What Arnold Palmer Can Teach Today's Professional Golfers

"When God created Jack Nicklaus and Arnold Palmer, he turned to Nicklaus and said: 'You will be the greatest the game has ever seen.' Then He turned to Palmer and whispered: 'But they will love you more.'”—Time Magazine (1962).

Arnold Palmer is now 80 years old.  He’s spent the last 55 years of his life enjoying the love and affection doused upon him by fans from every corner of the world.

When Arnie walks into a room people immediately get a warm fuzzy feeling inside like they are about to reunite with a jolly old uncle they haven’t seen in many years.  But they are at the same time awestruck by his larger than life presence and the knowledge that he is arguably the most important man in the history of modern golf.

Arnie didn’t win as many majors as Jack Nicklaus, Ben Hogan, Tom Watson, Gary Player, Walter Hagen or Tiger Woods.

But Arnie achieved something far more fulfilling.

Arnie won the love and adoration of the masses, and 55 years later that love and adoration has still yet to wane.

But, just like a friendship or long-term relationship with a husband or wife—love is a two way street, and Arnie has always held up his end of the bargain.

Arnie’s interaction with the fans, his peers and the media was like watching Phil Mickelson on a combination of steroids and caffeine pills.

It has long been said that every member of Arnie’s gallery would go home at night and tell anyone who would listen that Arnie had personally spoken with them during his round.

Arnie would look his fans dead in the eyes while acknowledging their appreciation for yet another one of his miraculous recovery shots.

Considering that Arnie would stand around and sign autographs until every last request was fulfilled, most of his fans would also leave the golf course with Arnie's signature written on a program, hat, visor or photograph.

Arnie essentially created a feeling amongst fans that he wasn’t just a great golfer who took the time to acknowledge them every now and again, but that he was actually one of them who just happened to be a great golfer.

Arnie would speak to the media and business associates as if they were life-long friends and not sworn enemies.

He would and still does anything he can to help the game of golf without hesitation or the slightest inkling of a second thought.

All of that being said, let’s not pretend that Arnie was perfect in every way imaginable, because he wasn’t.  Arnie had flaws just like every other human being who has ever walked this earth.

But Arnie has somehow been able to command a level of love, respect and adoration rarely seen in politicians and world leaders, let alone athletes.

No, he didn’t win as many majors championships as people expected him to.

He didn’t shatter every record in the book and he probably isn’t even considered one of the top-five golfers of all-time.

But here’s a question for you—if you were 80 years old and in the twilight of your life, would you rather have the records and major championship victories, or would you rather have the love and adoration Arnie has enjoyed for the past half century?

Perhaps this is a question that many of today’s steely, ultra-serious touring pros should ask themselves from time to time.

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