Golf legend Arnold Palmer nearly quit after a horrific start before settling down and eventually winning the 1956 Eastern Open at Mt. Pleasant Golf Course in Baltimore.
Now 50 years later, Palmer hopes to capture lightning in a bottle one more time as he has agreed to play and promote the fourth annual Constellation Energy Classic, to be held Sept. 14-17 at Hayfields Country Club.
Palmer ? owner of 92 career titles, including eight majors ? is going into the Constellation Energy Classic with the same mindset he had while competing in his prime against fellow golf legend Jack Nicklaus. His age, 76, is not an excuse.
“I?m coming to win it,” Palmer said Friday, while in Baltimore. “If you think I?m coming there with the attitude I won?t win, you?re crazy. I may not, but that?s what drives me.”
Palmer originally planned to only help with the event?s promotion, but agreed to compete after playing a recent round of golf with Constellation Energy CEO Mayo Shattuck in Florida. Palmer?s presence should only help raise the visibility and prestige of the Constellation Energy Classic, which raised $827,000 for local charities in 2005, ranking third among Champions Tour events.
Palmer, who last won a seniors event in 1988, represents one of 78 golfers scheduled to compete in the event. Previous Constellation Energy Classic fields have included Tom Watson, Lee Trevino, Ben Crenshaw, Peter Jacobson, Tom Kite, Hale Irwin and its inaugural champion, Larry Nelson.
“You are going to see some pretty good golf,” said Palmer, who last played in the Wendy?s Champions Skins Game in February. “Some of these guys are playing better here than they did on the regular tour.”
Palmer said this year?s Constellation Energy Classic is just the latest chapter in the rich history of professional golf in Maryland. The PGA, LPGA and Champions Tour have all made stops in the state.
“Maryland is always a major factor in golf, from the courses to the people who play the game,” Palmer said. “This state?s golf history is very rich and continues to thrive. An event like the Constellation Energy Classic is only going to enhance that.”
CONSTELLATION ENERGY CLASSIC
When: Sept. 14-17
Where: Hayfields Country Club, Hunt Valley
Quotable: “The fact that Arnold Palmer has not played here since 2002 will only help increase the awareness of this event,” Constellation Energy Classic tournament director JeffMiller.
