Golf: Beloved golf great Arnold Palmer dies at 87 – USGA

(FILES) This file photo taken on April 7, 2016 shows honorary starter US golfer Arnold Palmer after he arrived to begin Round 1 of the 80th Masters Golf Tournament at the Augusta National Golf Club on April 7, 2016, in Augusta, Georgia. Beloved golf great Arnold Palmer died at 87 on September 25, 2016. / AFP PHOTO / Nicholas Kamm
(FILES) This file photo taken on April 7, 2016 shows honorary starter US golfer Arnold Palmer after he arrived to begin Round 1 of the 80th Masters Golf Tournament at the Augusta National Golf Club on April 7, 2016, in Augusta, Georgia. Beloved golf great Arnold Palmer died at 87 on September 25, 2016. / AFP PHOTO / Nicholas Kamm

WASHINGTON, Unites States (AFP) — Arnold Palmer, the golf great whose charisma and common touch made him adored by a legion of fans known as “Arnie’s Army”, died Sunday at the age of 87, the US Golf Association said.

“We are deeply saddened by the death of Arnold Palmer, golf’s greatest ambassador, at age 87,” the USGA said in a statement posted on Twitter.

Palmer captured seven major tournaments during his illustrious career, taking The Masters four times (in 1958, 1960, 1962 and 1964), the British Open twice (in 1961 and 1962) and the US Open once (in 1960).

His go-for-broke style enthralled fans, and he became one of golf’s first television superstars, helping propel the game into the mainstream when his rise and that of Jack Nicklaus and Gary Player set the stage for the huge broadcast rights fees and prize money riches later enhanced by the success of Tiger Woods.

No cause of death was immediately given.

Palmer looked frail when he joined fellow icons Player and Nicklaus for the ceremonial first tee shot at the Masters in April, when ill-health prevented him from swinging a club.