This Day in Golf--Aug. 28

On this date 63 years ago, Arnold Palmer won the U.S. Amateur Championship, one of his final amateur feats, and later in 1954 he began a pro career that made him a worldwide superstar and ultimately mythical figure. In the Amateur final, which took place on a Saturday, Palmer, 24, defeated Bob Sweeny, 1 up (36 holes), at the Country Club of Detroit, a Robert Trent Jones redesign of a Harry S. Colt layout that had been extended to 6,875 yards. In early September, Arnie met his future wife, Winifred Walzer, at Fred Waring's annual tournament in Shawnee-on-the-Delaware, Pa. Armed with his Amateur title, Palmer was set by the end of the year to play professionally and his transformation of the sport began.

Also today, teaching great Butch Harmon is 74 years old.