ORLANDO, Fla. Bernhard Langer has won around 100 tournaments over the last 50 years or more, including 42 on the DP World Tour and 43 on the PGA Tour Champions — only Seve Ballesteros on the DP World Tour and Hale Irwin on the PGA Tour Champions have more.
Since turning 60 four years ago, Langer, the former world No. 1 whose plaque was placed in the World Golf Hall of Fame 20 years ago, has won two Masters, 11 majors on the senior circuit, and been triumphant an incredible 10 times.
Each triumph is remarkable, but a handful have garnered additional attention. A personal letter praising Langer arrived immediately after several of his victory celebrations, in addition to the championship hardware and the winner’s paycheck.
Arnold Palmer, to be precise.
“Whenever I won a tournament, I was always wondering if Arnie would send me another letter. “And it did indeed arrive,” Langer added. “When I got the first one, I was startled because not everyone did it.” I was astonished, as well as grateful and thankful.
“And they kept coming,” says the narrator.
With a putter and a pen, you’ll be sharp.
Arnie, the accessible ordinary guy who sprang out of black-and-white TV sets and brought the game to the masses, a folk hero who was there for everyone from youngsters to blue-collar employees to captains of industry to US Presidents, was a prolific wordsmith for 50 years.
Arnie would hitch up his pants and take to the desk, just as he did on courses around the world, where the bold player with thick forearms and a thin waist won 62 PGA Tour titles, including seven majors, and write letters of congratulations to thousands of winners that were sent in envelopes bearing his umbrella logo.
Palmer wrote or typed personal comments to winners on the PGA Tour, PGA Tour Champions, LPGA Tour, and Korn Ferry Tour, as well as winners of overseas events and certain amateur and collegiate competitions, from the late 1960s until a week before his death in 2016.
Tiger Woods and Jack Nicklaus both received letters. Gary Player, Tom Watson, Ernie Els, and Phil Mickelson are all on the list. And the list goes on and on.
“Any time you see the umbrella on some cushioned notepaper, it’s always amazing,” Lee Westwood remarked. “He was the King,” says the narrator. That was the level of admiration he commanded.
“I had a good time talking with him. Whenever I did, I knew I was spending quality time with him. He had time for each and every one of them. It was as if you were conversing with your grandfather. He treated you as if you were a member of his family.”
Many of the letters are framed by Billy Andrade, who, like Palmer, played golf for Wake Forest.
“I got a pair from Arnie when I won the Boeing Classic, and then I beat Bernhard in the playoff to win the Schwab Cup.” And Arnie said something good about how I beat Bernhard in the playoffs, which was fantastic.
“Writing those letters was such a wonderful thing for him to do, and he did it for everyone.” I believe that every player who has won up until his passing out here has received a letter from him.
“Those are something I miss.”
‘He’s such a kind man.’
Three months before Palmer died, Daniel Berger earned his first PGA Tour championship at the FedEx St. Jude Classic in 2016. Even so, he received a letter.
“I put it in a frame.” It’s in my workplace right now. “I look at it now and again to bring back wonderful recollections,” Berger explained. “I had some positive interactions with Mr. Palmer. When I was in college, I participated in the Palmer Cup and got to know him a little more.
“He was a really kind guy.” You could ask him whatever questions you wanted, and he’d chat to you for hours about everything you wanted to talk about.”
Paula Creamer, the 2010 U.S. Women’s Open champion at Palmer’s favorite Oakmont Country Club in Pennsylvania, has some of Arnie’s letters framed, including one she got after winning the 2010 U.S. Women’s Open.
She is reminded of a crucial chat she had with Palmer years ago whenever she sees his signature.
“I met Mr. Palmer at the golf course when I was a junior golfer competing in the Champions Tour Pebble Beach event. He was the one who taught me early on that when signing an autograph, use penmanship that the fan would recognize,” said Creamer, whose daughter, Hilton Rose, was born a little more than seven weeks ago in the Winnie Palmer Hospital for Women & Babies, which is close to the Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children. “No scribbling, no shortcuts.” He also advised me to thank everyone by looking them in the eyes. His advice has rang loudly in my ears every time I sign an autograph since then.”
Rickie Fowler and Rory McIlroy reminisce
After winning the first of his four majors at the 2011 U.S. Open, Rory McIlroy received one of the numerous letters he received.
“You are now in a position where you have the opportunity to give back to the game that has made you famous, and I hope, and am confident, that you will honor that responsibility in the months and years ahead.” Just stay true to yourself. Don’t alter your behavior. Regards, Arnold Palmer.”
McIlroy stated, “Those were fantastic words of wisdom and words to live by.”
Rickie Fowler treasures each of Palmer’s letters.
“I know how much those letters are missed,” Fowler added. “That was something you almost thought about when you won something, not that it was expected, but you knew Arnold would be watching and would be writing a letter.”
“And it doesn’t get any better than that.”
Dottie Pepper first noticed Palmer’s emblem on the envelope and letterhead after setting the tournament scoring record of 19 under in winning the Kraft Nabisco Championship in 1999, her second major victory.
“It felt amazing because A, women’s golf was getting a lot of attention, and B, a record had been made,” Pepper remarked.
Arnie’s other gesture, though, meant a lot more to Pepper. One that had a profound impact on my life.
Pepper was misdiagnosed with Lyme illness in 2003, and the treatment made her feel even worse. Charlie Mechem, the former LPGA commissioner, called Pepper one day and discovered she wasn’t feeling well.
“I was sitting on the couch, scarcely able to move,” Pepper explained. “Charlie stated that he would make a phone call.”
Mechem called back within an hour.
“Arnold is telling you to get on an aircraft and fly to Rochester, Minnesota,” Pepper explained. “The rest will be taken care of since you’re going to the Mayo Clinic.” “As a result, I travelled to Minnesota.” Testing from head to toe. I was misdiagnosed, but it was quickly repaired, and I was back on my feet.
“Arnold was much more than a golfer. Arnold Palmer used golf to reach out to so many individuals. He was a social butterfly. He was a people person who enjoyed assisting others.
“He was the King,” says the narrator.
