On this date in 1969, Arnold Palmer won the inaugural playing of the Heritage Golf Classic, at Hilton Head Island, with rounds of 68-71-70-74—283, for first prize of $20,000.
On this day in 1959, Arnold Palmer won the West Palm Beach Open, with rounds of 72-67-66-76—281, for $2,000. He defeated Gay Brewer and Pete Cooper in a four-hole, sudden-death playoff.
On this date in 1987, the first day of the Skins Game was held at TPC at PGA West in LaQuinta, California. By the second day, Lee Trevino had won the most money with $310,000, with Jack Nicklaus and Fuzzy Zoeller next with $70,000 each. Arnold Palmer was shut out with no skins and no cash.
On this date in 1966, Kathy Whitworth won the LPGA Titleholders Championship at Augusta Country Club with a 291 total, two better than Judy Kimball and Mary Mills, giving Whitworth back-to-back titles in the event.
On this date in 1920, the U.S. Golf Association unveiled the organization’s Green Section, its program to educate about and improve greenkeeping at golf courses.
On this date in 1984, the second Skins Game ended with Jack Nicklaus winning with 9 skins and $240,000. Arnold Palmer had 0 skins. Others: Tom Watson 9 skins, $120,000; Gary Player 0 skins, $0. It was held at Desert Highlands in Scottsdale, Arizona, where the first Skins Game had been held the previous year.
On this date in 1960, Arnold Palmer shot a 68 in the first round of the Mobile Sertoma Open en route to winning a few days later.
It was on this date five years ago that Phil Mickelson won the $9 million winner-take-all match with Tiger Woods in Las Vegas on the 22nd hole by making a four-foot putt to win the playoff.
On this date in 1936, the 19th PGA Championship concluded at Pinehurst Country Club with Denny Shute winning his first of two straight PGAs. He defeated Jimmy Thomson in the final, 3 and 2. Also, on this 60th anniversary of John F. Kennedy’s death, this archivist is reminded that Arnold Palmer was supposed to have played golf earlier in the year in 1963 with JFK but the president’s bad back postponed the game to a later time, never to be played out.
On this date in 2003, Day 1 of UBS Cup III was held on the Seaside Course at Sea Island Golf Club in Georgia. Arnold Palmer was U.S. captain against The Rest of the World team and in one of six Foursome matches, Nick Faldo-Tony Jacklin (ROW captain) defeated Palmer-Rocco Mediate, 1 up.
On this date in 1994, Arnold Palmer and partner Peter Jacobsen shot a 59 in a scramble format in the final round of the Franklin Funds Shark Shootout at Sherwood Country Club in Thousand Oaks, California. The duo finished sixth, six shots behind winners Fred Couples and Brad Faxon.
On this date in 1989, Arnold Palmer and Peter Jacobsen shot a final-round 61 in a scramble format to tie for ninth in the RMCC Invitational/Greg Norman and earn $31,000. The winners were Curtis Strange-Mark O’Meara.
On this date in 1990, the first Solheim Cup was completed at Lake Nona Golf and Country Club in Florida with the United States beating Europe, 11½-4½. Kathy Whitworth was the U.S. captain and Mickey Walker led Europe.
On this date in 1883, the Open Championship concluded at Musselburgh Links with Willie Fernie defeating defending champion Bob Ferguson in a 36-hole playoff, 1 up.
On this date in 1990, in the RMCC Invitational hosted by Greg Norman, Arnold Palmer and partner Peter Jacobsen shot a best-ball 61 in the first round. They followed with an alternate-shot 66 and scramble 60 to finish second by five shots to Fred Couples and Raymond Floyd and win $70,000 each. Play was at Sherwood Country Club (72, 7,025), Thousand Oaks, California.
On this date in 2002, the first day of the UBS Warburg Cup was played at the Seaside Course on Sea Island, Georgia. It was a match of U.S. players versus Rest of the World. One Day 1 result was a Foursomes match in which Nick Faldo-Gary Player (ROW captain) defeated Arnold Palmer (U.S. captain)-Curtis Strange, 1 up.
On this date in 1888, tradition says the first six holes at St. Andrews Golf Club, in Yonkers, New York, opened, making it the earliest American course to open, although other clubs have disputed that claim. The members were known as the Apple Dumpling Gang.
On this date in 1966, the United States team of Arnold Palmer and Jack Nicklaus won the World Cup at Yomiuri Country Club in Tokyo, Japan. Their scores were 135-135-136-142—548; individually it was Arnold with 66-67-69-73—275 and Nicklaus 69-68-67-69—273.
On this date in 1967, Arnold Palmer won the individual title at the World Cup at Club de Golf Mexico, Mexico City, Mexico, with scores of 68-70-71-67—276. It was his first individual title in six tries. As an added feat, he and teammate Jack Nicklaus were the team champion as well with scores of 140-141-140-136—557.
On this date in 1889, the Open Championship ended at Musselburgh Links with Willie Park, Jr., winning for the second time after beating Andrew Kirkaldy by five shots in a 36-hole playoff, 158-163.