Arnold Palmer: Tour Pros remember . . . “I first met Arnold Palmer in..”
Two friends of Rocco Mediate made his introduction to Arnold Palmer. According to Mediate, they said:
"“We should play with Arnold.” I’m like, yeah, sure you will. That was at Greensburg Country Club where I grew up kind of playing. And I was — my normal game, I don’t know what day, Friday or Saturday, I’m not sure. …Danny (one of the friends) called and said, “Hey, I have a big money game for us at Latrobe, come on over.” I dumped guys I was playing with and said, “I’m leaving.” So I left and … drove over, 15-minute drive, 20 minutes maybe. And I saw him on the first tee and I almost turned around. I was so nervous; I almost turned around and got back in the car left. I said, you know what, the hell with it. So I went up and the first time I met him, it was like he had known me for a hundred years. He makes you feel that way. Or at least he makes me feel that way. And we’ve been pals ever since. I dusted him, 69-71. I have the score card. Whether he says it or not, I have proof; 20 bucks, thanks for coming. It’s been cool, it’s been really cool."
Arnold Palmer played golf with everybody and anybody – we can only imagine how many of those “high stakes” $20 games led to lifelong friendships.
The King led by example and taught us all that important life lesson: golf is a game for everyone and friendships of a lifetime are born on the golf course.