This week’s Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by Mastercard at Bay Hill is undoubtedly one of the most prestigious tournaments on the PGA Tour, and is one of three player-hosted Signature Events on the schedule. The late Palmer, who passed at age 87 in 2016, was loved by all due to his flamboyant and go-for-broke style of golf.
He attracted a legion of adoring fans, coined by the media as Arnie’s Army, and they bestowed the title of “The King” not only due for his success on the fairways where he won 62 PGA Tour titles including seven major championships, but also because of his unfailing sense of kindness and thoughtfulness.
In this pictorial, the Arnold Palmer Group generously offered permission for the Tour to share a selection of rarely seen images with captions of Palmer’s office, which has remained the same as he left it.
President Eisenhower was introduced to Arnold Palmer in October of 1958, in Ligonier, Penn. Following that meeting, the President sent this letter apologizing to Palmer for not realising that he was “the Arnold Palmer” who had won the Masters earlier that year. In the letter, the President mentioned playing at Augusta and wished Palmer success. As it is well known, the two men became good friends over the years.
Palmer’s favourite men’s cologne remains on his desk today as he frequently wore it.
Palmer and his family relaxing at home in a photo shoot with a U.S. magazine.
Known for his love for flying, Palmer kept a wooden airplane in his office with pens and pencils in a red Solo cup.
A 1965 letter from President Eisenhower to Palmer paying a US$10 bet, who wrote “never was there one more reluctantly paid”. It was deemed as an offer of encouragement to Palmer, who at that time had gone a while without a win.
A bag from the Arnold Palmer Golf Co., which was in operation from 1962 to 1999, along with some of his favourite clubs.
This plaque commemorates The Eisenhower Tree, a loblolly pine that used to be located on the course at Augusta National. It was named for the President after he lobbied to have it taken down (when it interfered with his golf game). In 2014, the tree was damaged in an ice storm and removed. Plaques were made from its wood and gifted to a handful of people, including Palmer.
Palmer’s love for dogs is well known. He had a number of dogs over the years, including a Labrador named Mulligan. His picture and leash remain on Palmer’s desk.
