US golf legend Arnold Palmer dies at 87

Arnold Palmer was regarded as one of golf's greatest ambassadors

US golfer Arnold Palmer, viewed as one of the greatest and most influential players in the sport's history, has died at the age of 87.

Palmer died at the UPMC Shadyside Hospital in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, where he was undergoing heart tests, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reported. During a long career he won more than 90 tournaments worldwide, including seven majors.

Arnold Palmer dominated the game of golf in the early 1960s

The US Golf Association called him "golf's greatest ambassador". As tributes flooded in from across the world of golf, Tiger Woods tweeted: "Thanks Arnold for your friendship, counsel and a lot of laughs. Your philanthropy and humility are part of your legend."

Arnold Palmer, left, pictured with fellow golfing legends Jack Nicklaus, centre, and Gary Player in Augusta in 2014

Palmer attracted thousands of diehard fans known as "Arnie's army" and helped to promote the game into the television age.

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The golfer was loved as an everyman superstar, and even had a drink named after him - the Arnold Palmer cocktail, made from one part iced tea and one part lemonade.

He also gave his name to a professional tournament - The Arnold Palmer Invitational, held each March at his private golf resort in Bay Hill, Florida.

Arnold Palmer was the most important golfer to play the game, says the BBC's golf correspondent Iain Carter.
"His force of charisma put the game on the map and it never dimmed", he added.
Fellow golfing great and a close friend of Palmer, Jack Nicklaus, said he would "miss him greatly".
"We just lost one of the incredible people in the game of golf and in all of sports," he tweeted.