It was a brisk, fall day in beautiful Richmond, Virginia. September 18, 1988, to be exact.
Crowds gathered around the 18th green at Hermitage Country Club unaware that what they were about to witness would not only be memorable, but also historic.
Arnold Palmer started the day with a three-stroke lead at the 1988 Crestar Classic, firing a one-under 35 on the back nine to claim the title in wire-to-wire fashion.
“My goal was to shoot under par on the back nine,” the 59-year-old legend from Latrobe, Pennsylvania, said. “I just did what I set for myself, but I hoped it would be better,” Palmer added.
Palmer finished with a 54-hole total of 13-under 203 for his 10th career win on the PGA TOUR Champions, which is famously known as his final professional victory.
The 62-time PGA TOUR winner and World Golf Hall of Fame member passed away nearly 28 years following that win, on September 25, 2016, at the age of 87.
It’s safe to say Palmer’s legacy will not be forgotten anytime soon.
The PGA TOUR Champions features all of the legends of the game, but no one exemplified the word “legend” more than Palmer himself.
One of the most genuine human-beings not only in golf, but also in the entire sports world, left an impact that is second to none.
“He obviously meant so much not only to the PGA TOUR, but to the entirety of golf by lifting it to newfound visibility and popularity. It is not an exaggeration to say there would be no modern day PGA TOUR without Arnold Palmer. There would be no PGA TOUR Champions without Arnold Palmer,” said PGA TOUR Commissioner Tim Finchem.
The PGA TOUR will celebrate Mr. Palmer’s legacy all year through a variety of special events and ceremonies, including commemorative buttons that say, “I am a member of Arnie’s Army.”
He was more than just a global champion and ambassador. He was a friend, a father, a grandfather.
For those who had the opportunity to watch him play, they know he helped elevate the game of golf to what it has become today, connecting millions of people through his appealing personality and genuineness.
To join Arnie’s Army, please visit ArniesArmy.com and share personal memories of Arnold at #ArniesArmy on social media.
Thank you, Mr. Palmer for all the great memories, and so much more. Rest in peace.
