"He comes onto a tee looking like a prize fighter climbing into the ring ready for a world championship bout." Charles Price.

Arnold Palmer has a style of play that was largely responsible for his unique charisma. He always made the game seem a battle against the golf course. Spectators at an event and the television viewers at home loved to see him play and even today, when he is well into his 60's, many would rather see him open a soft drink can than others hole a full bunker shot.

Top players have mostly hit the ball very hard, but that has often been disguised by a rhythmic swing with the real acceleration coming only in the strike area, followed by a finish that is poised and sometimes elegant. Not so with Arnold. The take away is quite fast, and after impact the club is flung towards the sky. Sometimes it can look more like a boxer throwing a knock-out punch.

It may not look pretty, but it does look very forceful indeed - and it worked. Palmer is one of the best drivers of a golf ball the game has seen. The method worked equally well for the long and medium irons, usually full shots. However, Palmer was never up with the best when he had to play, for example, a finessed wedge or a gentle 8 iron. Giving the ball a good smash has always been his territory.

At his best, the same applied to his game around and on the greens. The aim wasn't to get the shot stone dead, but to hole it. This was especially true of his putting. Many concentrate on trying to achieve perfect pace, so that the ball gently drops into the hole. Not Palmer in the great years. He gave it a firm rap. If he missed, there was no problem with the return from 4 feet or so.

With the wear of the years, Palmer became less confident. Arguably his long game actually improved, but his putting in particular was increasingly cautious. Instead of aiming to bang it in the hole, he began to want to be sure of getting down on 2. He also partly abandoned his policy of always going for the flag - and never mind the penalties for failure - in favour of more percentage shots.

A second important element of his appeal is his expressive face. Spectators always felt they could fell what Arnie was going through. Joy, amusement, anger, disappointment, amazement, ecstasy and even depression - all were on view.

Although Palmer had won 2 Masters by April 1960, his legend really began with the 1960 US Open in June. He went into the final round 6 shots behind the leader, but thought a 65 might still swing things his way. Out in 30, he parred his way home while his 2 closest rivals, the aging Ben Hogan and young Jack Nicklaus, faltered.

Instantly, he had the reputation of being the man who could mount a last round charge to victory, and it reamined with him throughout his main career, even though it was by no means entirely true. Palmer was probably better at seizing an early lead and then keeping his nerve right through to the finish.

In Britain, he transformed the Open Championship almost overnight from a slightly parochail affair which interested few Americans (in 1960 the dominant force in world golf) into a major event on the world scene. He came 2nd in that centenary Open, and then won the next 2 years, producing his greatest major championship performance in the Troon Open of 1962. US entries gradually grew from that period onwards, and a great debt is owed to Palmer for the clear fact that the Open Championship field is far more representative of world talent than the other 3 majors.

The appeal of Arnold Palmer continues, even though it is over 30 years since he last won a major. On the US seniors tour and on his occasional appearances elsewhere, Arnie still has his 'army', however far down the field he may be.

Career Milestones:

- 1929 Born in Latrobe, Pennsylvania

- 1954 US Amateur Champion, after which he turns professional

- 1955 1st professional win, the Canadian Open

- 1958 Wins his first major, the Masters

- 1960 2 majors this year, the Masters and US Open

- 1961 Wins British Open Championship

- 1962 2 more majors, a 3rd Masters and 2nd British Open Championship

- 1963 Becomes the last Ryder Cup captain to play in the event, leading the USA to a 23 - 9 victory

- 1964 Wins his 4th and last Masters

- 1975 Ryder Cup captain for the 2nd time, this time in his home state