By Michael Morales, Courier Sports Editor
Golfing and beverage legend Arnold Palmer died peacefully on Sunday in his home, Pittsburgh, due to heart complications.
Many of you might associate the name Arnold Palmer with your favorite half tea half lemonade Arizona drink. The Athlete of Decade, Sportsman of the Year, and one of the top 10 male athletes ever was credited for solely inspiring a boom in golf popularity. Born in 1929, Palmer was raised on golf, with his father being a greenskeeper at a country club. Palmer earned a scholarship for playing golf to Wake Forest College before joining the Coast Guard. A victory in 1954 sparked Palmer’s professional career due to the amount of confidence he gained from the win.
When his career took off, Palmer won a total of 62 PGA tours and had 95 total professional wins. With all the earnings from his wins, Palmer owned a lodge and also helped build the first golf course in China. Golf was this man’s true passion. This can be noted from the 300 golf courses he helped design around the world. Unfortunately a series of heart problems forced Palmer to undergo heart surgery at the age of 87, and he died awaiting that surgery. His legacy will, without a doubt, live forever, leaving behind an amazing career, an invitational named after him and a delicious refreshment enjoyed by many.
The most rewarding things you do in life are often the ones that look like they cannot be done.-Arnold Palmer
