Watch CBS News

Golf Legend Arnold Palmer's Ties To Colorado Run Deep

DENVER (CBS4)- The late golf legend Arnold Palmer has deep ties in Colorado, among them his U.S. Open championship win at Cherry Hills in 1960.

The club lowered their flags to half staff on Monday in honor of the man they call "The King." Palmer had his greatest comeback ever at Cherry Hills. He trailed by seven strokes entering the final round but managed to take the championship.

Golfer Arnold Palmer
(credit: Jamie Squire/Getty Images)

Palmer's ties to Colorado run much deeper than that. His grandson Sam Saunders is a Fort Collins native.

Saunders talked about saying goodbye to his grandpa.

The Masters - Round One
Honorary starter Arnold Palmer attends the ceremonial tee off to start the first round of the 2016 Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club (Andrew Redington/Getty Images)

"It was so special to be able to say goodbye to him without knowing that that was what was happening. I told him I loved him and he said, 'I love you' back and that's... if you know him, he's pretty tough and to say I love you to him, it wasn't something that we did a lot but to have that moment happen, I'll remember that for the rest of my life," said Saunders.

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.