The King turns 80: Images and impact of Arnold Palmer

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Arnold Palmer relaxes in 1961.

Arnold Palmer has spent over 50 years in the public eye, posed for thousands of pictures and authored some of the most memorable moments in golf history.

On Sept. 10, 2009, the King turns 80 and, in honor of his big celebration, we've picked 18 of our favorite Palmer pictures and put together a photo timeline of his career.

ARNOLD PALMER photo gallery: 1 | CURRENT PHOTO | 3 | 4 | 5 |6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18

Making an entrance

Palmer's first years on TOUR (1955-1961)

Palmer won his first PGA TOUR tournament, the Canadian Open at Weston GC, as a rookie in 1955. He pocketed $2, 400 for the victory. In 1958, just days after hearing Ben Hogan ask "how the hell Palmer got an invitation to the Masters," Palmer donned the Green Jacket in his first major win at Augusta National. He would go on to win three more times at the Masters, including titles in 1960, 1962 and 1964. It was the 1960 U.S. Open, though, where Palmer established himself as the biggest star in golf. He overcame a seven-stroke deficit with a final-round 65 at Cherry Hill and defeated, among others, amateur Jack Nicklaus by two strokes. As Sports Illustrated's Dan Jenkins wrote of the occasion, "On that afternoon, in the span of just 18 holes, we witnessed the arrival of Nicklaus, the coronation of Palmer and the end of Hogan." Palmer was named the Hickok Professional Athlete of the Year and Sports Illustrated Sportsman of the Year after his U.S. Open and Masters wins. The late 1950s and early 1960s were also happy years for Palmer in his personal life. His first child, daughter Peg, was born on Feb. 26, 1956. Just a few days later, Palmer took his first lesson at the Latrobe airport -- which would later bear his name -- and began a lifelong passion for flying. In fact, Palmer received the first Cessna Citation X in June 1996 and set a speed record in 1997 on a 5,000 km closed course with that aircraft.

More on Palmer

Check out these stories on Arnold Palmer, who turns 80 this week PHOTO ESSAY: There may never be a golfer as photogenic as Arnold Palmer. Need proof? Check out these images of his career. Click here 80 THINGS TO LOVE ABOUT ARNIE: Is it his smile? His untucked shirt? Or that he has a tea named after him? Columnist Melanie Hauser has her top 80. Click here PLAYERS REACT: Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson, Davis Love III, Gary Player, Ben Crenshaw and others discuss their memories of Arnie, and the impact he has made on their careers. Click here BEST MEMORIES: PGATOUR.COM's columnists share their best memories of dealing with the King. Click here FATHER AND SON: PGATOUR.COM's Brian Wacker reveals how Arnie reached out to his father, who was dying of cancer. Click here LETTER FROM ARNIE: Helen Ross shares a note from Arnie that inspired her father in his battle against prostate cancer. Click here INFLUENCE ON GOLF: He isn't just a golfer. He's an icon who transcended the game, created an Army and made golf cool to watch. Click here ARNIE'S NUMBERS: His wins, margins of victory and the rest of his stats. Click here LISTEN TO ARNIE:John Swantek from "Talk of the TOUR" on the PGA TOUR Network visits with Palmer on the occasion of his 80th birthday. Click for audio