Golf Legend Arnold Palmer - Known To Fans As 'The King' - Has Died

To the world of golf, the King died today.

His name: Arnold Palmer. His legacy: helping transform golf from purely being the pursuit of wealthy country club members to a sport for anyone to play, given they had the time and patience.

Palmer, who won seven major titles between 1958 and 1964, passed away in Pittsburgh, aged 87.

The American golfer famously grew as the son of a golf course greenskeeper in Pennsylvania, before turning pro as a 25-year-old in 1954.

His first tournament win was the Canadian Open the following year, but it wasn't until his victory at the US Masters in 1958 that his stardom was truly realized. Along with Jack Nicklaus and Gary Player - his fellow members of the "Big Three" - Palmer dominated golf for the next decade.

Footage of Palmer winning the US Masters in 1960. Source: Youtube.

He won the PGA Tour Player of the Year twice (1960 and 1962), 62 overall PGA tour titles (the fifth most ever) and collected a slew of other awards and trophies in a career that only officially ended in 2006.

While his on-course ability was clearly worthy of his legend-like status, it was his 'every man' character and poise that endeared him most to fans. Palmer was a chain-smoker from small town America, with an aggressive approach to the game that had barely been seen before.

In an age where golf was being televised for the first time ever, Palmer was the man the sport needed to make it huge.

"Arnold popularized the game," Nicklaus told the New York Times. "He gave it a shot in the arm when the game needed it."

"I've got sex written all over my face," Palmer once himself said.

Very sad to hear the passing of Mr. Palmer… Rest In Peace to the forever role model, legend and The King! He will be missed — Lydia Ko (@LydiaKo)September 26, 2016

Palmer's popularity saw him mix in elite circles, becoming a regular golfing partner to a number of American presidents. Dwight Eisenhower, US President between 1953 and 1961, was once a common companion of his on the links.

For Kiwis, his visit to New Zealand in the mid-60s, when he played four hugely popular games against Sir Bob Charles, made a huge impact on golf across the country.

As far as big American domestic honors went, Palmer, who helped design more than 300 course around the world, was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2004, and the Congressional Gold Medal five years later. He was the first golfer to receive the Freedom medal, and just the second, after Byron Nelson, to receive the Gold one.

"There always were conservative players, fairways-and-greens types - the spectators get a kick out of seeing a player take a shot, take a risk," Palmer once told the Wall Street Journal.

Perhaps no better quote sums up why 'the King' meant so much to golfers.