When we think about the history of this great game of golf, two names who are always likely to crop up are Jack Nicklaus and Arnold Palmer.
Nicklaus won 18 majors over a tremendous career while Palmer won seven of his own, including four Masters titles.
Of course, the duo would cross paths more than once in their careers and both were popular golfers with the patrons out on course, albeit for different reasons.
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As for Palmer, well, he was at it from an early age in terms of leaving an impression on people and that was no different when it came to Nicklaus’ opinion.
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When Jack Nicklaus first saw Arnold Palmer swing a golf club
Oftentimes, the greats of golf can recognise when another great is on the horizon and when it came to Palmer’s impression on Nicklaus, it was certainly felt.
Speaking in an interview at The Masters back in 2016, Nicklaus was asked for some comments on Palmer in his prime.
And needless to say, Palmer left quite the early impression on Nicklaus.
“Arnold in his prime really wasn’t a very good driver. He was long, but he hit it in the trees and I think that’s where his popularity came from, the recovery shots and the excitement because he played golf like everybody else played. But he was an unbelievable putter. Arnold was as good a putter as ever putted the game until all of a sudden you keep hitting 10 and 12 footers five feet by the hole, pretty soon that’s going to get to you. And that’s basically what ended up getting to him,” Nicklaus explained.
“Again, I forgot your question. [laughter] Oh, it was a driver. Arnold hit the ball low and drove it— I remember the first time I ever saw Arnold, I was 14 years old and playing the Ohio amateur in Sylvania, Ohio, outside of Toledo, the Tuesday.
“I was the only one on the golf course. It was pouring down rain and I was out practicing. I came in and there was only one person on the practice tee. And I had no idea who it was and I watched this guy, looked like Popeye hitting these drilling 9 irons that were going about 12 feet high. I said, you know, look at this guy. I said, man, this guy’s strong. Boy, can he hit. He’d really drill it.
“So I watched him for about 20 minutes or so and then I walked in the clubhouse and said, Who in the world is that out on the practice tee? I said, That guy looks some kind of strong.
“He says, Oh, that’s our defending champion, Arnold Palmer. That’s my first recollection of seeing Arnold. He hit the ball a long way. Then Arnold, as his career went on, became a better driver. Matter of fact, he became one of the straightest drivers we had on Tour after he got by his prime as far as winning major championships.”
What Gary Player claimed Arnold Palmer was ‘useless’ at
As well as Nicklaus, another big name to play alongside Arnold Palmer in his prime was South African star, Gary Player.
Like Nicklaus, Player saw Palmer do it all and like Nicklaus, Player also spoke on how often Palmer would find trouble off the tee.
However, it was when it came to Palmer’s wedge game that Player really laughed.
“Palmer came, with his charismatic way of playing. He fell out of bed with charisma, he had a rugged face, the most unusual swing, really not a very good swing, he stopped on the ball,” Player revealed.
“When he’d hit the ball in the trees, he’d try to shoot through gaps. It was bloody impossible! But he’d try, and people loved that. He came from the steel mills, with big strong hands, and it was invigorating.
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“He was a marvellous driver of a ball. He hit the ball like SHOOOOOOM! [Mimes firing imaginary arrow.] And he’d hit a one-iron: SSSHHHHHOOOOOOOOOOOOOM! [Mimes firing heat-seeking precision missile.] But he was a useless bunker player and a useless wedge player. Useless! For a superstar – you’ve got to win six majors to be a superstar, and Arnie won seven – it was sad to see him play a wedge shot. He’d hit a wedge shot on average 25 feet from the hole!
“A wonderful putter, though, and he’d hit his one-iron way better than his wedge. It was astonishing! I’ll give him all the credit in the world, I loved the man.”
Still, seven majors with a not too sharp wedge game is not too shabby at all. And when it comes down to it, Arnold Palmer will forever be remembered as one of the greatest of all time.
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