Arnold Palmer celebrated his 80th birthday by reflecting on the turning point of his career.
A golfing legend talks to Golf Night
Golfing legend Arnold Palmer celebrated his 80th birthday on Thursday and he took the chance to reflect on the turning point of his career.
Palmer won seven Majors in a glittering career that saw him transform golf into a global sport, an achievement that later earned him a place in the World Golf Hall of Fame.
During his career Palmer launched many a duel with Jack Nicklaus, but he pinpoints one of his earliest victories as his most important.
"The US Amateur that I won in Detroit was one of the great thrills of my life because it was the turning point," Palmer told
Golf Night.
"It was the turning point in my career because it gave me the confidence I needed to become a professional."
Taking golf to the masses
The British Open was the platform upon which Palmer took golf into the television era though, and he admits he had a vision before he even set foot in the competition.
"I was aware of the British Open. It thought it was the most major championship in the world.
"I saw that it wasn't doing as well as it should, my idea was to create an interest internationally in the game of golf.
"I wanted to help promote the game throughout the world and bring the American contingent into it. We Americans can be a little self-centred sometimes and are only aware of what's going on in our own country.
"I thought it would be great to get Americans playing in the Open.
"The good news was I didn't win, I came second, but I came back and won the next two years and I felt I had created the international interest I had wanted to promote."
A true champion
Of course, Palmer's stature in the game remains immense, and there was a cue of current players lining up to say their special 'happy birthday' to the veteran.
Michael Campbell simply stated: "He's the reason I play the game, he's truly inspiring and I remember watching him play back in the 70's and 80's. He's an inspiration."
Thomas Levet added: "Arnold Palmer must be the biggest name in golf. Without him and Jack [Nicklaus], there wouldn't be professional golf as we know it today. We have to say thank-you to him, he was a great champion and now he's an even bigger person."
Ross Fisher then summed it up best: "Arnold Palmer's a legend. He's a true champion."
