Hole No. 10

Augusta National, Augusta, Georgia
495 yards, April 12, 1964
Some men dream of winning the Masters. Palmer, by 1964 a three-time Masters champion, dreamed of, for once, coasting to victory. He began to sense it here at the turn when a satisfying 5-stroke lead hinted at victory assured. Friend, playing partner and eventual runner-up David Marr later recalled Palmer’s gracious gesture on the 18th tee. "We were standing there and he asked if there was anything he could do to help me," Marr recalled. "I told him it would be great if he could make a 12 on the hole." Palmer finishes six strokes ahead of Marr, Jack Nicklaus and one of the all-time great fields just one stroke off the then-record of Ben Hogan’s minus-13. Experts who predict the convincing win will ignite a string of Palmer major victories in the majors are incorrect. It is his last.

Hole 10, Augusta

No. 11

Wethersfield C.C., Hartford, Connecticut
421 yards, August 7, 1960
Palmer made his sixth birdie out of 11 holes to wipe out a five-stroke lead on his way to securing a playoff with Jack Fleck and Bill Collins at the Insurance City Open at the Wethersfield Country Club, site of his first PGA victory in the U.S. (1956). Palmer eventually parred the 183-yard third playoff hole and won after Fleck missed a 3 1/2-foot putt for par.

No. 12

Augusta National, Augusta, Georgia
155 yards, April 6, 1958
Playing on rain-soaked grounds under "lift, clean and place" rules, Palmer audaciously asserted his right to take a drop after his ball embedded behind the green of the famous par 3. Rules official Arthur Lacy mistakenly said a plugged ball must be played as it lie. Through clenched teeth, Palmer disagreed and declared he’d play two balls—the original, which he double bogeyed, and a drop, which led to an up-and-down par. Later on the 15th hole, rules committee chairman John Winters and club founder Bobby Jones met Palmer and announced the ruling. Winters told the golfer, "Mr. Palmer, the rules committee has ruled in your favor. You will have a three at the 12th hole." Four days after overhearing Ben Hogan wonder aloud "how the hell Palmer got an invitation to the Masters," Palmer earned a lifetime invitation and won his first of four Masters titles. His margin of victory over Doug Ford and Fred Hawkins? One stroke.

Hole 12, Augusta

No. 13

Champions Golf Club, Houston, Texas
540 yards, Oct. 18, 1967
Palmer and Ryder Cup four-ball partner Julius Boros scratched out a point in an unlikely comeback against Hugh Boyle and George Will instigated, in part, by a friendly jibe from host pro Jackie Burke Jr. With the American duo down three early in the match, Burke drawled, "Well, Palmer, looks like you’ve gotten yourself into a real mess." Burke then proposed a wager. He said he’ll make Palmer a handmade clock if he and Boros pull off the win. They do, 1 up, and the clock with the 12 letters—ARNOLD PALMER—circling in place of numbers still holds a special place in Palmer’s Latrobe workshop.

Hole 13, Champions Golf Club

No. 14

Rio Pinar C.C., Orlando, Florida
393 yards March 1, 1974
Palmer was in the midst of what many describe as his greatest charge ever. This one started after an infuriating and unlikely triple bogey 8 during the first round of the 1974 Citrus Open at Rio Pinar C.C. near Orlando. "I decided then that I was going to get in or get out," he said. Palmer went on a tear and posted nine threes on the scorecard—four birdies and two eagles. He finished the round with a 68 and shared the front pages with Jim Simons, Curtis Sifford and Jack Ewing, who all aced during the first round.

Palmer enjoying a drink with Nicklaus and player at the citrus open

No. 15

Royal Birkdale, Southport, Lancashire, England
416 yards, July 15, 1961
Battling to win his first British Open title, Palmer found his ball in a gnarly nest of rough. With the galleries watching in disbelief, Palmer lashed a 6 iron like a scythe through wheat. The ball not only escaped, but made its way to the putting surface. Palmer saved par on route to a one stroke victory over Britain’s Dai Rees, and a plaque was placed there to commemorate the shot. Royal Birkdale professional Bobby Halsall said, "I have never seen a golfer so relaxed after he steps off the 18th green. He’s the Perry Como of the golf world."

The commemorative plaque at the 15th at royal birkdale

No. 16

Purpoodock Club, Cape Elizabeth, Maine
487 yards, September 28, 1986
Palmer made a third consecutive eagle on the par 5 16th on his way to winning the three-day Union Mutual Golf Classic. He reached 16 with driver/6 iron twice and once driver/3 iron, each time sinking putts of about 15 feet or less. In 2005, Purpoodock club members unveiled a bronze plaque on a granite base near the tee commemorating Palmer’s three consecutive eagles and graciously thanking Palmer for all he’s done for golf.

No. 17

Bay Hill Club, Orlando, Florida
238 yards, Fall 1971
Palmer learned that some caddies can be just as hardheaded as he is. During an otherwise forgotten round at Bay Hill, Palmer’s caddie, a man known as Tomcat, suggested he muscle a 3 iron over the water to the green. Palmer countered that, really, he’d be more comfortable with the 2. Tomcat, said, no, today it’s a 3. "Normally, I trust my own judgment in these matters, but I took the 3 and came up short in the water," Palmer said. "Instead of going to the drop, I said, 'Let’s try and make par the hard way.’ This time I took the 2 iron from the same spot and knocked it right in the hole. I gave Tomcat a 'I told-ya-so’ look and he just shook his head and said, 'No, suh, you hit dat 3 iron fat.'"

Hole 17, Bay Hill Club

No. 18

Here, Palmer fans, we offer you a mulligan. How can we justify picking one for you? It’s just too personal. Was it Cherry Hills in 1960? Oakmont in '94? St. Andrews in '95? Or any of the countless times at Augusta when tears were shed at the site of the fabled golfer climbing the hill where so many ovations washed over him? Or was it one of the 92 professional victories he’s notched over more than five decades of legendary golf. Or—who knows?—maybe you were one of the thousands of golfers who’ve been fortunate enough to tee it up with Arnold at courses around the world. Certainly, to you that was one of the momentous holes in your life. You know what? It probably meant the world to him, too.