Gerry Dulac with an image of this ceremonial flight over Latrobe Country Club for Arnold Palmer. A small family-only service was held. Dave Shedloskireports.
The ashes of Arnold Palmer taken for one final flyover today at airport that bears his name. pic.twitter.com/dzK2zdQ4QP
The timing is bold but the topic has been on the minds of many who follow pro golf: too many of today's lavishly paid stars act in sharp contrast to Arnold Palmer in character, actions and passion for the game.
That’s why these days, weeks and months ahead are an important period of reflection for the current pros.
There is an ever-widening divide between fans and the stars of our game, the mega-millionaires who are safe in their cocoon, protected by managers and publicists and image specialists. The money has never been greater – Rory McIlroy deposited $11.44 million Sunday; Palmer made $1.86 million in his career – and the lifestyles never more different. Each year, it seems, they only drift further away, the connection becoming more tenuous.
And so, moving forward, will our stars use their fame, their fortune and their status to shield themselves from the public, from the fans that enriched their fabulous lives? Or will they stay grounded and humble and relatable – will they stay connected – the way Palmer did?
The Olympic Zika virus fiasco this summer opened the door to this discussion and while the debate is not something that should overshadow the remembrances of The King, but throwing the point out seems fair as we hear from the players over the next few days about how they view Palmer's legacy and their places in the game.
Just some of the best stuff I've come across so far...
Steve DiMegliowith more extensive thoughts from Tiger Woods on Arnold Palmer, including this about the time he played the Par-3 at the Masters with Nicklaus and Palmer:
“They just said come with us,” Woods said. “So we just walked over there and we didn’t have to wait and we were on the box. … I’ll never forget we all birdied No. 9. That was probably the most nervous I’ve ever been. They had hit it close and now I’m looking out and seeing a lot of water and just a sliver of green. I was lucky enough to take it off the backboard on the green and have it roll back to the hole. So we all made 2.”
Here is Tiger's chat with Golf Channel's Steve Burkowski where he shares some stories and debuts a new facial hair motif which, if it goes uncut, may hurt his cart speed aerodynamics this week.
Timing was everything for Arnold Palmer. The player they were to coronate The King came along at the perfect moment to start a golfing and yes, marketing revolution and although his passing, whenever it came, was always going to be classed as premature, nobody could deny that he left the stage just as the spotlight was zooming in.
That was Palmer, for you. Always the idol they were talking about long after he had made his gracious exit.
Here was Arnold Palmer: When he'd see you, he'd grab your right hand and shake it, your right shoulder and hold it and say, "How the hell are ya?" Then the left hand might move up to behind your neck or maybe he'd pull you sideways and walk with it draped over your right shoulder, as though you were childhood chums. Ben Hogan was an icicle, Jack Nicklaus was a god, but Arnold Palmer was your poker buddy. The man went out of his way to make sure you knew he liked you. Tiger Woods? Just the opposite.
Unlike that SI cover, so many of the photos and clips I've seen of Mr. Palmer are of him in his older years because (A) he aged incredibly gracefully and (B) he's been captured in so many modern mediums.
But I love this "What's My Line" appearance as he was becoming a national sensation.
While Arnold Palmer is not expected to visit Oakmont this week, his home and office in Latrobe are not too far away. Leave it to Callaway's Hashtag Chad and A.J. Voelpel to get a tour of The King's office from the great Doc Giffen.
It's 45 minutes but the most extensive look I've seen and a dream tour for a golf memorabilia fan.
After some early week conjecture about America's top players passing up a chance to play before Arnold Palmer, "word trickled" out according to ESPN.com's Bob Harig that Rickie Fowler visited Palmer to apologize for not entering the API.
The news was confirmed reluctantly, as the idea to drive to Orlando from West Palm Beach and have lunch with Palmer was not meant to generate any publicity, but to simply do what Fowler felt was the right thing and express his reasons for having to pass due to a scheduling conflict. It was an incredible gesture, and showed an impressive level of understanding.
Or he just missed eating at Bay Hill?
I suppose this and Bubba's gesture should be admired, but why not just play the tournament? Take a helicopter. That's what the Shark would have done.
Geoff Shackelford is a Senior Writer for Golfweek magazine, a weekly contributor to Golf Channel's Morning Drive, is co-host of The Ringer's ShackHouse is the author of eleven books.
