The Humble King and the Bashful Prince

Come Sept. 10 of this year, the King of Golf, Arnold Palmer will be 80 years of age. Seven days later, the Bashful Prince of Japan, Ryo Ishikawa will, be 18 years old.

Mr. Palmer, as he is known around Bay Hill Club & Lodge and the world transcends the concept of age with his warm, endearing and enduring presence. Ryo, the youngest winner ever on the Japan Golf Tour at 15 years and eight months, is introducing himself to more of the western world playing in the Arnold Palmer Invitational.

One can sense a passing of the baton between ageless and young.

Born in Latrobe, PA, the son of “Deacon” Palmer the golf professional and course superintendent at Latrobe CC, the King knows the importance in one’s life of the relationship of one’s father.

Speaking of the father-son type embrace after Tiger Woods won his tournament last year in dramatic style he humbly recognized Tiger’s father while sharing some wisdom with the world.

“I suppose if I could send a message to every kid in this world, they would have that relationship with their father as Tiger has and that I had, and I think that's something that is extremely valuable and leads to whatever success any of us have had.”

Sooner or later we all realize this fact of life.

Humble is defined as not proud or arrogant, having a feeling of subservience, low in status and being courteously respectful. Palmer was all that and more when asked how he found the young star from Japan in a way that inferred he did not even know where the country of Japan was.

“Well, of course, I do a lot of business in Japan currently and have for many, many years, going back to about 1960-'61 when I started going there, and as you may or may not know, I've built 18 golf courses in Japan.

"So I have a relationship in Japan that has gone on for many, many years, and 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.”

Sort of like letting the numbers, the results do the talking for you. Remember back in August 2007 when Rory Sabbatini, the brash young South African said that Tiger Woods looked "more beatable than ever."

Tiger went out on Sunday and won the WGC- Bridgestone Invitational and trounced him by nine strokes. Then he won the PGA Championship at Southern Hills, then the BMW playoff event and then the inaugural FedEx Cup and the Tour Championship.

The only reply from humble Tiger was, "Everyone knows how Rory is, and I just go out there and let my clubs do the talking."

Mr. Palmer has let his clubs do the talking his whole life through winning 62 times on the PGA Tour and 10 times on the Champions Tour.

He won the big ones too in his day- the Masters in 1958, 60, 62 and 64; the memorable U.S. Open in 1960 at Cherry Hills where he drove the first green on his way to a 65 that he knew would win the tournament; the British Open in 1961 and 62- a total of seven Majors. He won 10 times on the Champions Tour.

We could learn a little from listening to Arnie’s perspective of our current business affairs, too. “The world doesn't stop; it keeps going. I was born in the depression, I was raised in the depression, and it's going to go on, and it's going to continue to happen. The economy is bad, sure.

"But we talk too much about it. We make too big an issue out of it. We need to get to the business of curing what the problem is.”

Somehow the leadership, the humbleness that comes out of the game of golf may very well be the answer to most of life’s problems.

Humor has a place in life and golf too. When asked if he could remember when he was 17 years old like Ishikawa is, Arnold proved he did in a lighthearted manner.

“Well, I'm old, I'm not that old. Sure, I remember when I was 17. Was that the end of that question?” But he did remember the question and the answer.

“I played my first PGA tournament when 16, and I played at the Dapper Dan in Pittsburgh, so I'm familiar with that situation. I think his record is far better than mine was then, but we were on a similar course, and I think what he's doing is wonderful.”

Bashful is defined as modest, not arrogant, shy, easily embarrassed. Ryo Ishikawa appears to be all that and more. He is getting used to all the attention from the media and fans but is embarrassed at times.

 “So media always reports about my performance, and I play sometimes good but sometimes bad, and sometimes when I play bad, sometimes I feel I don't want media to report about my performance in detail.

"But overall I'm very happy that media reports well on my performance on a daily basis.”

The world citizen is working on his English and amazed at what he sees as he travels the world. “I recall that I saw the alligator on the 17th hole, which was a first time for me to see the alligator, and I'm kind of surprised that alligator is on the golf course.”

We all should be that young kid with the good eyes and right perspective to thoroughly enjoy the limited time we truly have on this earth.

Think about it for a while. The era of Palmer, Nicklaus, and Player gave way to Trevino, Miller, Watson, Norman, Mickelson, and Woods. Mr. Palmer extracted inspiration and wisdom from those before him—guys like Hogan, Sneed, and Nelson.

Ishikawa is beginning the process now as a 17-year old and will likely pass along some fine points to the next generation when he is in his forties. Those folks will likely live into the 22nd century.

So truly we are seeing a time span of 200 years fold out before our eyes in these humble and bashful two men.

Ryo continue to enjoy your youthful days and if your passion is golf long term we look forward to watching you play your game maybe even in the Olympics.

Mr. Palmer may you continue to be blessed with health and live to be 100 years young!

Happy September birthdays to the Humble King and the Bashful Prince.

Andy Reistetter is a freelance golf writer. He follows the PGA TOUR volunteering for the tournaments and working part time for NBC Sports, CBS Sports, and The Golf Channel.

He resides in Jacksonville Beach, FL near the PGA TOUR headquarters and home of The PLAYERS Championship at TPC Sawgrass in Ponte Vedra Beach.

He enjoys pursuing his passion for the game of golf andeverything associated with it. He can be reached through his website www.MrHickoryGolf.net or by e-mailing him to [e-mail]