Golf's 'greatest ambassador' Arnold Palmer dies

Golfer Arnold Palmer has died, aged 87, according to the US Golf Association and US golf media.

Palmer won seven majors, including four Masters, played The Masters for 50 consecutive years and co-founded the Golf Channel.

He drew thousands of fans to the game in the 1950s and '60s and his keen fan base earned the moniker "Arnie's Army".

His good looks, devilish grin and hard-charging style combined with the arrival of television in most households to make him a star and bring his sport to the masses.

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

Palmer was born on 10 September, 1929, in Latrobe, a small industrial town east of Pittsburgh.

The son of a greenskeeper, he started golfing at the age of four and began caddying as an 11-year-old. He turned pro in 1954 and bought the country club in 1971.

His first wife Winning died in 1999. They had two daughters.

Palmer married Kathleen Gawthrop in 2005.

Aside from golf, his passion was aviation - in 1976 he set a record in 1976 when he circumnavigated the world in 57 hours, 25 minutes and 42 seconds.

He flew his Cessna Citation until he failed to renew his licence at the age of 81, just short of 20,000 hours of flying.

Palmer died in Pittsburgh due to complications from heart problems.

He appeared to be in bad health when he joined fellow golfing icons Gary Player and Jack Nicklaus for the ceremonial first tee shot at the Masters in April.

At that event, he had not been well enough to swing a golf club.

Among Palmer's biggest fans was fellow golfer Tiger Woods, who tweeted him birthday wishes on 10 September, saying: "Can't talk golf without thinking about the King".

On Palmer's death, Woods wrote: "Thanks Arnold for your friendship, counsel and a lot of laughs.

"Your philanthropy and humility are part of your legend.

"It's hard to imagine golf without you or anyone more important to the game than the King."