Arnold Palmer: Tour Pros remember . . . “I first met Arnold Palmer in..”
Webb Simpson (2012):
"I met Arnold for the first time probably ten years ago. And I was later‑‑ my first year at Wake was 2004 and I was lucky enough to be on his scholarship during my years at Wake. So incredibly grateful to him still. I got my first chance to play in the Arnold Palmer Invitational in 2006 as an amateur and again in 2008 as an amateur. Every year I like to go up to his office and say hello to him. He’s been so good to me and my family over the years. It’s always special to come back here. I was thinking about it this morning; this is my sixth Bay Hill or sixth Arnold Palmer Invitational, which is a good amount more than any other tournament I played. So it’s always nice to be back and feel like, you know, this is home."
Webb Simpson, currently 60th in the OWGR and 18th in the FedEx Cup rankings, is one of many young players Arnold Palmer supported and encouraged through his scholarship programs and his personal contact. And Simpson represents many as he pays homage to Palmer and lives his legacy.