Arnie and his close pal Walter Hagen

Eleven-time major championship winner Walter Hagen died on this date, October 6, in 1969 in Traverse City, Michigan, having been afflicted for five years with throat cancer. He was 76. Arnold Palmer was deeply moved by The Haig’s passing. Arnold had long admired someone who was a kindred spirit when it came to bold play and a personality for the people. Arnie had met Hagen when he was a young boy, and as he grew into being a golf icon himself was a good friend. Examples of their friendship included when Palmer won the 1961 Open Championship, he said, “The first phone call I had after I won the Open was from Walter Hagen.” And Palmer was a close enough friend that he was a pallbearer at Hagen’s funeral.