Golf legend Arnold Palmer dies at 87

Arnold Palmer, who won seven major championships and 62 Professional Golfers Association (PGA) Tours, died from heart complications at a hospital in Pittsburgh, near his hometown of Latrobe, Pennsylvania on Sunday.

"We are deeply saddened by the death of Arnold Palmer, golf's greatest ambassador, at age 87," the US Golf Association said on Twitter.

During a career that spanned from the 1950s to 2006, Palmer was a legend on and off the links who popularized a country club sport for the masses at a time television became widespread. He especially dominated the sport in the 1960s.

Known as "The King," Palmer energized fans with his style on the course and personal attention to the crowds. Palmer's draw attracted "Arnie's Army" of devoted fans.

"I enjoy the crowds, and I enjoyed playing to them. I suppose that was one thing that helped me as much as anything," Palmer told Golf.com in 2011.

Palmer was able to parlay his popularity into advertising, becoming one of the first sports businessmen and marketers . He also owned a golf course design firm and a golf resort.

Palmer was born on Sept. 10, 1929, in Latrobe, the son of a golf greenskeeper at a golf country club.

cw/rc (AFP, AP, dpa, Reuters)