get upset if Palmer’s not golfing enough.

If that’s, indeed, the case then all is right in the Palmer world. After a recent working vacation to Pebble Beach, Palmer has confirmed he’ll be playing in the following events: On Thursday, October 11, he’ll be in the pro-am at the Administaff Small Business Classic at the Augusta Pines Golf Club near Houston; and he’s looking forward to joining his grandson, Sam Saunders, now a sophomore at Clemson University, again at the Father-Son tournament at ChampionsGate Golf Club Nov. 28 through Dec. 2 near his Bay Hill winter home in Orlando.

A legend’s work is never done.

Posted by crodell at 09:42 AM

ArnoldPalmer.com Named Best

September 22, 2007

Wins prestigious web award from the Web Marketing Association

In the eyes of many golf-loving Americans, Arnold Palmer is the greatest. Now, at least in the eyes of one prestigious panel of award-bestowing experts, so is his website.

ArnoldPalmer.com was recently named one of the Web Marketing Association’s Best Web Sites of 2007. The Palmer site, which is anchored by a daily timeline item harkening back to a corresponding news item from Palmer’s vivid and colorful past, was one of just 96 winners selected from 2,400 entries from more than 40 countries.

For Palmer, who celebrated his 78th birthday on September 10, a lifetime of earth- and airborne achievements has notched a first in yet another realm, the internet.

“Yes, this is the first time I’ve ever won a web award!” he says. “I couldn't be happier that ArnoldPalmer.com was chosen as one of the best. It's the one place where all the fans can go to instantly learn everything that might interest them about our charities, my history, our businesses, Kingdom Magazine, the outstanding golf courses we’ve built and what's new in our world.”

Organizers said entries were judged on design, copy writing, innovation, content, interactivity, navigation, and use of technology. Teams of independent Internet professionals representing a variety of relevant disciplines of web site development weighed each entry. Judges included members of the media, advertising executives, site designers, creative directors, corporate marketing executives, content providers and webmasters.

The WebAward competition format allows Web sites to compete head to head with other sites within their industry to win the Best of Industry and Standard of Excellence awards. Here’s the award and here’s the announcement.

The Web Marketing Association (http://www.webmarketingassociation.org) works to create a high standard of excellence for web site development and marketing on the Internet. Founded by the Web Marketing Association in 1997, when the letters “www” still looked like a sloppy typo, the WebAwards is the standards-defining competition that sets industry benchmarks for the best web sites.

If you’ve never had the opportunity to immerse yourself in www.ArnoldPalmer.com, now's the time.

Because it’s only here at ArnoldPalmer.com that will you learn the surprising connection between Arnold Palmer and Tony Soprano, and why you’d be a wise guy to listen to Palmer’s astute Super Bowl picks. It’s here where you can read about the day in 1970 that Johnny Carson tabbed the golfer to be his “Tonight Show” stand-in, and it’s here where you’ll learn just what insights U.S. Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts sought from Palmer the Spring 2007 day after the golfer dined with The Queen.

ArnoldPalmer.com is what happens when old school goes high tech. This is what happens when one of the most storied lives -- not just in golf, but in all America -- is given the most lavish and loving consideration that only a medium like the world wide web can bestow.

And it’s all right here, fresh and new everyday, all the insight, warmth and glory. It’s a virtual cornucopia of Palmer knowledge and trivia that, until now, couldn’t be contained between the covers of even the most voluminous biographies.

“I'm proud of the team that's taken advantage of this fantastic medium to give the fans such an excellent high-tech umbrella for everything that's going on in our world,” Palmer says. “I hope fans will check it out. I don’t think they’ll be disappointed.”

Posted by crodell at 09:57 AM

GQ says Palmer's historically cool!

Names him to list of 50 most stylish men in history

The magazine that’s synonymous with cool has named the 50 men it admires for their enduring cool. One of them is Arnold Palmer.

And it happened the same week the man who’s regarded as the greatest golfer on the planet said he still looks up to Palmer. “He’s the King,” said Tiger Woods. “To even be mentioned in the same breath as Arnold Palmer means you’ve done something special. To have him at 62 wins and I’m one away . . . I never would have dreamt this in my wildest dreams.”

Records will always be broken, and Tiger’s smashing lots of them.

But cool endures, as GQ points out in its gala 50th anniversary edition that highlights who it thinks are the 50 coolest, most stylish men, from the last 50 years. It’s a virtual hall of fame of American masculinity studded with profiles of Steve McQueen, Elvis Presley, Muhammad Ali, Bob Dylan, Paul Newman, Robert Redford, Tom Brady.

And, yep, Arnold Palmer.

GQ writes: In the early 1960s, Arnold Palmer was more than a golfer: He was a superstar—the Elvis Presley of sports. With his horde of fans (Arnie’s Army) and his pomaded pompadour, Palmer brought golf to the masses. He could dress, too, favoring flat-front gabardine pants with a heavy crease and wool cardigans. And those fitted golf shirts: “There was some talk that maybe my muscles were too big for the shirts,” Palmer admits today. But sportswriter Frank Deford has testified that Palmer’s cool came from those L&M’s: “All America had this image of Palmer taking a cigarette out of his mouth, throwing it on the green to putt, and then sticking it back in his mouth. It was golf’s equivalent of Bogart and Bacall. It’s odd to think of a cigarette as an athletic totem, but back then it was sexy. Palmer with a cigarette was like those old convertible ads with a beautiful woman sitting in the front seat and her scarf blowing in the wind.”

Posted by crodell at 09:53 AM

Palmer statue, nature preserve enjoy festive celebrations

September 06, 2007

The gateway to Latrobe, cradle to a host of indelible American icons, will be bracketed by ceremonies dedicated to celebrating two of its most beloved emissaries: Arnold and Winnie Palmer.

On Sunday, the Winnie Palmer Nature Reserve on the northern side of U.S. Route 30 and S.R. 981, officially opens to the public, and on Monday directly across the busy highway at the Arnold Palmer Regional Airport, a statue will be unveiled honoring the airport’s namesake on the day of his 78th birthday.

The statue of Palmer, strikingly similar to one gracing the grounds at Augusta National where Palmer won four Masters championships, is the work of renown, award-winning sculptor Zenos Frudakis, the creator of the Augusta piece. A public dedication ceremony, to be attended by Palmer, will be held at 11 a.m. on Monday.

The statue is positioned in front of the main terminal at the former Westmoreland County Airport where Palmer, a world-record setting aviator, learned to fly. From their mutual humble beginnings, both the golfer and the airport have thrived, and the airport was re-named for Palmer in 1999 on his 70th birthday.

Palmer’s renown would be secure if he’d never even set foot on a golf course. He’s a world-record setting aviator who in 1976 helped circumnavigated the world in a Lear 36 business jet in just 57 hours, 25 minutes and 42 seconds. Writing about the record, Time magazine said, “Considering the water hazards and long pars, the 46-year-old Palmer didn't do a bad job. He was 77 1/2 days ahead of Phineas Fogg.”

The Palmer Airport, too, is soaring in other ways. With free parking, it is becoming a regional departure hotspot for savvy western Pennsylvania commuters looking for easy access to national hubs. The Airport enjoys updated terminal facilities and fine dining and banquet facilities overlooking the newly extended 8,224-foot-long runway. Northwest is the airport’s premier airline, and regular charters to Orlando, Nevada and Atlantic City are available.

And as of Sept. 10, all commuters entering the terminal will be greeted by the 7-foot tall, 250-pound statue of the airport’s most familiar pilot. As impressive as it is, the statue will be dwarfed in scope by the spacious 50-acre monument just across the highway.

According to a commemorative book about the project, The Winnie Palmer Nature Preserve is “what happens when everybody’s best intentions are allowed to harmonically triumph. It’s something to think about the next time you allow yourself to luxuriate in a place of peace, education and inspiration that was allowed to flourish naturally, all because a group of people agreed that real community progress doesn’t always have have to start with pavement.”

The majestic Preserve is a natural playground of orchards, wildflowers, birds, frogs and other native delights. It came about after the late Winnie Palmer worked with activists, corporations and environmentalists to ensure that the scenic parcel of land framing St. Vincent College would not fall to developers’ bulldozers.

With a restored hallmark barn as the centerpiece of the property, the acreage is a wonderland of serenity for hikers, bird watchers or anyone seeking to engage the elements. The land will also serve as a living laboratory for the St. Vincent College Environmental Education Center.

Combined, the two Palmer projects give added heft to the notion that Latrobe is on the verge of becoming a tourist destination for those eager to enjoy the splendors of the Laurel Highlands.

Besides Arnold Palmer, Latrobe is the birthplace of the first banana split and the first professional football game. In addition, you need to fly into Arnold Palmer’s airport if you ever want to visit Mr. Rogers’s Neighborhood. Palmer and the late Fred Rogers, the beloved children’s TV show host, were Latrobe High School classmates. And St. Vincent College is the summer home of the five-time Super Bowl champion Pittsburgh Steelers, and the site of the soon-to-be-open Fred Rogers Center for Early Learning and Children’s Media.

Winter sports are enjoyed at nearby ski resorts, and golfers from around the world are making reservations to fly into the Palmer Airport to enjoy rounds of golf at Latrobe Country Club, now available for pre-arranged public play upon the discretion of the club’s pro shop. National golf magazines have featured the club and its five finely-appointed guest houses as a great destination for lovers of golf and all things Arnie.

Posted by crodell at 04:03 PM

A Tribute to Ed Seay (1938 - 2007)

August 17, 2007

Ed Seay, died August 14, 2007 at his home in Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla. He was 69.

Born in Dade City, Fla., Mr. Seay graduated from the University of Florida with a degree in Landscape Architecture, was a commissioned officer of the United States Marine Corps. He was a past president of the American Society of Golf Course Architects, a member of ULI (as a member of the Recreational Development Council), and a member of the American Society of Landscape Architects. He also belonged to several state and regional golf associations including the National Golf Foundation.

Ed was actively engaged in golf course architecture and recreational development planning for nearly 40 years and was known and respected all over the world. He began working with Arnold Palmer in 1972 and in 1979 they formed the Palmer Course Design Company. Ed participated in the design, construction, and promotion of more than 350 golf courses worldwide with more than 250 designed with Arnold Palmer. Prior to his joining Palmer, Ed had the distinction of having designed many well-known courses. Among the most prominent is Sawgrass Country Club in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida, which was the site of the Tournament Players Championship from 1977 through 1981.

Ed Seay loved life and lived it to the fullest. He was a highly respected mentor and leader to those he worked with. He is survived by his wife, Lynn, and adult children Mason Seay and Tracy Raymond.

More information on Mr. Seay's career, as well as video clips of him discussing his work, is available at the ASGCA Architects Gallery.

Posted by apdev at 10:25 AM

Palmer, "Greats of Golf," to play in Minnesota

August 01, 2007

Arnold Palmer will make his first appearance of the year on the Champions Tour August 4-5 when he plays in a special, unofficial event in conjunction with the 3M Championship at the TPC Twin Cities course in Blaine, Minnesota, outside Minneapolis. It will be his first public competition since the Wendy’s Champions Skins Game in Hawaii January 13-14.

He, Don January and Miller Barber, three of the biggest stars in the early years of the then PGA Seniors Tour, will again make up one of the three teams competing in the “Greats of Golf” exhibition, which will be integrated into the regular 54-hole tournament.

The other threesomes in the best-ball-of-threesome competition are Billy Casper, Lee Trevino, Chi Chi Rodriguez, Tony Jacklin, Gene Littler and Charles Coody. All nine men will play in a pro-amateur at 3M’s Tartan Park golf course on Friday, August 3.

Posted by crodell at 10:37 AM

Rolex honors Palmer, Nicklaus, Player

July 27, 2007

The world's premier timekeeper fetes golf's Big Three

Rolex, the name synonymous with elegance, craftsmanship and quality, found time this week to honor three golf legends who exude those same characteristics.

Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus and Gary Player were in Geneva, Switzerland, to celebrate what is, perhaps, the longest on-going relationship in modern sports history. The three golfers have been associated with the 102-year-old watchmaker for nearly half its existence.

"Like you, we at Rolex honor excellence and achievement," said Rolex managing director Patrick Heiniger. "We equally honor the humor and humanity that each of you radiates. It is thanks to that magical mix that we are here together so many years down the road.

"What we share transcends our association through sport and is rooted in the timeless values that each one of you celebrates in your daily life, be it through your philanthropic work, your business activities, your passions, your hobbies.”

Palmer and the business manager for all three golfers, the late Mark McCormack, first met the late Andre Heiniger, Patrick’s father and then Rolex’s managing director, while on a business trip to Japan in 1961, and the relationships grew from there. Nicklaus and Player were presented with Rolex watches to mark their U.S. Open victories in 1962 and 1965, respectively, and Palmer became Rolex’s first golf ambassador in 1967.

Joining the Big Three were their wives and two other world-class sportsmen and Rolex ambassadors from the same era, the Grand Prix racing champion Sir Jackie Stewart and the Olympic and World Cup champion skier Jean-Claude Killy. They were all presented gold Rolex GMT Master II watches to mark the occasion.

The guests were also given a tour of watchmaker's factory prior to a ceremony in Rolex's Andre Heiniger Auditorium. A video of the Big Three created especially for the occasion was shown before Patrick Heiniger spoke and recognized the Big Three in these words:

“In 1960, Arnold gave new life to the British Open and made it a championship never to be missed by the best players. As a result he created the modern Grand Slam.

“In 1965, Gary overcame all odds to be the third golfer ever, and the first of his generation, to win all four of the major golf championships in his career.

“In 1986, Jack proved that he was indeed the golfer of the century, winning the Masters at 46 years of age, to increase his total to 18 majors, five more than the great Bobby Jones.”

After the ceremony there was luncheon in Rolex’s executive dining room for all attending, and that the tour of the Rolex facilities was continued. In the evening, Heiniger entertained the Big Three and their wives with a private dinner to conclude their visit.

That was only part of a whirlwind week that saw Palmer and wife Kit depart The Arnold Palmer Regional Airport in Latrobe in his Cessna Citation X on July 22 at 5 a.m. Accompanying the aviator was chief pilot Pete Luster and his wife, Mary. The flight was accomplished with just one refueling stop, in Newfoundland.

The group spent two days in Prato, Italy, near Florence where Palmer stopped at the Golf Club Le Pavoniere where club members reveled in the company of a man they've long admired.

"It was a great day spent with a legendary golf champion," said club president Gianni Hills. "We were able to follow him through 18 holes and it's something none of us will ever forget."

Posted by crodell at 10:51 AM

Arnold Palmer Becomes Great Grandfather

July 12, 2007

A happy day for the Palmer family.

Arnold Palmer's granddaughter, Katie (Katherine Ann) Spears, and her husband, Parker, are the proud parents of Charlotte Winifred Spears, born in the early morning hours of Thursday, July 12, in Asheville, North Carolina. It’s the first grandchild for Katie’s parents, Roy and Arnold’s daughter Amy Saunders, who live at Bay Hill in Orlando, Florida. The parental grandparents are James and Sue Spears of Charlotte, N.C. The baby weighed 7 pounds, 10 ounces and was 19 inches long at birth.

Posted by crodell at 12:28 PM

HOFs honor Palmer

July 11, 2007

Late June became "Honor Palmer" week in three different states, adding to an already illustrious list.

Communities and philanthropic organizations have, through the years, been known to host Arnold Palmer days. But three prestigious groups combined in late June to hold what could have been called “Honor Palmer Week.”
That’s when Palmer was inducted into two Halls of Fame and honored by another in three different states.
“I was extremely honored to be recognized by these worthy and historic organizations,” Palmer says. “And it was great, as always, to get to spend some special evenings with some old friends and to make a bunch of new ones.”
Palmer was at the Brown Palace Hotel in Denver on June 22 as the Colorado Golf Hall of Fame paid homage to his illustrious career. That same night he dispatched long-time assistant Doc Giffin to a Pittsburgh-area hotel to accept in his stead the honor of being inducted into the Western Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic League Hall of Fame’s inaugural class.
And three days later, he flew to Pinehurst to be inaugurated into the the Carolinas Golf Hall of Fame, an occasion that caused Winston-Salem Journal reporter John Dell to write in advance: “It seems hard to believe that there’s a golf hall of fame that doesn’t include Arnold Palmer. But right now, the Carolinas Golf Hall of Fame does not. That will change Monday, when Palmer is enshrined at the hall in Pinehurst.”
A perusal of the “Achievements page at http://www.arnoldpalmer.com/ALLARNIE/achievements3.aspx on this website shows Dell’s observation to be astute. It is surprising there are still Halls of Fame that have not inducted Palmer. Since 1974 when he became a charter member of the World Golf Hall of Fame, inducting Palmer or otherwise honoring him has been a popular choice for golf organizations around the country.
The list of HOF’s with Palmer busts and memorabilia includes The PGA Hall of Fame in Palm Beach Gardens (1980); The Ohio Golf Hall of Fame (1992); The All-American Collegiate Golf Hall of Fame/Man of the Year (1984); The Phoenix Open Hall of Fame; The Tri-State PGA Hall of Fame (2002); The Wake Forest Hall of Fame (1971); The North Carolina Sports Hall of Fame (1988).
Palmer is also a member of the Pennsylvania, Western Pennsylvania, Westmoreland County, Cambria County, North Carolina and Florida sports halls of fame.

Posted by crodell at 01:47 PM

Palmer and Woods share No. 2s

June 20, 2007

In one of his most overlooked years of greatness, 1961, Arnold Palmer laid the groundwork for a career of impressive finishes.

Golf historians generally regard Arnold Palmer’s 1960 season as one of golf’s greatest. The contention is hard to dispute.

Consider: During 30 tournaments in which Palmer entered in 1960, he won nine times, including The Masters and The U.S. Open; he had two second-place finishes and three thirds. In all, he finished in the top ten 23 times.

Those are just some of the statistical reasons that led Palmer biographer Thomas Hauser to conclude: “No year meant more to a sport than 1960 meant to golf, and the man with the magic wand was Arnold Palmer.” What was dubbed Palmer’s “Golden Year” was capped when Sports Illustrated selected the golfer for “Sportsman of the Year” the same year sporting legends like Roger Maris, Mickey Mantle, Willie Mays, Bill Russell and Johnny Unitas were having banner years that would eventually be immortalized in hall of fame shrines.

But if 1960 was indeed Palmer’s “Golden Year” then there can be no disputing his “Silver Year.”

It was 1961.

And, according to research done by Palmer assistant Doc Giffin, it was every bit as remarkable as 1960.

In ‘61, Palmer entered 29 tournaments (one fewer than ‘60), and had six wins compared to the nine he posted in ‘60. 1961 was the year he won the first of two consecutive British Open championships. It was the only major he’d win that year.

But further on down the leaderboard is where Palmer really makes a dent in the argument that ‘60 was statistically superior. And it’s interesting to consider in light of Tiger Woods’s second-place finish at Oakmont, a place where he played near-flawless golf but just couldn’t get the fist-pumping birdie putts to drop.

In ‘61, Palmer had five second-place finishes and three third-place finishes (1960 had two seconds and three thirds). Most remarkable was that in 29 tournaments, Palmer finished in the top 10 an amazing 24 times.

Tour statistics bear out that ‘61 was statistically superior. His average finish in 1960 was seventh, but it rose to sixth the following year.

In all, the two-year stretch includes 59 starts, 15 victories, seven second-place finishes, six thirds and 47 times in the top 10, a stretch of competitive consistency that’s rarely been equaled in professional golf.

Palmer would go on to claim 92 PGA and Senior tour victories with 61 second-place finishes, 42 of which were on the PGA Tour.

So how does Palmer in 1960-’61 stack up against Woods, whose last two years could arguably be his best? Remember, in the win category, these years include the seven consecutive wins in which Woods was electrifying the golf world in pursuit of Byron Nelson’s immortal streak of 11 consecutive victories.

You could say it’s close.

As of Sunday’s U.S. Open, Woods had entered 24 tournaments over the last 18 months. The stretch includes an amazing 11 victories with three seconds, a third; and 17 top tens. Number crunchers could agree that the percentages are remarkably similar.

And consider this: during Palmer’s 1961, he opened the season by missing the cut at the Los Angeles Open, then went the rest of the season finishing worse than ninth only four times. In nine 2007 events, Woods has bottomed outside the top 10 three times with ties for 15th, 22nd and 37th respectively.

Who knows? Maybe Tiger would add to his win total if he played more often. Or maybe the wear would reduce his statistical greatness.

All that is known is that as of June 18 and the happy birth of Sam Alexis Woods, daughter of Tiger and Elin, it is inevitable that terms like “No. 1” and “No. 2” will take on a whole new meaning to the proud Papa.

That is unless he delegates midnight diaper changing duties to someone else.

Posted by crodell at 10:35 AM

Miller says beating Palmer tougher than Tiger

June 13, 2007

NBC Sports color commentator Johnny Miller says beating Arnold Palmer in Pittsburgh in 1973 was tougher than beating Tiger anywhere in 2007. His two rounds with Palmer steeled him for the second most remarkable charge in U.S. Open history.

Johnny Miller "thinks" Arnold Palmer’s gotten over it. He "thinks" he’s accepted what happened and has come to terms with it.
He shouldn’t be too sure about that.
As fierce a competitor as there ever was, it’s unlikely Palmer will ever get over the sinking feeling he had while standing on the 11th green at Oakmont C.C. on June 17, 1973. Palmer’d started the final round tied for the lead with Julius Boros, John Schlee and Jerry Heard. Still leading with Boros, he was convinced he was cruising to his second Open championship victory in front of legions of adoring Palmer loyalists from throughout western Pennsylvania. The He was certain the hometown victory would ease the sting of the historic loss he felt on that very course to Jack Nicklaus 11 years earlier.
And that’s when he looked up at the scoreboard and saw that a 26-year-old -- go ahead and say it -- “smart alec kid” had posted an Open record final-round 63 on rain-softened greens to vault to the top of the leaderboard and eventual victory.
“I really blindsided him with that,” says Miller, today the outspoken color commentator for NBC Sports. Miller will be in the broadcast booth starting Thursday as the network begins its coverage of the 2007 U.S. Open at Oakmont. He made his comments about Palmer on Tuesday following a press conference with more than 100 reporters. “He must have felt like I’d picked his pocket and come up with a U.S. Open trophy.”
Gotten over it? Nah.
Oakmont pro Bob Ford says he and Palmer played a sentimental round at the course in July 2006 and Palmer recalled exactly where on the 11th green he was standing when he, Boros and Schlee saw the record-setting round Miller’d posted.
“He said he couldn’t believe it,” Ford said. “It just shocked him.”
It was the second of three consecutive shockers Palmer would feel on day when things went awry. He'd missed a short birdie putt on 11 before seeing Miller's run of red numbers way down the leaderboard, and then he hit what appeared to be a perfect drive on 12 that kicked off a sprinkler head and into deep rough.
While Palmer had trouble accepting the fateful turns, Miller says with a dashing bit of bravado he embraced it.
“He never saw me coming,” Miller says. “Schlee told me his reaction to my score and it wasn’t pleasant. You have to understand, I was paired with Palmer for the first two days of the tournament and must not have impressed him. But that was one of the best parts of the week for me. I held my own with him. Not many guys would ever win the Open playing two days with Arnold Palmer in 1973 for the first two days. I ran the gauntlet of those fans and shot 69-71 during the first two days. A lot of guys have trouble even making the cut under those conditions. To be able to do that with all his fans around was almost, to me, as much pressure as anything that happened all week. Maybe that prepared me for Sunday, to be honest with you.
“Because not many guys could play with Palmer in those days. It was definitely tougher than playing with Tiger today. That’s what playing with Palmer in Pittsburgh in 1973 was like.”
While nearly every golf fan remembers Miller’s 63, few recall his 76 the day before, a round that almost knocked him out of contention. He began the final round in five-way tie for seventh place.
“For me, one of the things that makes that round so special was the caliber of players I had to beat,” Miller says. “The leaderboard had Nicklaus, Boros, Lee Trevino, Gary Player, Gene Littler and Palmer all playing at or near the top of their games.”
Funny, several days after his landmark victory, Palmer and Miller were again paired and once again Miller did something that confounded Palmer.
Call it an “ace-ssist.”
“We were paired together on the 230-yard par 3 5th hole at Firestone Country Club in Akron at the American Golf Classic,” Miller recalls. “I was holding a 4 wood and was all ready to hit when Arnie dropped his ball. I backed away, he apologized, I readjusted then stepped up and hit. The ball landed about five feet in front of the pin and rolled in just like a putt. Then I turned to Palmer and thanked him for his help. Maybe readjusting made the difference between an ace and just another really good shot.
“I don’t think I was his favorite guy back then, but good things were happening to me when I was around Arnold Palmer in June 1973.”
Miller points out that two of Palmer’s most painful losses -- the one to him and the one to Billy Casper at the 1966 U.S. Open -- occurred at the hands of practicing Mormons, prompting Miller to quip, “He may have gotten over it, but I doubt you’ll see any ‘Mitt Romney for President’ stickers on Arnold Palmer’s car. We Mormons haven’t been too kind to him.”
Incidentally, Miller’s final round comeback from six shots down is only the second greatest comeback in U.S. Open history.
Whose is first?
Arnold Palmer’s. He came from seven shots down on the final day to win the 1960 U.S. Open at Cherry Hills.

Posted by crodell at 11:19 AM

Palmer on ESPN, Golf Channel from Oakmont

Arnold Palmer will be interviewed live on ESPN Wednesday at 3 p.m. the day before the start of the U.S. Open at historic Oakmont C.C. near Pittsburgh.

Host Chris Berman will ask Palmer about his near life-long involvement with one of the world’s greatest golf clubs.
The interview will precede a scheduled press conference that will be broadcast on the Golf Channel.
The day will be capped by a gala cocktail hour hosted by Golf World, which has asked Palmer to raise the congratulatory toast celebrating the magazine’s 60th anniversary.
Palmer also plans to attend the closing ceremonies Sunday and attend the post-tournament cocktail reception.
That means Palmer will be hustling between two of the busiest locations in western Pennsylvania -- Oakmont and Latrobe where his home course will be hosting, among others, former Homeland Security Advisor Tom Ridge, LPGA Hall of Famer Nancy Lopez, Walker Cup captain Buddy Marucci, and former LPGA star Mary Bea Porter-King.
Guests and visitors have been flocking to Latrobe one hour from Oakmont following Open rounds to play, visit and purchase Palmer memorabilia from the historic club

Posted by crodell at 11:01 AM

Arnie & Oakmont

May 14, 2007

A Beaut of a Brute

By Chris Rodell
as originally seen in KINGDOM MAGAZINE, issue 7

A look of grave concern creases Arnold Palmer’s face when asked his advice on how an average golfer can achieve a good score the day he’s scheduled to play Oakmont Country Club. “Well, I suggest you start by playing someplace else,” he says.

In fact, telling golfers who’ve been scarred by the brute that you’re scheduled to play golf at Oakmont is like telling a priest you’ve been dispatched to retrieve Satan’s pitchfork. They call you crazy. Try to talk you out of it. Say small prayers on your behalf.

As well they should. For all its stark beauty, Oakmont is one hell of a golf course: 7,255 yards, nearly 200 penal bunkers and greens so lightning fast the busybody U.S.G.A. crews preparing the course for the 2007 U.S. Open will be tasked to slow . . . them . . . down.

The rich Palmer legacy resonates at Augusta where he won four times, at Cherry Hills where the charge was born, and at St. Andrews, Royal Birkdale and Troon where Palmer is credited with inventing the fabled British Open as we know it.

But no major tournament venue is more closely associated with Palmer than Oakmont, and no course dished out more pain and poignancy than the course he grew up dreaming of conquering. When towheaded boys fantasize about winning the World Series with a final swing of the bat, it’s always Yankee Stadium. When those boys are western Pennsylvania golfers, the dreams are of snaking in the winning putt on the 18th green in the shadows of Oakmont’s gabled clubhouse.

For Palmer, the dream came true at a very young age.

“I was just a kid when I beat Jack Benson there to win the 1949 Western Pennsylvania Amateur,” he recalls. “Oakmont is so full of tradition from the locker room to men standing and laughing in the wooden floored barroom. The course is always in excellent condition. It just really resonates with all that’s great about golf. At 18, it was such an unbelievable thrill to win there.”

That win, however, is an asterisk in Palmer’s career at the course that is just one hour on the Pennsylvania Turnpike west of his Latrobe home. It was at Oakmont where the symbolic changing of the guard took place in 1962 when Jack Nicklaus beat Palmer and an often belligerent crowd of Palmer stalwarts to win the U.S. Open. And in 1973, Palmer stood on the 12th green as the final leader of that year’s U.S. Open when he was stunned to see Johnny Miller had posted a record-setting 63 to vault to victory. And it was at Oakmont in 1994 that Palmer closed the door on his U.S. Open career before a crowd so adoring that tears spilled down the old golfer’s face as their 18th green ovation washed over him.

In fact, tears are Oakmont’s only water hazard. It is a heartbreaker. Forty-four years after the watershed tournament, Palmer still sounds mournful when talking about the ‘62 Open and how he let it get away.

“I used to putt those greens pretty well when I was younger, but in ‘62 Nicklaus beat me on the greens by 17 shots . . . 17!” he says, sounding as if he could snap a stout-shafted putter in half at the mere recollection. “I’ve never played the greens when they weren’t like lightning. Never played it once in my life when the stimpmeter reading was under 11.”

Had it not been for Oakmont, the word “stimpmeter” might never have even been introduced into golf’s vernacular. It was here at the 1935 U.S. Open, that renowned amateur Edward Stimpson noted the diabolical greens were so fast that only one man, eventual winner and western Pennsylvania resident Sam Parks Jr., was having success putting. Stimpson left determined to create a device that would measure the consistency of green speed so golfers everywhere could prepare. Thus, the birth of the stimpmeter.

Golfers at the 2006 U.S. Open at Winged Foot skated across greens that stimped at 12.5. Oakmont members breathe sighs of relief when they stimp in the neighborhood of 13. The course will be unrecognizable to golfers who last played it in 1994. A massive tree removal program uprooted more than 3,000 magnificent hardwoods to restore the once leafy landmark to its barren, foreboding look of its 1903 introduction.

Bob Ford is Oakmont’s head professional and has golfed there with Palmer many times. Not once, he says, has Palmer stepped out of character and looked backward. Not once did he stop to dwell on the past.

Until last summer. Ford says Palmer had stopped by on July 11, 2006, to play a round prior to the Major League Baseball All-Star festivities occuring that day at Pittsburgh’s PNC Park.

“That’s the only time I’ve ever played with him that he even got the slightest bit reflective,” Ford says. “Never once did he look back or mention past tournaments until that recent summer day.”

Ford says Palmer stood at the side of the par 5 ninth green and recalled how he’d been at that spot in 1962 in two. He told Ford how he’d been just off the green, right next to the flag with idealistic thoughts of birdie, maybe -- cross your fingers -- a pivotal eagle. But Palmer, chagrined, recalled how the greens took a bite out of his ambitions and he stalked off with a discouraging bogie.

“Then on 12th green, he said how he stood there in 1973 and had been head-to-head in the lead with Julius Boros when both looked up at the leader board and saw Johnny Miller had posted his record-setting 63 on the rain-damped greens,” Ford says. “He couldn’t believe it.”

As the round continued, Ford says he was struck by how nostalgic Palmer was going through the years and rounds that are indelibly etched into the history of one of America’s most legendary courses.

“I got the feeling that maybe he thought it was one of the last times he’d ever play there, and it saddened me to think Arnold Palmer was having those thoughts,” Ford says.

But in the end, it won’t be those wistful moments Ford says he’ll recall from an otherwise ordinary round with an extraordinary gentleman. It won’t be Palmer talking about tournaments and titles that got away four decades ago. It won’t be the echoes of the cheers and the reciprocal love between a hometown boy who’d gone global and the fans who loved him so fiercely for both his successes and failures.

No, Ford says the recollection he’ll most cherish happened before the round even started. And the unlikely instigators were some scrawny youths clinging to a fence separating the Oakmont pool from the nearby first tee.

“We were getting ready to tee off and we heard these kids applauding,” Ford says. “We turned around and a bunch of the boys had climbed out of the water and were hanging on the fence to watch Arnold Palmer tee off,” he says. “They hadn’t even been born when he won his last tournament, but they were cheering him like he was Tiger Woods.

“He smiled, waved, turned to me and said, ‘Bob, that’s what keeps bringing me out after all these years.’ It made me tingle all over. That’s what I’ll always remember most about that day. That’s the memory I’ll cherish forever.”

Posted by crodell at 03:32 PM

Play Latrobe C.C. during U.S. Open week . . . and all summer long!

May 03, 2007

This may come as a surprise to golf fans eager to descend on western Pennsylvania June 11-17, but there are still good tee times available at one of the world’s most fabled golf courses.

No, we’re not talking about Oakmont C.C., site of the 2007 U.S. Open. Oakmont’s tee sheet that week is, of course, booked by the world’s top golfers striving to make their mark on a course whose name reverberates through golf history as one of the game’s most hallowed sites.

But just an hour east down the Pennsylvania Turnpike is another legendary golf name that is welcoming golf pilgrims from around the world.

The course is Arnold Palmer’s Latrobe Country Club.

“We get calls from people all over who are amazed that they can be our guest for a day at Latrobe,” says Randy Bisi, the man who holds the head pro position once occupied by Deacon Palmer, the man who taught Arnold Palmer how to golf.

While the club’s primary responsibility will always be to respect the priorities of its valued members, the club will work with guests to ensure that those interested in playing will be given the member sponsorship necessary to secure tee times, according to Jerry Palmer, Latrobe Country Club General Manager. “We have a magnificent golf course and we’re very proud of it. We want people who’ve always dreamed of playing Latrobe to have the opportunity to do so all summer long. We understand how much this means a lot to golfers all over the world and we want them to have the chance to enjoy the club the way we and the members do every day.”

The club has four finely appointed guest houses on property for visitors to stay overnight. Bisi says those accommodations are booked through Open week, but good tee times are available. “Even on days when we’re crowded, there are still tee times available after 4 p.m.,” he says. “Golfers could enjoy Oakmont in the morning, drive to Latrobe, and still have plenty of summer sunshine left to play a round at the club where Mr. Palmer learned the game.”

And, make no mistake, it’s no exaggeration to say that the name Latrobe resonates with golfers just as much as St. Andrews.

“A man who’d never heard the history of golf described it as, ‘A game invented by Arnold Palmer up in Pennsylvania where you make a long putt on the last hole and win a lot of money.’”

That’s what tournament organizer Gene Hallman told reporters in 1993 after Palmer’s presence at the Bruno’s Memorial Classic in Birmingham, Alabama, resulted in a 15 percent surge in ticket sales.

Reached today, Hallman says he remembers talking with a local reporter when the quote came off the top of his head, but that the essential truth of the statement still stands.

“Oh, absolutely,” he says. “Arnold Palmer’s the most enduringly popular athlete of all time and to a lot of people -- even non-golfers -- the name Latrobe ranks right up there with St. Andrews, Pebble Beach and Augusta.”

The difference between those places in general and St. Andrews in particular is that Latrobe is an eight hour drive from 40 percent of the U.S. population and that you can play it for about the same as it would cost to park your car at an international airport for the days it would require to fly to Scotland and play a couple days of golf.

Oh, and there’s one other difference: Latrobe has Arnold Palmer.

“It’s not just his trophies and memorabilia you see here at the club, a lot of times you see Mr. Palmer,” Bisi says. “He’s here almost all summer. He’s on the course, he’s in the grille room, he’s on the putting green. To walk in his footsteps is a thrill to a lot of golfers who grew up idolizing him, but to have him walk up, smile and shake your hand and welcome you to Latrobe Country Club is as good as it’s ever gets for many golf fans. It’s something they’ll never forget.”

To arrange tee times and accommodations and member sponsorship throughout the year, contact the pro shop at Latrobe C.C., 724-539-8588 or visit www.latrobecountryclub.com.

Posted by crodell at 04:52 PM

Palmer a hit on HBO's The Sopranos

April 16, 2007

Arnold Palmer is used to being in the company of presidents and royalty, but Arnold Palmer and mob bosses? It happened Sunday on an episode of HBO's highly acclaimed crime show, "The Sopranos."

In the scene, boss Tony Soprano greets rival Little Carmine Lupertazzi at a local country club to discuss a recent mob hit. When the waitress asks Lupertazzi what he'll have for lunch, he orders some seared Ahi Tuna, mixed vegetables and says, "And bring me an Arnold Palmer."

Like the Emmy-winning show, the Arnold Palmer is itself a highly acclaimed drink invented by the golfer and favored in upscale spas, golf clubs and fine restaurants across the country.

Does this make Mr. Palmer a material witness to homicide? Chris Byrd, a partner of the Orlando-based Innovative Flavors, LLC, makers of Arnold Palmer Tee, says no. “They’d have trouble putting Mr. Arnold Palmer in the can over this one, but if I were a can of Arnold Palmer, I’d consider getting some legal representation.”

The refreshing Arnold Palmer is half iced tea and half lemonade and can be ordered online at www.arnoldpalmer.com or at www.arnoldpalmertee.com

Posted by crodell at 11:10 AM

Palmer and Harbour Town '69, a Perfect Match

April 13, 2007

The old veteran hadn’t won in 14 months and many said his best days were far behind him. The flashy tour rookie needed to make a good impression or risk being relegated to second-tier status in a PGA field crowded with other worthy aspirants.

From the very first, Arnold Palmer and Harbour Town Golf Links were a match made in Low Country heaven.

It’s hard to imagine now to the multitudes of tourists who flock to its magnificent beaches, and play golf on its world class courses, but just 38 years ago, Hilton Head Island, S.C., was a sleepy coastal island that was more marsh than magic.

Promoters say Palmer’s surprise 1969 victory at the first Heritage Classic literally put the island on the map. “Palmer saved us,” recalled John Gettys Smith in 1994. Smith was a public relations executive for Sea Pines Resort, the island tip development that became the model for hundreds of other coastal Southern gated communities eager to capitalize on northerners’ love for sunshine and golf. “His win brought us instant recognition.”

Harbour Town was the first golf course design that Jack Nicklaus, under the headline tutelage of Pete Dye, ever worked on. With its landmark lighthouse as the backdrop for the 18th green along Calebogie Sound, it remains one of the top golf courses in the country. But, as with many fledgling tournaments, it was having trouble attracting attention for the tournament, then held during the busy Thanksgiving weekend.

A last-minute withdrawal left promoters scrambling to fill a high-profile spot. They called Palmer. He agreed to play, but only on the condition he could land his plane at the still-under-construction airport. It was arranged and photographers snapped pictures of Palmer carrying his golf bag from his plane.

Columnist Jim Littlejohn of the Hilton Head News recalled in 1991 how veteran golf writer Charles Price told naysayers Palmer’s mere participation would assure success. Littlejohn wrote, “Everyone kept asking Price who’d be playing and he’d always say, ‘Nicklaus will play in it because he helped design it and with Nicklaus and Palmer, you won’t need anyone else.’”

Palmer did more than play. Coming off a four-week tour layoff, he vowed to put persistent putting woes “out of my mind or die trying.” In addition, he’d been doing 50 situps each evening and again in the morning to strengthen his ailing hip. A 1-under par 70 gave him a three-stroke lead going into the final day and brought with it a flood of national reporters to the remote island to write another series of euphoric “Palmer’s back!” stories.

He wound up fending off Richard Crawford and Bert Yancey, and did a mock stagger across the 18th green into the arms of Nicklaus before being given the $20,000 first place check. Pictures from the victory show a grinning Palmer holding the trophy with the skeleton of what was the still-unfinished landmark lighthouse in the background.

Smith later recalled: “Our little press tent was barely able to handle the huge surge of reporters from all over the country. But by Monday there were stories all around the world about Palmer’s big win at Harbour Town. It’s impossible to calculate what the Palmer win meant for Hilton Head.”

Posted by crodell at 04:17 PM

Palmer Tee Shot Opens '07 Masters

April 05, 2007

Arnold Palmer returned to The Masters Thursday to hit the ceremonial first tee shot, an honor previously bestowed upon revered champions such as Sam Snead and Byron Nelson. Dave Anderson of The New York Times writes: “His ball won’t go as far and probably not as straight as it did when he was winning the Masters every other year from 1958 to 1964, but who cares? Arnold Palmer will be on the first tee at Augusta National again, and that’s enough for anyone who remembers seeing him here when real soldiers at nearby Fort Gordon were the original enlistees in Arnie’s Army.”

"I was very impressed with all the people who came rushing through that gate when it opened," Palmer said. "It seemed like 20,000 people out there."

Palmer told reporters the competitive fires still burn, 52-years after as a rookie he played his first Masters round with the great Gene Sarazen.

“You realize it’s over, and it’s been my life for over 50 years,” he said. “It’s a hard pill to swallow. I’ll sit at home and watch on television from time to time,” referring to even the best of today’s touring pros, “and think, ‘You know, I could have done that better.’ ”

To view a video clip of the '07 tee shot visit www.masters.org

Posted by crodell at 09:43 AM

From small town to big time for Palmer

March 15, 2007

ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) -Even now, Arnold Palmer has a hard time realizing how far his tournament has come.

Tanned and relaxed, he stared out at some four dozen people, most of them media, a bank of cameras at the back of the room. To his side was the new trophy with a statue of Palmer lashing away with his driver.

The winner also will get $990,000, about half as much as Palmer made in his 50 years on the PGA Tour.

The name of the tournament has a nice ring: The Arnold Palmer Invitational.

"My daughters are responsible for that,'' Palmer said Wednesday. "While I was playing, I would have never allowed it. That was first stipulation for not making any name change. I liked the Bay Hill Invitational logo. But when I stopped playing, that sort of opened the door for the possible name change.''

He remembers being asked to host the tournament at Bay Hill in 1979, and "it's worked out pretty well.''

"The first tournament was $100,000, and that was about the average on tour in those days,'' he said. Of course, this year we're $5.5 million. That's reasonable progress in 29 years.''

There has been progress all around him.

Palmer hails from Latrobe, Pa., and he used to travel to south Florida to practice in the winter when he first turned professional. But the Miami area was too crowded for his tastes, so he began scouting areas up and down the coasts of Florida.

It was by chance in 1965 that the Orlando Chamber of Commerce invited him to an exhibition at Bay Hill, along with Jack Nicklaus, Dave Regan and Don Cherry. He fell in love with the course, and asked about buying it from 10 partners, a process that took some time.

Still, it was just what the King wanted.

"The only thing out here was orange groves, snakes, a few birds, but a lot of wonderful freshwater,'' Palmer said. "It was quiet. It was about a 15- or 20-minute drive to downtown, which was great. It was a small town.

"Well,'' he paused to smile, "you know the story from there.''

A few years later, Disney scooped up some 27,000 acres and announced plans for a theme park. Palmer's friends figured he knew what he was doing, but even Palmer wasn't sure how much the town would grow, how it would become a tourist mecca.

"I was really looking for a quiet place to just do a nice golf course ... and here we are,'' he said.

He has a golf course that has hosted the PGA Tour for almost three decades.

And the name isn't the only change.

Wanting to make Bay Hill more of a challenge, Palmer has changed par 5s at Nos. 4 and 16 into par 4s, making the course play as a 70. The 16th used to be the last spot among the final five holes where players could think about making birdie.

"Now the party's over after the 13th,'' Joey Sindelar said. "That last hour will be torture.''

Still, the biggest difference will be the scores to par.

"I would probably predict that the scores will be much the same as they have been in past years,'' Palmer said. "I don't think we'll see a lot of major changes. The only thing that we'll see that might be a little different is that the players won't be as many under par as they have been in the past.''

One thing that has become difficult to predict is how Tiger Woods will fare at Bay Hill.

The tournament has attracted one of the strongest fields of the year, with Jim Furyk and Adam Scott the only players missing from the top 10 in the world. Masters champion Phil Mickelson is back for the first time since 2002, while Ernie Els is playing Bay Hill for the 15th consecutive year.

Woods once played so well at Bay Hill that some suggested calling it the Tiger Woods Invitational.

But that's misleading.

True, he captured Palmer's tournament four straight years through 2003, when he won by 11 shots. And when people were speculating over his seven-tournament winning streak on the PGA Tour, some tended to chalk up an automatic victory at Bay Hill simply because Woods has won so often.

But it has been a classic case of feast or famine.

Woods has finished 20th or higher four times at Bay Hill. Among regular PGA Tour events, The Players Championship is the only other event where he has finished so far behind so often. In the 14 tour events he played as an amateur, majors included, the only time he failed to break 80 was in 1994 at Bay Hill.

And when he teed off Thursday, he was trying to end a streak of 11 consecutive rounds at Bay Hill without breaking 70.

"This week, all I have to do is shoot under par and I do it,'' he said. "It's one of those weird things. As I said, I feel comfortable on this golf course, but for some reason I just haven't played well. I haven't put it together.''

Posted by scurry at 01:33 PM

Palmer's Past Repeats Itself

February 18, 2007

Arnie's Career Similar to Tiger's

By: Larry Bohannan
The Desert Sun

LA QUINTA - Every golf tournament wants him in its field. Every sponsor wants him in their tournament or their commercials. Every television broadcast hopes to focus its cameras on him.

That might sound like the career of Tiger Woods, the brightest - and some say the only - star in golf today. But it happened 15 years before Woods was born, and the player in demand was Arnold Palmer.

Palmer, golf's biggest and most successful star at the dawn of the television age in the late 1950s, may be the only golfer who can grasp the kind of external pressure Woods is receiving from fans and media these days. They want Woods to play more PGA Tour events, revive lagging television ratings and generally push the sport to greater heights. It was no different in Palmer's heyday.

"Was there pressure? Sure, there is a lot of pressure. Jack (Nicklaus) had the same thing. Everybody does," Palmer said sitting in his La Quinta home inside Tradition Golf Club, site of one of his eight desert course designs. "And of course a lot of us were very conscious of that. But you have to live your life. You can't stop and go play everywhere. You would ruin your existence."

Palmer, 77 and now retired from competing in official PGA Tour or Champions Tour events, fueled the boom in golf's popularity in the 1960s. His dramatic comebacks - he rallied from seven shots back in the final round to win the 1960 U.S. Open - his go-for-broke style and his blue-collar work ethic brought new fans and excitement to a sport that was too often perceived as staid or elitist before his arrival.

Like Woods today, there was often a sense in the early 1960s that if Palmer wasn't in a tour field, the event didn't matter as much. Now 47 years after his seminal 1960 season of eight wins including the Open and the Masters, Palmer might be forgiven for looking at the modern PGA Tour pro with a "We did things different in my day" attitude. Instead, Palmer said he sometimes wishes he had been able to force himself to cut back on his tournament appearances and play a schedule more like Woods.

"Maybe I should have (taken weeks off) a little more. It might have enhanced my position on the tour a little bit," said Palmer, who averaged 29 tournament starts a year from 1955 to 1961. "You know, it's difficult. I was so grateful for the fact that I was there and could do what I was doing. I wanted to do everything I could do to enhance it and make it better for everyone else."

By contrast, Woods has averaged 19 PGA Tour starts in his first 10 seasons on tour and has never played more than 21 events in a year. Woods played 15 in 2007, the minimum required for full tour membership, though he took 10 weeks off because of his father's death. Still, Woods has 55 career victories, fifth on the tour's all-time wins list. Palmer is fourth with 62 wins.

Palmer said he felt similar pressure but in less-public ways.

"The commissioner would call you sometimes. I've had occasions when that happened. But not to the point where they called and said 'You've got to play.'" Palmer recalled. "Deane Beman might call and say, 'Arnie, it would really help us if you would consider playing in an event.'"

Palmer said he received similar calls from Joe Dye, the commissioner before Beman. Woods has certainly had similar conversations with people behind the scenes, Palmer said, but Palmer doesn't criticize Woods or any player for playing fewer than half of the tour's available events.

"I played a lot, as you know. And I tried to accommodate. But there was a time when I played so much just trying to accommodate, I wore myself out," Palmer said. "And I got sick, mentally and physically. That doesn't mean that I was literally sick, but I felt awful and my game was not good."

Palmer recalled arriving in Fort Worth, Texas, for the Colonial tournament one May after having played a heavy schedule of tournaments early in the season.

"I was exhausted. I got sick. And that was a case where I wanted to be excused from the tournament," Palmer said. "I was on site and sick, but they kept me and they wouldn't let me go. And I understood."

Some things have changed significantly over 40 years of golf - primarily money. When Palmer won eight tournaments in 21 starts in 1962, he earned a record $128,230 for the season. The winner of today's Nissan Open will earn $936,000 for the week.

"You can't help but look at the money. They have got it. I mean, if you finish second or third in a tournament, you are set for the year, financially," Palmer said. "So that definitely has to have an effect."

Palmer said many players in his era played week to week just to make ends meet. A missed cut and no paycheck for a week could be a disaster for a struggling player.

"I won $75,000 in 1960. Well that was the top. Down the list not very far, you find out you were winning $20,000 or $25,000, even for a medium-type player," Palmer said. "You could barely make it on the tour. Your expenses were getting close to what you were winning. That made a lot of guys play a lot more than they otherwise might have played."

There were differences in the two players' careers. Palmer didn't turn pro until he was 25, while Woods was a pro at 19. And while Woods is generally considered unchallenged for the top spot in the game, Palmer's career spanned the winning eras of Sam Snead, Ben Hogan, Gary Player, Billy Capser and Palmer's greatest rival, Jack Nicklaus.

For the demands to ease on Woods, and for tournaments to feel comfortable without Woods in the field, Palmer says the competition needs to step up.

"Golf needs someone to challenge Tiger. He is so good and he is, right now, just my opinion, out there by himself," Palmer said. "It's kind of like how (Byron) Nelson was in his day. I think Tiger will continue to play and play a very dominant game."

Arnie Articulates
On the Bob Hope Chrysler Classic, which Palmer won five times: “It was a week off for me, just to be playing there. And the people like Ernie (Dunlevie) and the people that were running the tournament were all buddies. It was a week I wouldn’t miss for anything. Today, it would be the same situation for me. Tiger hasn’t had the experience. Had he, he might feel differently.”
On Woods’ dominance of the tour: “You can’t help but admire everything he does. It’s like at the British Open last year. He looked up at the leader board, saw he was three shots back and made three birdies in a row. That’s the kind of guy he is. He’s tough.”
On playing internationally, something he did often early in his career: “I had a couple of goals in my life about playing. One was to win as many countries’ championships as I could. When I started, I won the Panama Open, I won the Colombian Open, the U.S. Open, the British Open, the Canadian Open. One of my goals was to win as many national opens in the world as I could. And I tried for a while. But then I got curtailed, because of the travel and all the things, I just couldn’t do.”
On playing nearly every PGA Tour event at one time or another: “I skipped a lot of tournaments, but I played them all at one time or another. I kind of had a thing about that. Like the PGA. I never won the PGA, but I wanted to. The same thing applied to the (regular) tournaments. Palm Springs, L.A., Phoenix, Tucson, I wanted to win at least one time in every city in America. That was something I pursued. I did reasonable.”
On his best wins: “There is one thing that I always liked, and that was when there was a full field when I won. I wanted everybody there. And I think Tiger feels the same way. I think he likes the full field, he likes the competition and he doesn’t want a soft field. And I felt that way.”

Posted by scurry at 05:17 PM

API Will Again Feature the Best Golfers in the World

February 12, 2007

The 2007 Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by MasterCard is again expected to have one of the strongest fields of the year in world golf, potentially with as many as 13 of the current top-15 players on the Official World Golf Ranking.

The most recent player addition is Sweden's Henrik Stenson, who committed on Monday following his victory in the Dubai Desert Classic over a strong field that included world No. 1 Tiger Woods. Stenson, who scored the decisive point in Europe's 2006 Ryder Cup victory over the United States, is now ranked No. 10 in the world.

This will be Stenson's first appearance in the Arnold Palmer Invitational, previously known as the Bay Hill Invitational. The PGA Tour event is scheduled for the week of March 12-18 at Palmer's Bay Hill Club in Orlando, Florida.

Early commitments have also been received from Jim Furyk and Ernie Els, who are ranked respectively No. 2 and No. 4 in the world. Of the current top-15 players in the world, all but two have played at Bay Hill regularly or in recent years, including Woods, the champion for four consecutive years, 2000 through 2003.

Defending champion Rod Pampling, ranked No. 33 in the world, is among 15 players who have entered from the current top 50 players in the world. There have been 54 commitments as of today, and there will be a minimum of 120 players in the field. Greg Owen, the runner-up to Pampling last year, is included in that number.

Others are Nick O'Hern (No. 16 in the world), Davis Love III (No. 17), Jose Maria Olazabal (No. 22), K. J. Choi (No. 23), Michael Campbell (No. 29), Angel Cabrera (No. 31), Tim Clark (No. 32), Justin Rose (No. 36), Brett Wetterich (No. 41), Carl Pettersson (No. 43) and Charles Howell III (No. 47).

Fred Funk will be coming back from the Champions Tour after his top-10 finish last year. Other commitments include former Masters champion Mike Weir, former PGA winner Shaun Micheel, and these PGA Tour event winners of the past year: Eric Axley, Chris Couch, Charley Hoffman, Will MacKenzie, Troy Matteson, Cory Pavin, John Rollins, John Senden, D.J. Trahan, and Dean Wilson.

Joining Stenson and Olazabal so far from the European team in the 2006 Ryder Cup are Darren Clarke and Lee Westwood, while from the American team, commitments have been received from Wetterich, Vaughn Taylor, Zach Johnson, and Scott Verplank.

The Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by MasterCard traditionally has one of the strongest fields of the year and usually is behind only the four major championships, the World Golf Championship events, and The Players Championship. Last year's Bay Hill field included nine of the top 15 players in the world and 30 of the top 50.

Tickets for the 2007 Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by MasterCard or for more information, log on to the tournament web site, www.arnoldpalmerinvitational.com or call the Bay Hill ticket office at 407-876-7774 or toll free at 866-764-4843. Tournament proceeds benefit the Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children and the Winnie Palmer Hospital for Women & Babies.

Posted by scurry at 04:44 PM

And the winner is . . .

February 02, 2007

. . . Colts, 31-24. That's Arnold Palmer's prediction. "I take the Colts for two reasons: Peyton Manning at quarterback and the Colts are a faster team," he says.

For those disposed to placing a small wager, Palmer looks for a 7-point spread which matches the line predicted by USA Today expert oddsmaker Danny Sheridan. Sheridan's over/under of 48 1/2 means Palmer thinks the smart money will bet "over."

Why listen to a golfer when making a Super Bowl wager? Palmer is the 2003 Super Sage Award winner given annually by Scripps Howard news service to the celebrity that comes the closest to accurately predicting the winning score. Palmer won the year Tampa Bay beat Oakland, 48-21, to win Super Bowl XXXVII.

Past Super Sage Award recipients include Grateful Dead guitarist Bob Weir, actor Dennis Farina ("Law and Order") and Palmer's long-time congressman, U.S. Rep. John Murtha (D-Johnstown). Youth actor Haley Joel Osment (The Sixth Sense) has the longest winning streak in the celebrity poll's 17-year history, having accurately predicted the winner seven consectutive times.

Posted by crodell at 02:27 PM

The First Tee Program gets boost from Arnold Palmer Invitational

January 31, 2007

Golf to be introduced to fifty elementary schools in Orlando

On February 3, educators from The First Tee National School Program will train OCPS elementary school physical education instructors on how to introduce their students to the game of golf during regular gym classes.

The four-hour training session will take place at 9 a.m. at Robinswood Middle School in the gymnasium in Orlando. Each participating school will receive a set of modified golf equipment specially designed for safely instructing children either in a gymnasium or on an outdoor playing field.

“The goal is to present the game of golf to the students at a young age the same way sports like basketball, baseball, football, and soccer are presented,” said Scott Wellington, tournament director of the Arnold Palmer Invitational, which is helping finance the program along with the PGA TOUR. “We are hoping the program will build participation among the children of Orlando, the next generation of fans for the Arnold Palmer Invitational and the PGA TOUR.” Fifty (50) elementary schools will receive the program over the next two years with over 20,000 elementary students participating!

The First Tee National School Program is an entry-level golf curriculum designed to be part of elementary school physical education programs. Taught by physical education teachers and based on national physical education standards, the National School Program is a safe, fun, and effective way to introduce school children to the basics in golf skills, etiquette and play. The program also includes the element of character education through the inclusion of The First Tee Nine Core Values (honesty, integrity, sportsmanship, respect, confidence, responsibility, perseverance, courtesy and judgment).

“Through the National School Program we are able to expose a wide range of students to golf and its inherent values,” said Joe Louis Barrow, Jr., executive director of The First Tee program. “As we expand each year to schools across the country, more and more children will learn this valuable life sport and have the choice to make it a part of their lives.”

So far, the National School Program has introduced golf to some 490,000 children in 1100 schools across the nation.

About The First Tee
The First Tee (www.thefirsttee.org) is an initiative of the World Golf Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization based in St. Augustine, FL at World Golf Village, home of the World Golf Hall of Fame. Its mission is to impact the lives of young people by providing learning facilities and educational programs that promote character development and life-enhancing values through the game of golf. Since its inception in 1997, The First Tee has opened over 250 golf-learning facilities in 46 states and five international locations, and has introduced the game of golf and its values to over 675,000 participants.

Posted by scurry at 04:48 PM

Palmer birdie nets $100,000

January 17, 2007

Arnold Palmer rolled in a clutch 10-foot putt to end a day of struggles with one euphoric success. The single putt earned Palmer, 77, and playing partner Loren Roberts $100,000 on the second day of the Wendy’s Champions Skins Game at Wailea Golf Club’s Gold Course in Wailea, Hawaii. The putt dropped on the second playoff hole, No. 16, the same 208-yard par 3 Palmer’d birdied to tie earlier when he sunk a 25-footer.

The playoff birdie kept the Palmer-Roberts team from ending the event without a skin, something even his competitors said didn’t want to see happen. “Even though we were competing against him, we want to see him succeed and he did,” said Tom Watson, who partnered with Jack Nicklaus to win nine skins and $320,000 to edge the Gary Player-Jay Haas team’s six skins for $290,000. The Raymond Floyd-Dana Quigley team began the back nine tied with Nicklaus-Watson at two skins and $60,000, but were blanked during the day and finished last.

It was the first time since 2000 that every team took home some money. Palmer’s superstar opponents weren’t the only ones hoping to celebrate a Palmer skin. Palmer had been chagrined at having left Roberts in many awkward positions in the alternate shot format.

“I played pretty poorly up ‘til then, but the galleries stayed with me. So, I was happy to finally give them something to cheer about,” Palmer said. “Thanks to my partner for keeping us in it most of the way with some truly great recovery shots.”

The eight invitees have combined to win 553 tournament victories around the world, including 46 majors, and more than $103 million in prize money.

Posted by crodell at 02:01 PM

Make a Purchase You Will Feel Really Good About

November 16, 2006

Arnold Palmer, Samsung and CompUSA have teamed up to benefit the Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children. Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children has been helping to heal children from Central Florida and around the world for more than 17 years. And now you can help too.

During November and December, when you purchase any Samsung mobile phone or select Samsung IT products at any CompUSA store, a portion will be given back to the Arnold Palmer Hospital. Or you can help by purchasing special donation coupons online at www.compusa.com/fourseasonsofhope or at any CompUSA location.

Since great causes run in the Palmer family, you can also participate in an auction to benefit the Winnie Palmer Hospital for Children & Babies. Click here to start bidding and helping.

To find out more about the hospital, visit www.arnoldpalmerhospital.org. To learn more about Arnold Palmer, visit www.arnoldpalmer.com. And for more information about Samsung’s Four Seasons of Hope, visit www.fourseasonsofhope.com. Because a little help can make a big difference.

Posted by scurry at 03:39 PM

Palmer, Grandson Set for Father/Son Challenge

November 15, 2006

Arnold Palmer and his grandson, Sam Saunders, will team up for the fourth time in this year's Father/Son Challenge tournament the week of Nov. 30-Dec. 3, at ChampionsGate Golf Resort near Orlando, Florida. Saunders, a freshmen at Clemson University, is a scratch amateur, who was a medalist in last year's U.S. Junior Amateur at Longmeadow Country Club in Massachusetts.

The annual Del Webb Father/Son Challenge, which features a 36-player field comprised of 18 PGA TOUR or Champions Tour professionals and their son or daughter, is entering its 12th year and NBC Sports will televise the event nationally.

The unique 36-hole scramble format makes this event one of the most renowned and affable Challenge Season events in golf, as evidenced by the legendary players that are a part of the showcase. In order to be eligible, all of the fathers must have won a major championship on the PGA TOUR.

The teams will play for the prestigious Willie Park Trophy replica belts named in honor of the winner of the first British Open in 1860, in addition to a $1,085,000 purse.

This year’s tournament activities begin with a two-day pro-am on Thursday, Nov. 30 and Friday, Dec. 1. The 36-hole event, played under a scramble format, will be Saturday, Dec. 2 and Sunday, Dec. 3. NBC will televise the event on both days.

Posted by scurry at 04:53 PM

"It's Time" -- Palmer Ends Tournament Career

October 16, 2006

Arnold Palmer declared that "it's time" to bow out of individual tournament golf after withdrawing from the Administaff Small Business Classic on Friday, October 13, in Houston, Texas, ending a competitive career that began in Western Pennsylvania when he was a high school amateur in the late 1940s.
"Right now, I have no thoughts of playing any more tournament golf," said the 77-year-old Palmer, who has played professionally since giving up his amateur status on November 18, 1954. "I'll play some father-son and skins game events, some charity events, and that's it."
It was not an easy decision for him, even though he had been drastically cutting back his tournament schedule in recent years and had played only one earlier tour event this season (Constellation Energy Classic in Baltimore.) He was emotional as he talked about it after, his body aching, he hit two balls in the water at the fourth hole in the Administaff tournament's opening round, stopped keeping score and accompanied playing partners Lee Trevino and John Mahaffey the rest of the way.

"To know it's really over, that's tough," he said. "It's been my life. To stand out there and not be able to make something happen is very traumatic. When the people all want to see a good shot, you know it and you can't give it to them, that's when it's time."
The legendary Hall-of-Famer never used the word, retirement. Not only will he play occasionally, as he mentioned, in team and charity events and casual golf with his friends and associates, he will remain fully active in business. Particularly with his Arnold Palmer Design Company, which has been involved with nearly 300 projects in its 35-year history and has just moved into new quarters at his Bay Hill Club in Orlando, Florida.
"I'm going to concentrate on designing and building golf courses now and really spend a lot of time doing that. That's going to be my major passion now. I have a great crew and I am going to spend a lot of my time with them."
For the record, Palmer completes his career with 92 professional victories, posted between the Canadian Open in 1955 and the Crestar Classic on the Champions (Senior PGA) Tour in 1988, and a host of amateur titles, most notably the 1954 U.S. Amateur Championship.
He won four Masters (1958-60-62-64), two British Opens (1961-62) and the 1960 U.S. Open on the PGA Tour and two Senior PGA Championships (1980-84), two Senior Players Championships (1984-85) and the U.S. Senior Open (l981) on the Champions Tour.

Posted by dgiffin at 03:29 PM

ADMINISTAFF SIGNS ARNOLD PALMER TO LIFETIME ENDORSEMENT CONTRACT AS NATIONAL SPOKESPERSON

October 13, 2006

HOUSTON – Oct. 13, 2006 – Administaff, Inc. (NYSE: ASF), a leading provider of human resources (HR) services for small and medium-sized businesses, today announced that it has extended its endorsement contract with golf legend and small business owner Arnold Palmer.

Palmer, who has been the Administaff spokesperson since 2004, will continue to be the face of the brand through the company’s unique, multifaceted marketing program.

“Administaff and Arnold have proven to be a great team, and we’re delighted that this winning combination will continue for many years to come,” said Paul J. Sarvadi, chairman and chief executive officer of Administaff.

“I am proud to continue my association with Administaff, both as a spokesperson and as a client,” said Palmer. “My involvement with the company was an easy decision due to our shared values and beliefs.”

The contract was finalized during the Administaff Small Business Classic™, a PGA Champions Tour event in which Arnold Palmer is participating as one of an elite field of champion golfers.

About Arnold Palmer

Arnold Palmer is one of the best-known sportsmen and small business owners in the world today. As a professional golfer, he has won 92 national and international championships – 61 of them
on the U.S. Tour. His golf titles include four Masters, two British Opens and the 1960 U.S. Open. He also has represented the United States seven times in the Ryder Cup Matches as either a player or captain. He was recognized for his achievements in an Associated Press poll as the “Athlete of the Decade” for the 1960’s. During his illustrious career, Palmer has received virtually every national award in golf as well as the Hickok Athlete of the Year and Sports Illustrated’s Sportsman of the Year in 1960. Palmer is president of Arnold Palmer Enterprises, a multi-division structure encompassing much of his global commercial activity that is centered in Cleveland. He has been involved in automobile and aviation service firms over the years and still is the principal owner of Arnold Palmer Motors (http://www.arnoldpalmermotors.com), an automobile dealership in his hometown of Latrobe, Penn. In addition, Palmer owns two country clubs, Latrobe Country Club and Bay Hill Country Club (http://www.bayhill.com) as well as a golf course design business (http://www.palmerdesign.com). For more information on Arnold Palmer visit http://www.arnoldpalmer.com.

About Administaff

Administaff is the nation’s leading professional employer organization (PEO), serving as a full-service human resources department that provides small and medium-sized businesses with administrative relief, big-company benefits, reduced liabilities and a systematic way to improve productivity. The company operates 41 sales offices in 22 major markets. For additional information, visit Administaff's Web site at http://www.administaff.com.

Posted by scurry at 05:36 PM

STONEHOUSE PUBLISHING INKS LICENSING DEAL WITH THE “KING”

October 09, 2006

World Class Panoramic Golf Course Photographer Patrick Drickey to Immortalize ‘Arnie’s Greatest Moments and Greatest Course Designs”

Omaha, NE —Stonehouse Publishing Company announced today that it has become an official licensee of Arnold Palmer Enterprises and, as such, will create a signature line of prints commemorating the King’s greatest moments in golf. In addition, Stonehouse will have the right to use Palmer’s authentic and lithograph signature and brand logos on prints featuring courses such as Bay Hill, Pebble Beach and Latrobe County Club.

Stonehouse will create a series of prints utilizing its trademark panoramic golf course photography to capture Palmer’s major championship victories at the Open Championship, U.S. Open and PGA Championship venues. Great courses such as Cherry Hills, Royal Birkdale and Royal Troon will be spotlighted in the collection. The prints will be available on www.stonehousegolf.com, www.arnoldpalmer.com and through select On and Off Course golf retailers.

“It is an honor to develop a line of Stonehouse prints that celebrates a legend the likes of Arnold Palmer, and we are thrilled to be working with him and his team” said David Vogrin, President of Stonehouse Publishing. “We are confident the Palmer series will rekindle memories of Arnold’s triumphs with members of his Army, and create an interest with younger fans that did not have the chance to witness one of golf’s most exciting players firsthand.”

The newly executed deal is for the period of three years, and Stonehouse expects to release the first of the Palmer series on November 1st in time for the 2006 holiday season.

To check out the entire Stonehouse portfolio, visit www.stonehousegolf.com. Stonehouse panoramic golf course prints range in size and price from the 9” x 15” framed Miniature Edition, available for a suggested retail price of $45.00, to the 30” x 50” framed Ltd. Edition bearing Mr. Palmer’s authentic signature for a suggested retail price of $1,999.99. For more information on Arnold Palmer’s businesses visit www.arnoldpalmer.com.

About Stonehouse Publishing, Co.
Based in Omaha, Nebraska, Stonehouse Publishing, Co. was founded in 1995 by Photographer Patrick Drickey to deliver “the fine art of golf” to consumers. Stonehouse Publishing goes to great lengths to ensure that each of its panoramic images of the finest golf holes in the world are shot in the perfect light and from the golfer’s perspective. All of the Stonehouse Publishing prints are printed and assembled by hand in the United States. To view the Stonehouse collection first-hand and for more information on the company, visit www.stonehousegolf.com.

About Patrick Drickey
Patrick Drickey is a Pioneer of Panoramic Golf Course Photography and his portfolio includes images from the world's great destination and championship courses, including Whistling Straits, Pebble Beach, Pinehurst and many others. His panoramic format is ideally suited for vividly capturing the scope and breadth of a golf course and his 25 years of experience as an architectural and landscape photographer apply well as a golf course artist. While capturing light and landscape is important, Patrick’s attention to the reproduction of each image is unsurpassed. He personally oversees the preparation of every fine art lithograph and collector watercolor rendition. These reproduction processes are very rare and far more costly than usual photographic reproductions that are mass-produced, but the results are self-evident. Patrick is the founder of Stonehouse Publishing, headquartered in Omaha, Nebraska.

Posted by scurry at 02:07 PM

Death of Byron Nelson Saddens Arnold Palmer

September 26, 2006

Arnold Palmer expressed his deep regret on the death of Byron Nelson when informed this afternoon (Tuesday, September 26.) His comments:

"I was terribly disturbed to learn that Byron Nelson has passed (away). He was one of the great people of all time, in addition to being one of the greatest players who ever lived. His record speaks for itself. I don't think that anyone will ever exceed the things that Byron did by winning 11 tournaments in a row in one year. But, I suppose that is not the most admirable thing that he did, although it was certainly tremendous. He was a fantastic person whom I admired from the time I was a boy. He just did nothing during his long life but make great contributions to the game of golf and life itself."

Posted by dgiffin at 04:36 PM

Arnold Palmer to Attend Ryder Cup in Ireland

August 08, 2006

Arnold Palmer will fly to Ireland in late September to attend to course design business and spend time at the prestigious Ryder Cup as it is played in Ireland at the K Club course outside of Dublin that he and his associates designed in 1991. Palmer, who is the second most productive point-maker in U.S. Ryder Cup history, has not been on hand for Ryder Cup competition since his second captaincy in 1975 at Laurel Valley in his native Western Pennsylvania.

The legendary golfer is anxious to see how the cream of the American and European crop of pros handle the highly-regarded, parkland-style course, which his company fine-tuned for owner Michael Smurfit after the most prestigious international team competition was awarded to Smurfit and Ireland for the first time several years ago. The Ryder Cup will be played on the Palmer course, part of the 36-hole complex at the magnificent K Club resort, on September 22-24. Although the United States leads in the biennial event, 24 wins against nine defeats and two ties, the Americans have lost four of the last five meetings and have not won in Europe since a victory in England in 1993.

On the business side, Palmer will attend activities connected to two Arnold Palmer Design Company projects - St. Lucia in the eastern Caribbean and White Oak in Hendersonville, North Carolina, and make a site visit and attend a reception for Milverton, a new course being developed in Ireland. These bring to nearly 300 the number of courses designed by the Palmer company world-wide over the last 35 years.

Palmer will pilot his Cessna Citation X on its non-stop flight to Ireland, landing in Shannon for the business commitments before moving on to Dublin for the Ryder Cup.

Posted by dgiffin at 03:23 PM

Palmer to Play in 'Greats of Golf' Event in Minnesota

July 27, 2006

Arnold Palmer will make his first competitive appearance in six months when he plays in the "Greats of Golf" segment of the Champion Tour's 3M Championship August 5-7 at Minneapolis. Palmer, whose most recent appearance was in the Wendy's Champions Skins Game in early February, will join with eight of his contemporary fellow stars of yesteryear in a two-round best-ball-of-three competition. It will be integrated into the regular senior event at the TPC of the Twin Cities and they also will play in a preceding special pro-amateur event at 3M's Tartan Park Golf Course on Friday.

Don January and Miller Barber will team up with Palmer and play against the threesomes of Bill Casper-Tony Jacklin-Gene Littler and Lee Trevino-Chi Chi Rodriguez-Al Geiberger in the event. All are Hall-of-Famers and/or winners of major championships on the regular or Champions Tours. Each will lead one of the nine teams in the pro-amateur.

This will be the third staging of the "Greats of Golf" event exclusively at the 3M Championship, but Palmer's first appearance in it.

Posted by dgiffin at 02:59 PM

Palmer Withdraws from Senior Open

June 30, 2006

Arnold Palmer issued the following statement on Friday, June 30, regarding the U.S. Senior Open Championship, to be played July 7-10 at Prairie Dunes Country Club, Hutchinson, Kansas:

"It is with great regret that I have come to the very difficult decision to advise the USGA that I am withdrawing from the upcoming U.S. Senior Open at Prairie Dunes. I have spent considerable time over the past few weeks attempting without success to bring my game up to acceptable standards to play in this important national championship. In my judgment, my golf right now is far below the level that I would feel comfortable with as a bona fide contestant. I hope that the fans who have given me such wonderful support over the years will understand and accept my decision."

BACKGROUND INFORMATION: Arnold Palmer won the 1981 U.S. Senior Open at Oakland Hills Country Club, Birmingham, Michigan, the first year he was eligible to play in the championship. He defeated Bill Casper and Bob Stone in an 18-hole playoff. Palmer played in the next 24 Senior Opens through last year's championship at NCR Country Club, Dayton, Ohio.
Palmer's last competitive appearance was in the Wendy's Champions Skins Game at Wailea, Hawaii, in February. His most recent Champions Tour start was in the Administaff Small Business Classic at Houston, Texas, last October.

Posted by dgiffin at 11:12 AM

NEW TOURNAMENT LOGO FEATURES SIGNATURE, UMBRELLA

June 07, 2006

Arnold Palmer Invitational Presented by MasterCard Highlights Classic Symbols Associated With Tournament’s Legendary Host

The new logo of the Arnold Palmer Invitational Presented by MasterCard, unveiled today by tournament director Scott Wellington, combines two classic symbols of Arnold Palmer – his looping, easy-to-read signature and his trademark multi-colored umbrella logo.

“His signature is arguably the most recognizable in all of sport, and we obviously wanted something that said Arnold Palmer. There was no need to reinvent the wheel,” said Wellington.

The PGA Tour event, which has been played since 1979 at Palmer’s Bay Hill Club in Orlando, Florida, most recently was known as the Bay Hill Invitational. MasterCard became the presenting sponsor in 2004. Invacare, Hertz and UBS are associate sponsors of the tournament.

“The new imagery captures the style and sophistication of someone who has done so much for the game of golf,” said Alan Heuer, COO, MasterCard International Incorporated. “As an organization, MasterCard is even more proud to help bring to golf fans the Arnold Palmer Invitational Presented by MasterCard – and to be such an integral part of its new look and moniker.”

The Arnold Palmer signature and the umbrella logo are both recognized worldwide as signs of excellence, not only of a famous professional golfer, but also for quality merchandise.

Palmer takes pride and great care in his signature, saying, “I have always felt very strongly that if someone thinks enough of me that they want my autograph, I should provide one that they can read. Very little irritates me more these days than to see the illegible autographs that some people give out.”

The umbrella idea came from Palmer in a 1960s brain-storming session with his business manager, the late Mark McCormack, other lawyers and marketing experts. The focus of the meeting was on the need for some unique golf article as a logo. “How about an umbrella?” Palmer interjected. “A golf umbrella.”

Everyone agreed that the umbrella was one piece of golf equipment not claimed by someone else, and after clearance through a trademark search, the Arnold Palmer logo became the four-paneled, multi-colored umbrella, always tilted to the right, that has been promoted ever since on products and clothing around the world.
.
Palmer has told the story of registering at a hotel not too many years ago in Hong Kong, and signing his name. “The clerk looked at it and beamed widely at me and said, ‘Ah, you bring more Arnold Palmer shirts!’” Palmer related. “For a moment I was confused, and then it came to me. He had no clue that Arnold Palmer was in fact a golfer.”

The new name for the tournament was announced on March 8 by PGA Tour commissioner Tim Finchem, who said at the time, “We have been discussing the possibility of a name change with Arnold and his family … Arnold has been the face of the tournament for a number of years, and it makes sense that it bears his name to honor his countless contributions to the tournament and to the PGA Tour.”

Palmer said then, “It has been a matter of great pride for me when my name was placed on an entity of one sort or another over the years, but I can’t think of anything that brings me more pleasure and satisfaction than having it on the tournament that has meant so much to me for so long.”

The Arnold Palmer Invitational is scheduled in 2007 for March 15-18. The defending champion will be Rod Pampling, and other past winners include Tiger Woods (four times), Phil Mickelson, Ernie Els, Kenny Perry, Fred Couples, Payne Stewart, Paul Azinger, Ben Crenshaw, Tom Kite, and Fuzzy Zoeller.

NOTE: FOR LOGO ART, PLEASE CONTACT DONNA ADAMS, 407-876-2888
OR EMAIL dadams@arnoldpalmerinvitational.com

Posted by scurry at 11:22 AM

Jack and Arnie: Talkin' Golf with Jim Nantz

June 02, 2006

Shortly after this year's Masters, Jack Nicklaus and Arnold Palmer sat down with Jim Nantz for a chat. With cameras rolling, they reminisced about their head-to-head battles and their relationship for 1 hour 40 minutes.

The plan was to turn the conversation into a half-hour show to air on CBS. Instead, "Jack and Arnie: Talkin' Golf" will be two half-hour shows, the first airing Sunday at 10:30 a.m. before the final round of the Memorial tournament and the second airing July 2.

The Royal Bank of Scotland, which employs Nicklaus as a spokesman, bought the airtime.

CBS is promoting the interview as a first.

"Arnold and I have been together lots of times, and obviously we've talked lots of times," Nicklaus said Thursday. "But we've never put together any kind of show for posterity.

"I think it's kind of neat that we did it. I don't know why it hadn't been done before. But, by gosh, it hadn't been, so it was time to do it."

The show displays a warm connection between these two golf legends, even though there have been reports over the years that they didn't get along.

"I think that, frankly, comes from the press," Nicklaus said. "I don't think the press ever really worries about the facts. Never let the facts interfere with a good story."

"Arnold and I have been friends. Sure, we've had our differences. Absolutely. I mean two guys don't walk around in euphoria all day long. I mean, we were obviously competing, and when you compete you have issues."

"But if I ever needed anything, I know Arnold would be there for me, and I think Arnold knows that if anything ever happened to him, I'm there for him."

"There were a lot of nice things that Arnold did for me when I first started on the [PGA] Tour that he certainly didn't have any reason to do."

Nicklaus equated the rumors about Palmer and him with those about a rift between Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson.

"I heard when I was Presidents Cup captain [last year] that there was bad blood between Phil and Tiger. The first day I get there, Tiger and Phil say, 'Hey, come on, let's play some ping pong.' Two guys playing ping pong and having a good time, laughing, kidding each other. Is that bad blood?"

Sunday's show begins with Nicklaus talking about the first time he saw Palmer, on a Tuesday before an Ohio Amateur. Nicklaus was 14 at the time, and after his round, despite a heavy rain, Nicklaus stood and watched Palmer on the driving range for half an hour.

Says Nantz: "You didn't know he was stalking you back then, did you, Arnold?"

Nicklaus, 66, and Palmer, 76, continue in a similar vein, often poking fun at each other, as they talk about their many battles, beginning with the 1960 U.S. Open at Cherry Hills in Colorado.

Near the end of Sunday's show, Nicklaus talks about the final round of the 1964 Masters.

"I'll never forget that round," Nicklaus says. "I played with Dave Marr. Dave and I ended up tying for second, and Arnold, you won by six shots, I think."

Says Palmer: "You didn't play with Dave Marr."

Nicklaus: "I didn't?"

Palmer: "Nope. I played with Dave Marr because I remember this very well."

What Palmer remembers is a conversation he had with Marr on the 18th tee.

"I said, 'David, is there anything I can do to help you?' I knew you and he were going at it for second place."

Palmer says he was surprised by Marr's response.

"He said, 'Yeah' -- and he used a word that I won't repeat -- 'you can make 12 on this hole.' "

It appears as though Palmer and Nicklaus had fun getting together to do this show, and viewers should enjoy watching it.

Posted by scurry at 01:29 PM

AP Design Company Moving to Orlando's Bay Hill

May 30, 2006

The renamed Arnold Palmer Design Company will move its offices and operations from Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida, to new quarters at Palmer’s Bay Hill Club at Orlando this fall. The relocation will enable Palmer to be more active in his roles as president and chairman of the long-established golf architectural firm, which has designed more than 250 courses in 38 states and 23 countries during its 35 years of existence.

Another motivation for the move was the illness of Ed Seay, with whom Palmer formed the company in 1971. Although unable to be fully active, Seay, a past president of the American Society of Golf Course Architects, will remain involved with the company as Palmer’s personal counselor. All of the firm’s present employees were invited to continue in their present capacities at the new Bay Hill offices. The target date for the transition is October 1.

“Since my golf has not been up to the standards I have always set for myself, I have not been playing in tour events this year,” said Palmer. “So that gives me the time to be more in charge of the company and personally get more involved in the designing. This is something that I have wanted to do for many years.

“With the company right at my club in Orlando, I can be hands-on much more of the time.”

Palmer had high praise for Seay, his long-time associate in the design business.

“Ed has been my lead man in the business and I consider him one of the greatest architects of all time. He has done a fantastic job for us,” he remarked. “Now, as my consultant, I will continue to turn to him for advice on all phases of our company operations.

“We are happy that many of the key people are moving to Orlando. We will be able to continue business as usual during the transition.”

Many of the Palmer-designed courses have been the sites for tournaments on the various tours in the United States and around the world. The new Classic Club at Palm Springs, California, was the headquarters course for this year’s Bob Hope Chrysler Classic and the Palmer-designed K Club course outside of Dublin, Ireland, will be the scene of the Ryder Cup Match in September.

Another notable achievement for the company was the creation of Chung Shan Hot Spring Golf Course in southern China. It was the first new golf course in the country in more than a half century and touched off a golfing boom in that nation.

Interestingly, Palmer’s career as a course designer dates back to the early 1960s. He and his father, Milfred J. (Deke) Palmer, laid out the routing and oversaw the construction when Latrobe Country Club was expanded from nine to 18 holes. Arnold grew up at Latrobe CC, where his father was golf professional and course superintendent throughout his adult life. Arnold acquired ownership of the club in 1971, at about the same time as he and associates purchased Bay Hill.

Posted by dgiffin at 04:28 PM

Palmer to Play in U.S. Senior Open in Kansas

May 26, 2006

Arnold Palmer has submitted a entry for the U.S. Senior Open Championship, which will be played July 6-9 at Prairie Dunes Country Club in Hutchinson, Kansas. It is scheduled to be his first tour tournament start of the 2006 season.

Palmer's last competitive appearance was in the Wendy's Champions Skins Game at Wailea, Hawaii in February, where he partnered with Peter Jacobsen, and his most recent Champions Tour start was in the Administaff Small Business Classic at Houston, Texas, last October.

Palmer won the 1981U.S. Senior Open at Oakland Hills Country Club, Birmingham, Michigan, the first year he was eligible to play in the championship. He has competed in all 24 Senior Opens that followed. At Oakland Hills, he defeated Bill Casper and Bob Stone in an 18-hole playoff. He returns to Prairie Dunes for the first time since playing an exhibition match there with Jack Nicklaus in 1962.

"My golf has certainly not been up to par of late," the 76-year-old Palmer said, explaining his reluctance to enter the championship until days before the deadline. Dissatisfaction with his game was a factor in his withdrawal prior to last week's Senior PGA Championship. "Hopefully, by the time I get to Kansas, my game will be much better."

In addition to the Senior Open, Palmer has won four other senior majors and a total of 10 Champions Tour titles. He captured the Senior PGA in 1980, the year he turned 50, and in 1984 and scored back-to-back victories in the Senior Players Championship (then the Senior TPC Championship) at Canterbury Golf Club in Cleveland. He won 62 times on the regular PGA Tour and has 92 professional titles on his brilliant record. He also won the 1954 U.S. Amateur Championship at the Country Club of Detroit and is one of only two players to have won the U.S. Amateur, U.S. Open and U.S. Senior Open. Jack Nicklaus is the other.

Posted by dgiffin at 04:11 PM

Palmer Lives Up to 'Shoot Your Age' Event

May 09, 2006

Arnold Palmer was one of just six players among a select field of 60 senior golfers who lived up to the title in the "Shoot Your Age Championship" television special aired on CBS prior to the final round of the PGA Tour's Wachovia Championship on May 7th. The 76-year-old pro great fashioned a one-over-par 73 in the first staging of the unique event on the Palmer-designed Legends Country Club course at The Villages in Central Florida.

Leonard Luken, an 87-year-old resident of Hilton Head, SC, won the tournament when he scored an 81 for his six-stroke margin. He was the only man who had a wider difference between score and age than Palmer and two others -- 87-year-old Joe Cheves, Morgantown NC, who shot 84, and 83-year-old Loyal (Bud) Chapman, who had an 80. Players had to drop out when their scores matched their ages and just two others -- Robert Harris, 77, Boynton Beach FL (75) and Archie Swanson, 87, Crystal River FL (87) -- reached the 18th green on the Legends course at the immense, leisure-oriented residential community.

Gary Player, 70, the other pro golfing great in the field, reached his age and ended his round on the 17th green. Nancy Lopez, the LPGA Hall-of-Famer, who also designed one of The Villages courses, was on hand for the event.

Palmer, who swapped stories and needling with Player, his long-time friend, TV playing partner and frequent tournament adversary, at interviews and events prior to the tournament, was pleased to have beaten his age but was disappointed when a three-putt on the last green deprived him of a par round. "I was reasonably pleased, but I am certainly not playing the type of golf that I would like to be playing. (Overall it was) very encouraging,' Palmer remarked afterward. "I am look forward to next year."

Posted by dgiffin at 03:37 PM

Palmer Foundation Makes $2 Million Cancer Grant

May 04, 2006

The Arnold D. Palmer Charitable Trust is making a $2 million grant to the University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute for the establishment of an "Arnold Palmer Endowed Chair in Cancer Prevention." This new initiative in cancer prevention enabled the UPCI to recruit Dr. Emanuela Taioli, a renowned expert in cancer risk and individual susceptibility, to head its division of cancer prevention and population science.

The announcement by Palmer and University of Pittsburgh officials preceded the annual UPCI fund-raising gala May 3 at the UPMC Sports Performance Complex on Pittsburgh's South Side, where the school's football team shares expansive, modern training facilities with the Super Bowl Champion Pittsburgh Steelers. The gala, which was attended by more than 1,000 supporters and raised $8.2 million for the UPCI, was held in the beautifully-decorated indoor football practice field at the Sports Complex.

Palmer has been a strong and active supporter of cancer programs on a national scale since undergoing successful prostate cancer surgery in 1997. The dreaded disease took the life of his first wife, Winnie, in 1999 and his daughter, Mrs. Amy Saunders, recovered completely following breast cancer surgery in the mid-1990s.

Posted by dgiffin at 11:25 AM

Prestwick to Host 2006 Palmer Cup presented by Monster

May 02, 2006

College golf’s Ryder Cup-style competition tees off at the Birthplace of the Open Championship

ORLANDO, Fla. — Historic Prestwick Golf Club has been selected as the site for the 2006 Palmer Cup presented by Monster announced the Golf Coaches Association of America (GCAA). The annual Ryder Cup-style competition will be played June 29-30, on the 6,544 yard, par 71 Prestwick Golf Club when the top collegiate players from the United States tee off against their counterparts from Europe. The Americans lead the series, 5-3-1.

“We are very pleased to hold the 10th Palmer Cup at the birthplace of championship golf, Prestwick Golf Club,” said GCAA President Tom Drennan. “I’m sure that both the finest college players from America and Europe will be looking forward to competing at such a prestigious venue. We are grateful to the members and staff of Prestwick for making this wonderful opportunity possible.”

Situated on the famous Ayrshire coast of Scotland, Prestwick shares a stretch of land with legendary courses Royal Troon and Turnberry, all who have played host to the Open Championship. Prestwick boasts the distinction of being the birthplace of the Open Championship, having hosted 24 Open Championships, including the first 12. In 1872, the club joined forces with the Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St. Andrews and the Honourable Company of Edinburgh to acquire the Claret Jug.

“Prestwick Golf Club is delighted to act as this years host Club for the Palmer Cup,” said Ian Bunch, Prestwick Golf
Club Secretary. “We look forward to welcoming the super stars of tomorrow to our very unique Club and Course. I believe Prestwick is one of the finest match play venues in Scotland and it will be a privilege to see these young players test their skills. The course is a true links layout with narrow fairways and fast undulating greens; there are a number of old fashioned blind shots which most of the participants will not have experienced. There will be a premium on accuracy as opposed to length and if the wind blows both sides will discover the special delights of golf in Scotland.”

Prestwick has been a strong supporter of amateur golf, having hosted 11 Amateur Championships. The first was in
1888 and the most recent in 2001 as part of the Club’s 150th Anniversary.

“Monster could not be happier with the opportunity to stage this top collegiate competition at the birthplace of the
Open Championship,” commented Andrew J. McKelvey, Chairman and CEO of Monster Worldwide. “The whole Prestwick experience will be outstanding for the talented young men who qualify for the Palmer Cup presented by Monster – college golf’s equivalent to the Ryder Cup.”

The 10th annual Palmer Cup presented by Monster returns to Scotland for the first time since 1998, when the event
was played at St. Andrews. Previous Palmer Cup host venues include Bay Hill, The Honors Course, Royal Liverpool, Baltusrol, Doonbeg, Cassique, Ballybunion and Whistling Straits. Past participants include Open Champion Ben Curtis, Jonathan Byrd, Luke Donald, Charles Howell III, Hank Kuehne, Bo Van Pelt, Michael Hoey, Matt Kuchar, Peter Lawrie, Hunter Mahan, D.J. Trahan and Ryan Moore. More information is available on The Palmer Cup at www.arnoldpalmer.com.

Monster, headquartered in Maynard, Mass., is the leading global careers website. Monster connects the most
progressive companies with the most qualified career-minded individuals, offering innovative technology and superior services that give them more control over the recruiting process. The Monster global network consists of local content and language sites in the United States, United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, the Netherlands, Belgium, New Zealand, Singapore, Hong Kong, France, Scotland, Germany, Ireland, Spain, Luxembourg, India, Italy, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Switzerland and Finland. Monster was the official online career management services sponsor of the 2004 U.S. Olympic Team. More information about Monster is available at www.monster.com or by calling 1-800-MONSTER.
Prestwick Golf Club was founded in 1851 and is located just 30 minutes southwest of Glasgow, Scotland, on the
famous golfing Ayrshire coast, a stretch of land unequalled anywhere in the world for prime golfing terrain. Prestwick shares its boundaries with Royal Troon and is just 20 minutes from Turnberry. More information is available on Prestwick at www.prestwickgc.co.uk.

Posted by scurry at 03:49 PM

U.S. Announces Palmer Cup presented by Monster Team

Haack to lead American team for second time

NORMAN, Okla. — Ryan Baca of Baylor, Duke’s Ryan Blaum, Roberto Castro and Kevin Larsen of Georgia Tech, Georgia’s Brian Harman and Chris Kirk, Luke List of Vanderbilt and Brigham Young’s Clay Ogden have been selected to represent the United States in the 2006 Palmer Cup presented by Monster announced the Golf Coaches Association of America (GCAA).

The annual Ryder Cup-style competition between American collegiate golfers and their counterparts from Europe will be held June 29-30, on the 6,544 yard, par 71 Prestwick Golf Club in Prestwick, Scotland. Georgia Head Coach Chris Haack has been named to lead Team USA, his second stint as Palmer Cup coach.

“I’m really happy with the team that we’ve put together for this Palmer Cup,” said Haack. “Not only do we have experienced players who are having great college seasons, but we have guys who have competed in Palmer Cups, Walker Cups and The Masters. Hopefully we will have as much success as we did last time I coached.”

Blaum and Castro each posted 3-1 records in last year’s Palmer Cup and teamed up for a four-ball victory in the
event’s opening round. Castro also served as team captain while Blaum was assistant captain. Haack - the only U.S. coach to have been selected twice to coach Team USA - previously served in 2002 when he lead the Americans to a 15.5-8.5 victory at Doonbeg Golf Club in Ireland.

Baca, Harman, Kirk, Larsen, List and Ogden will be competing in their first Palmer Cup.

Team USA leads the Palmer Cup series 5-3-1.

Posted by scurry at 03:37 PM

Palmer to Start Light Schedule with Senior PGA

April 26, 2006

In the latest season debut in his long career, Arnold Palmer will make his first start of 2006 on May 25 in Edmond, Oklahoma, to play in the opening round of the Senior PGA Championship. As he has indicated in recent interviews, Palmer plans a limited schedule this year following that first event at Oak Tree Country Club, scene of the 1988 PGA Championship and the 1984 U.S. Amateur Championship.

He expects to enter a handful of tournaments on the over-50 Champions Tour and is undecided regarding the U.S. Senior Open in July at Prairie Dunes Country Club in Hutchinson, Kansas. His only other formal commitment to date was for the Champions Tour's Constellation Energy Classic September 15-17 at Hayfields Country Club at Baltimore.

Palmer counts two Senior PGA Championships among his 12 official victories on the Champions Tour. He won the initial one in his first season of eligibility in 1980 at Turnberry Isle Country Club, North Miami, Florida, then landed the 1984 title when the tournament was played on the Champion course at PGA National Golf Club, Palm Beach Gardens, Florida. He has missed just one Senior PGA over the past 26 years.

Posted by dgiffin at 04:25 PM

Mister Palmer’s Neighborhood

April 24, 2006

The saucy old widow lady next door surprised me when she said she spent a lot of time watching televised golf. Then she about shocked all the hairs off my head when she confided the reason why.

She used to spend hours and hours with her hands in Arnold Palmer’s pants.

“He always paid me,” she said matter-of-factly. “To me, he was just another customer. His office called a while back, but I told them I don’t do that kind of thing anymore.”

She was Palmer’s seamstress, something I’d never known in the 12 years she and I had lived next door to one another on Arnold Palmer Drive one half mile from Latrobe Country Club and the humble home of Palmer himself.

Her casual mention and my giddy reaction -- I dashed inside and phoned five friends who assumed my breathless tone meant I’d just sired healthy quadruplets -- are sound indicators why I’ll never fit in as a year-round resident of the birthplace of the venerable gent, who in 1955 won the Canadian Open, the first of 92 illustrious victories.

My father served his country as a U.S. Navy chaplain’s assistant. It’s almost impossible to conjure a less perilous title -- Army pillow tester? -- for a World War II veteran. That’s why his stories as a foot soldier in Arnie’s Army struck his sons as more stirring than his days dusting Bibles on behalf of God and Uncle Sam.

He got sunburned at Oakmont in ‘62. Stiff new golf shoes blistered his feet on a long march following Palmer at Firestone in ‘75. He caught hell for spilling beer on the couch reaching for Kleenex to mop away tears when Palmer crossed the Swilcan Burn for the last time in ‘95. I was raised with a reverence for the man I still, out of respect, refer to as Mr. Palmer that is unsurpassed by statesmen, philanthropists and medical innovators.

But that’s not why I moved to tiny Youngstown (me and the 391 other locals are always snobbishly informing strangers that Mr. Palmer’s Latrobe Country Club is actually in Youngstown, 15696, not Latrobe, 15650).

I was a newspaper reporter in a small Latrobe bureau office that was right next to a friendly tavern that served 50-cent Rolling Rock drafts. The buildings were a well-struck 3-wood from Latrobe Brewing Company. When my wife-to-be and I were searching for an area home, it seemed prudent to move to a place that, in those days of Y2K computer bug hysteria, assured convenient access to a brewery that served good, cheap beer.

But the real reason is the same as why Palmer still resides here and why he’s still active with the club, Arnold Palmer Motors and the local airport that bears his name: I’d grown fond of the folks. They are tough, no-nonsense people who work hard and play hard.

We moved into 505 Main Street and I began a career of freelance writing general feature stories for various national magazines. It wasn’t until the local council changed my address to Arnold Palmer Drive that I began to concentrate on golf writing. Palmer isn’t tiny Youngstown’s only claim to fame. The rest of Main Street was renamed in honor of another famous resident, the late Mister Fred Rogers, a schoolmate of Palmer’s. In fact, I can leave my front door turn left and be on Arnold Palmer Drive or turn right and stroll down Fred Rogers Way.

Alas, my golf game tends to trend after Mister Rogers. It’s gentle, unfailingly polite and is something grown up meanies make vicious fun of. But that hasn’t stopped me from seizing the Palmer connection. “I may never be the best golf writer,” I reason, “but I can be the only one on Arnold Palmer Drive just down the street from Latrobe Country Club and Arnold Palmer himself.”

Even before employing that little professional conceit, I was awestruck every single time I had a brush with Palmer, a small town neighbor who wouldn’t know me from the Biblical Adam. I’d slow the car to a crawl when I’d see him teeing up on the club’s roadside 122-yard par 3 second hole -- he’s aced it four times -- in the hopes I’d see some magic.

A courteous motorist, he once waved me through a stale yellow light. I must have run five senior citizens and a school bus full of frightened toddlers off the road on my mad rush to the bar to spill the news to my buddies.

And I was among the small gallery at Laurel Valley Golf Club for the Pennsylvania Classic two weeks after September 11, 2001, and saw him make deliberate and bracing eye contact with every one of us while his forgettable partners teed off. In those still-fragile days, his lingering eyes seemed to convey encouraging strength. I understood that day the messianic charisma that’s inspired a nation for more than 50 years.

I remember the sunny Saturday morning outside the Youngstown Post Office, a small town social center, when my wife and I were approached by a striking autumn haired woman with a soft spot for golden retrievers like the one tugging at the end of our leash.

“He is magnificent!” she gushed, luxuriously kneading both hands deep into Casey’s fur. “Oh, you must have him come and meet our Prince! Please call. It will be so much fun!”

We promised we would. After she’d skipped away, my wife asked the identity of the bubbly stranger.

“That’s Mrs. Winnie Walzer Palmer,” I said. “She married young Arnold on December 20, 1954, the same day as my own father and mother were married. When my old man heard the coincidental news and sent them an anniversary card, she responded the next few years with ones of her own.”

I called a few weeks later, but was told she wasn’t feeling well. It was 1998. We didn’t know it, but she was suffering from the cancer that would defeat her in November 1999.

I’m mystified by reporters who treat their frequent dealings with Palmer the way I used to treat the poor schlubs who were appointed to the local municipal authority board. I understand a certain professional detachment is necessary to cover a subject, but this isn’t some politician seeking our dollars and votes. It’s not some preening movie star posing as an action hero out to charm the ticket-buying public. This is Arnold Palmer.

Thus, I’m terrified that someday I’ll be called upon in a professional capacity to interview Mr. Palmer because I know my most pointed question will be along the lines of, “What’s it like to be so great? And, please, try be honest . . . unless you don’t feel like it.”

I’m convinced my story would read, “It’s been five hours since I was privileged to sit down and meet the great Arnold Palmer. My right hand is still tingling from his introductory greeting. My fair and balanced conclusion is as such: this man is far too accomplished to have to submit to silly questions from impudent reporters like myself.”

Such gushing would earn widespread ridicule from industry colleagues. I’d be finished, unemployable, a lonely ghost rattling through the cobwebbed house with no prospects and nothing but time to dream in vain of better days that would never dawn.

On the bright side, that would leave me with plenty of time to learn how to work a sewing machine. I understand the neighborhood could use another seamstress.

Posted by scurry at 04:32 PM

PALMER TO DINE WITH FELLOW MASTERS CHAMPIONS

March 29, 2006

His string of consecutive playing appearances in the Masters Tournament ended at 50 when he competed for a final time in the 2004 championship, but Arnold Palmer will be in Augusta, Georgia, again this April, a stop he has made every year since he and his late wife, Winnie, arrived there in their car and trailer in 1955 for his first one.

As he did last year, Palmer will go to Augusta Tuesday, April 4, to attend the Champions dinner that evening in the historic Augusta National clubhouse. Tiger Woods, the defending champion, hosts the dinner, at which virtually all of the living former winners of the classic event, playing or non-playing, will gather. As tradition dictates, Augusta National Chairman William (Hootie) Johnson will be the only non-champion on hand.

Interestingly, Palmer and Woods each hold four Masters titles, trailing only Jack Nicklaus with his six championships in the history of the 73-year-old tournament, established in 1934 by the legendary Bob Jones and his close friend and confidante, Clifford Roberts.

Palmer expects to visit with his many friends among his fellow members Wednesday before departing the scene and returning to his home base at Bay Hill in Orlando.

He still recalls with pleasure his first trip to Augusta for the tournament. He and Winnie had traveled the PGA’s Winter Tour in two different trailers – a way of life they jettisoned weeks later when they returned to their home