The large, devoted crowds that followed Arnold Palmer were known as Arnie's Army.
The nickname captured Palmer's extraordinary popularity during golf's television era, especially in the late 1950s and 1960s. His aggressive style, approachable personality, and connection with ordinary spectators helped transform professional golf into a mass spectator sport. Fans did not merely watch Palmer at major events; many traveled from tournament to tournament to support him.
Palmer won seven major championships, including four Masters titles, the 1960 U.S. Open, and The Open Championship in 1961 and 1962. His strongest PGA Tour period came from 1960 through 1963, when he won 29 events. In 1967, he became the first golfer to reach $1 million in career PGA Tour earnings. The name also inspired the Arnie's Army Charitable Foundation, which supported children and youth.