Golf legend Jack Nicklaus revealed his earliest memory of Arnold Palmer during a press conference ahead of Tuesday's Memorial Tournament. At just 15 years old, Nicklaus watched Palmer practice in a downpour at Sylvania.

At the time, Palmer had already established himself as one of golf's biggest stars, while Nicklaus was still an aspiring young amateur. He recalled seeing The King from a distance, three years before they eventually teed up against each other.

"It was pouring down rain. I was the only person on the golf course, and I was walking into the clubhouse. There's only one person on the practice range, and here was this guy who looked like Popeye hitting 9-irons and hitting 'em about quail high," he added.

Nicklaus was just a 15-year-old when this happened and was competing at Sylvania for the Ohio Amateur. However, when he teed up against Palmer on the PGA Tour, he was ready to dethrone the King.

"Jack had the trophies that Arnold wanted, but Jack didn't have the love of the fans that Arnold had," said Ian O'Connor, author of "Arnie & Jack."

Palmer's fan base, known as "Arnie's Army," tried to stop The Golden Bear from winning his first professional title at the 1962 U.S. Open but failed. Palmer then acknowledged the 22-year-old's arrival, beginning a fierce yet respectful rivalry between the two greats.

"And I said, Man, is that guy strong. And I said -- and I walked to the clubhouse and I said, Who in the world is that on the practice tee out there hitting balls?" Nicklaus added. "They said, Well, that's our defending champion, Arnold Palmer. And that was my first sighting of Arnold. I didn't meet Arnold until I was 18, three years later."

In the end, Nicklaus won 18 majors, the highest total in the sport's history, whereas Palmer stopped at seven. Even in the head-to-head record, Nicklaus came out on top.

However, no one can deny the influence Palmer had on golf.

How Palmer's Charisma Made Golf a TV Sensation

Golf was not a mainstream television entity until Palmer came around. His influence on the game was far greater than the seven majors he won in his career.

"When he came on, and television came on, it was a mix made in heaven," said three-time major winner Nick Price. "Arnold Palmer, television, and golf. Gary Player and Jack Nicklaus obviously did a lot, but it was Arnold who had that magnetism that brought everyone together."

Critics argue Palmer was one of the first golfers to become a modern sports celebrity, while his handshake deal with Mark McCormack helped revolutionize sports marketing.

"He made the modern game," said two-time U.S. Open champion Andy North. "He's the man that put us on the map. We said for every dollar we make, we should give twenty-five cents to Arnold."

Palmer's energy and charisma were second to none, and wherever he went, the place was flooded by "Arnie's Army."

After his passing, Nicklaus became the voice to let everyone know and remind them what The King had done for the game.

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Written by

Avishek Sarkar

Edited by

Pulkit Prabhav