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| US golf legend Arnold Palmer dies at 87 | US golf legend Arnold Palmer dies at 87 |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| US golfer Arnold Palmer, viewed as one of the greatest and most influential players in the sport's history, has died at the age of 87. | US golfer Arnold Palmer, viewed as one of the greatest and most influential players in the sport's history, has died at the age of 87. |
| Palmer died at the UPMC Shadyside Hospital in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, where he was undergoing heart tests, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reported. | Palmer died at the UPMC Shadyside Hospital in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, where he was undergoing heart tests, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reported. |
| During a long career he won more than 90 tournaments worldwide, including seven majors. | During a long career he won more than 90 tournaments worldwide, including seven majors. |
| The US Golf Association called him "golf's greatest ambassador". | The US Golf Association called him "golf's greatest ambassador". |
| As tributes flooded in from across the world of golf, Tiger Woods tweeted: "Thanks Arnold for your friendship, counsel and a lot of laughs. Your philanthropy and humility are part of your legend." | As tributes flooded in from across the world of golf, Tiger Woods tweeted: "Thanks Arnold for your friendship, counsel and a lot of laughs. Your philanthropy and humility are part of your legend." |
| Palmer attracted thousands of diehard fans known as "Arnie's army" and helped to promote the game into the television age. | Palmer attracted thousands of diehard fans known as "Arnie's army" and helped to promote the game into the television age. |
| Reaction to golfing great's death | Reaction to golfing great's death |
| 'The King' of golf who changed the game | 'The King' of golf who changed the game |
| Obituary: Arnold Palmer | Obituary: Arnold Palmer |
| The golfer was loved as an everyman superstar, and even had a drink named after him - the Arnold Palmer cocktail, made from one part iced tea and one part lemonade. | The golfer was loved as an everyman superstar, and even had a drink named after him - the Arnold Palmer cocktail, made from one part iced tea and one part lemonade. |
| He also gave his name to a professional tournament - The Arnold Palmer Invitational, held each March at his private golf resort in Bay Hill, Florida. | He also gave his name to a professional tournament - The Arnold Palmer Invitational, held each March at his private golf resort in Bay Hill, Florida. |
| Arnold Palmer was the most important golfer to play the game, says the BBC's golf correspondent Iain Carter. | Arnold Palmer was the most important golfer to play the game, says the BBC's golf correspondent Iain Carter. |
| "His force of charisma put the game on the map and it never dimmed", he added. | "His force of charisma put the game on the map and it never dimmed", he added. |
| Fellow golfing great and a close friend of Palmer, Jack Nicklaus, said he would "miss him greatly". | Fellow golfing great and a close friend of Palmer, Jack Nicklaus, said he would "miss him greatly". |
| "We just lost one of the incredible people in the game of golf and in all of sports," he tweeted. | "We just lost one of the incredible people in the game of golf and in all of sports," he tweeted. |
| "Arnold transcended the game of golf. He was more than a golfer or even great golfer. He was an icon. He was a legend." | "Arnold transcended the game of golf. He was more than a golfer or even great golfer. He was an icon. He was a legend." |
| "Remembering the special times I spent with Mr Palmer at Bay Hill. A true pioneer for our sport. Forever remembered," said Northern Ireland's Rory McIlroy, hours after winning the Tour Championship in Atlanta. | "Remembering the special times I spent with Mr Palmer at Bay Hill. A true pioneer for our sport. Forever remembered," said Northern Ireland's Rory McIlroy, hours after winning the Tour Championship in Atlanta. |
| "My heart aches with passing of the King. What he did for golf cannot be measured. Athlete, pioneer, philanthropist, family man, and much more...RIP Arnie," tweeted US golfer Zach Johnson. | "My heart aches with passing of the King. What he did for golf cannot be measured. Athlete, pioneer, philanthropist, family man, and much more...RIP Arnie," tweeted US golfer Zach Johnson. |
| US President Barack Obama also paid tribute to "The King", tweeting a picture of him visiting the White House. | US President Barack Obama also paid tribute to "The King", tweeting a picture of him visiting the White House. |
| The R&A, which runs The Open and jointly governs golf worldwide, called Palmer a gentleman who would live long in people's memories. | The R&A, which runs The Open and jointly governs golf worldwide, called Palmer a gentleman who would live long in people's memories. |
| Its chief executive Martin Slumbers said: "It is with great sadness that we have awoken to hear the news of Arnold Palmer's passing. He was a true gentleman, one of the greatest ever to play the game, and a truly iconic figure in sport. | Its chief executive Martin Slumbers said: "It is with great sadness that we have awoken to hear the news of Arnold Palmer's passing. He was a true gentleman, one of the greatest ever to play the game, and a truly iconic figure in sport. |
| "His contribution to The Open Championship was, and remains, immeasurable. He will be missed and forever remembered by all at The R&A and throughout the world of golf as a charismatic and global champion of our game." | "His contribution to The Open Championship was, and remains, immeasurable. He will be missed and forever remembered by all at The R&A and throughout the world of golf as a charismatic and global champion of our game." |
| Analysis by Bill Wilson, BBC Business | |
| Arnold Palmer was the first golf player to make $1m from playing the sport. | |
| But he made much more than that from his many off-course endorsements, putting his name to a variety of products and services, from United Airlines to Cadillac cars. | |
| Nowadays it is commonplace for sports stars to lend their names to commercial products. | |
| But half a century ago such an association between sport and brands was ground-breaking. | |
| Palmer, in association with marketer Mark McCormack, was the trailblazer in breaking this new ground. | |
| With his winning persona and looks, not to mention golfing ability, Palmer showed that a sportsman or woman could make more from commercial deals than from prize money alone. | |
| It is a legacy for which today's high earning stars, earning astronomical sums from their own deals, should be eternally grateful. | |
| Palmer was born in Latrobe, Pennsylvania, in 1929, the son of a groundskeeper at the local country club who later became the professional at the golf club there. | Palmer was born in Latrobe, Pennsylvania, in 1929, the son of a groundskeeper at the local country club who later became the professional at the golf club there. |
| He was one of golf's most dominant players in the late 1950s and early 1960s, winning seven major titles over seven seasons. | He was one of golf's most dominant players in the late 1950s and early 1960s, winning seven major titles over seven seasons. |
| He also notched up 62 PGA Tour wins. | He also notched up 62 PGA Tour wins. |
| In a 1960 cover story written during his heyday, Time magazine swooned over Palmer, whose fans would flock to tournaments in droves: | In a 1960 cover story written during his heyday, Time magazine swooned over Palmer, whose fans would flock to tournaments in droves: |
| "Win or lose, Palmer, with his daring, slashing attack, is fun to watch. He is a splendidly built athlete (5ft 11in, 177 lbs) with strength in all the right places: massive shoulders and arms, a waist hardly big enough to hold his trousers up, thick wrists, and leather-hard, outsized hands that can crumple a beer can as though it were tissue paper. | "Win or lose, Palmer, with his daring, slashing attack, is fun to watch. He is a splendidly built athlete (5ft 11in, 177 lbs) with strength in all the right places: massive shoulders and arms, a waist hardly big enough to hold his trousers up, thick wrists, and leather-hard, outsized hands that can crumple a beer can as though it were tissue paper. |
| "Like baseball buffs, golf fans dote on the long-ball hitter; they pack six deep behind the tee to gasp in admiration as Powerman Palmer unwinds to send a 280-yard drive down the fairway." | "Like baseball buffs, golf fans dote on the long-ball hitter; they pack six deep behind the tee to gasp in admiration as Powerman Palmer unwinds to send a 280-yard drive down the fairway." |
| Palmer is survived by his wife Kathleen Kit Gawthrop, his daughters, stepchildren and a large extended family of grandchildren and great-grandchildren. | Palmer is survived by his wife Kathleen Kit Gawthrop, his daughters, stepchildren and a large extended family of grandchildren and great-grandchildren. |