Exclusive: Eddie the Eagle reveals what Arnold Palmer was really like after opening golf course with him
· Yahoo Sports
It has been almost a decade since Arnold Palmer passed away, yet the golfing legend’s influence continues to be felt around the world.
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Palmer won seven major championships during his remarkable career, but his popularity extended far beyond golf. He was one of the most recognisable athletes of the 20th century.
Among the many celebrities who crossed paths with the American icon was an unlikely figure from a completely different sporting world.
Eddie ‘the Eagle’ Edwards, the British ski jumper who became a cult hero at the 1988 Winter Olympics in Calgary, once had the chance to meet and even play golf with Palmer.
Edwards has now shared the story of how the two sporting heroes came together when he was invited to help open a golf course.
It was a memorable day that included a parachute jump, a putting lesson and a lasting memento from ‘the King’ himself.
23 Feb 1988: Eddie Edwards of Great Britain in action during the 90 metres Ski Jump event at the 1988 Winter Olympic Games in Calgary, Canada. Edwards finished in 55th place. Mandatory Credit: David Cannon/AllsportEddie the Eagle recalls opening Eagle Watch Golf Club with Arnold Palmer
Eddie the Eagle’s meeting with Arnold Palmer came when he was invited to help open a golf club in the United States.
The Winter Olympian explained that the course, Eagle Watch Golf Club in Atlanta, Georgia, had been designed by Palmer’s company.
“Because of the eagle [name], obviously, they asked me if I would come over and help open it with Arnold Palmer,” Edwards told HITC.
“So I flew over there, and I jumped out of a plane at about 10 to 12,000 feet and landed on the first tee, and I played a couple of holes of golf with Arnold Palmer.”
Edwards said Palmer even took the time to give him some advice on the greens during their round together.
“Yeah, a bit of both [golf and skiing talk] really. He was actually really nice, a really nice guy. He gave me a bit of a putting lesson, which was nice.”
Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty ImagesThe pair later shared a light-hearted moment during dinner at the clubhouse, with Edwards recalling a humorous exchange when they were both asked to give a short speech.
“Then in the evening, when we were in the clubhouse, having a bit of dinner, he was lovely.
“We had to stand up and say a few words, so I got up and said, ‘Arnold Palmer and I have one or two things in common: we both need balls. Obviously, he needs golf balls, and I need balls to do my ski jumping.’
“Then, when I had done my quick talk, he got up and said that over his lifetime as a golfer, he had lost lots of balls, and he hoped that I didn’t lose any of mine ski jumping.”
Edwards also revealed that he still owns a very special gift Palmer gave him that day.
“I’ve still got the putter that he gave me. He gave me a special putter, and he signed the handle, and I’ve still got that. I’m trying to decide whether to use it or frame it and put it on the wall.”
Photo by Karwai Tang/WireImageEddie the Eagle reveals how golf became a big part of his life
Golf became a major part of Eddie the Eagle’s life after his famous Olympic career, particularly during the late 1990s and 2000s.
He regularly took part in charity events during that period, which helped him develop into a very good amateur golfer.
“Back in the day, from 1995 to about 2010, I played in a lot of charity golf events. I was doing about 50 during the summer on average,” he continued.
“I was doing about three or four a week. My golf got better and better, and I got down to about a six handicap, which was quite good.”
However, Edwards admitted that his golf has become quite rusty since those busy years on the charity circuit.
“I went from doing about 50 events a year to one a year, so now my handicap has gone back up again,” he concluded.
“But I’m getting back into golf. A couple of my friends play golf, so I want to try and get my handicap down to single figures again.”
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