Revered as one of the greatest golfers of all time, Arnold Palmer became TVs first sports superstar. Sky Sports pays tribute to the charismatic seven-time major champion, who has died aged 87. Affectionately known as The King, Palmer was an undoubted trailblazer of the game, becoming the first player to win $1m in PGA Tour earnings while his glittering career was defined by firsts.He was the first sports star to be signed by pioneering agent Mark McCormack, the founder of the International Management Group. Palmer was the first sportsman to own his own jet, which he often piloted himself, and he was the first winner of the World Match Play tournament as well as the first golfer to be awarded the Presidential medal of freedom. Arnold Palmer rose to fame during the advent of the televised era The world of golf would look very different if not for the man from Latrobe, Pennsylvania, who is widely credited as being responsible for securing the status of the Open Championship. When he first played in 1960, he arrived as the holder of the Masters and US Open titles, but the tournament had fallen out of favour with many other American players.Palmer was trying to emulate the feat of winning three major wins in the same year - which had been achieved by Ben Hogan in 1953. He lost by one shot to Kel Nagle, but came back in 1961 to win his first Open title. The fan favourite won it again the next year, establishing it as an event that Americans both wanted to watch and play. Palmer persuaded many leading Americans to play in The Open But if there is one tournament that is synonymous with Arnold Palmers name, it is the Masters. Palmer became the youngest Augusta champion when he lifted the trophy in 1958, and left the tournament with both a permanent spotlight on his career and a dedicated fan following - Arnies Army.It was his legendary fights over this course as part of The Big Three with Jack Nicklaus and Gary Player which further raised the profile of the sport, and it was clear the charismatic Palmer was a favourite among the patrons. Of his seven major victories, four of Palmers wins came at Augusta, in 1958, 60, 62 and 64.With so much history, it seemed fitting that he would end his major career on his 50th consecutive Masters appearance in 2004, but he still relished in appearing as an honorary starter alongside his formal rivals between 2007 and 2015, as did his loyal army. Palmers final appearance at Augusta earlier this year, watching fellow honorary starters Jack Nicklaus and Gary Player Arnold is the reason golf enjoys the popularity it does today, Nicklaus once said of his former rival. He made golf attractive to the television-viewing public. There never has been anyone like him before in the game of golf, and there probably wont be another like him again.The rise of a superstar Born in Pennsylvania, Palmer was the son of a country club golf professional. His father introduced him to the game of golf, shortening regulation clubs for his toddler son to learn to play, and by aged 11 the youngster was caddying at Latrobe Country Club.Success came early for Palmer, winning his first of five West Pennsylvania Amateur Championships at the age of 17. He enrolled at Wake Forrest College on a golf scholarship and won three Atlantic Coast Conference Championships, but then tragedy hit. Following the death of a close friend and team-mate, Palmer dropped out of college and became part of the US Coast Guard for three years. Palmer bowed out of the Masters on his 50th consecutive appearance in 2004 Returning to golf in 1954, he resumed form quickly and after winning the US Amateur in 1954, he turned professional that same year - as well as marrying first wife Winnie Walzer.During his rookie year on the PGA Tour he won his first tournament at the Canadian Open, but it was his maiden major victory at the Masters in 1958 that saw the birth of a true superstar.The 1960s were his most prolific years, and between 1960 and 63 he won a remarkable 29 tournaments, including seven majors. In total, Palmer won 95 titles, including the 1980s PGA Seniors Championships and the 1981 Senior Open. He also played in seven Ryder Cups, and captained the team twice, once as the last playing captain in 1963, then as captain 12 years later in 1975. Presenting Tiger Woods with the Arnold Palmer Invitational trophy. He hosted his own tournament from 1979 His full retirement came in 2006, but it was not how he would have preferred to end his career. He officially retired on the fourth hole of the Adminstaff Small Business Classic after becoming dissatisfied with his performance.Ive been doing this for a long time and, first of all, to stand out there and not be able to make something happen is very traumatic in my mind, Palmer said. The people, they all want to see a good shot and you know it and you cant give them that good shot. Thats when its time.The first sporting superstarThe Hall of Famer had many victories, but one of his biggest achievements was almost single-handedly establishing the commercial success of the game. Signing to college friend Mark McCormacks company in 1960 (now IMG) together they launched the idea of a sports person as a global brand.Winning majors, playing golf with presidents and featuring in adverts, Palmers endorsement earnings with IMG grew from $6,000 to $500,000 in the first two years. Presenting Tiger Woods with the Arnold Palmer Invitational trophy. He hosted his own tournament from 1979 Palmer had a head for marketing, and made as big an impact on the business world as he did in the world of golf. He designed over 300 golf courses, was co-founder of the Golf Channel and had various business ventures that ranged from automobiles to his love of aviation.A global success, Palmer has made more money off the golf course than he ever did playing, ensuring his mark on the world will last for many more generations to come.Golf may have lost one of its most beloved characters but what is in no doubt is that the first sporting superstars name will live on through memories, history books, and forever as the combination of iced tea and lemonade. Also See: Ryder Cup latest news Europes Ryder Cup qualifiers 2014 Ryder Cup recap Golf live on Sky Sports Stitched Angels Jerseys . -- Top-ranked Stacy Lewis birdied the last three holes and five of the final six Thursday for an 8-under 64 and a share of the lead with Mi Jung Hur in the Yokohama Tire LPGA Classic. Angels Jerseys 2020 . Like a magic trick, the puck popped out behind Stalock in the San Jose net. While Sharks coach Todd McLellan decried the legality of the tiebreaking goal, the Los Angeles Kings celebrated their latest, greatest escape yet. https://www.cheapangels.com/ . - Defensive end-linebacker Mike Neal apparently is returning to the Packers. Los Angeles Angels Shirts .ca. Hello Kerry, After watching Nino Niederreiter clobber Alex Burrows with an open-ice hit on Wednesday, do you think he should have gotten more than the two minutes for interference. Custom Los Angeles Angels Jerseys . Rangers goalie Henrik Lundqvist stood tall with 41 saves between the pipes, but it was defenceman Ryan McDonagh who got the first star of the game as he had a goal and an assist and now has two goals and four assists for six points in two games.BUFFALO, N.Y. - NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell expressed optimism that the Bills will remain in Buffalo and suggested the franchise will need a new stadium to ensure its long-term viability. In calling the Bills recently negotiated 10-year lease agreement a "short-term solution," Goodell on Wednesday said a new stadium would be the next step in finding "the right long-term solution." "We all want to focus and get that stadium built," Goodell said. "Im confident well get there." Goodell spoke during a pre-NFL draft event in New York City, and his comments were provided in a transcript released by the NFL. Goodell said hes had numerous discussions with perspective owners and public officials regarding the Bills, whose future is uncertain after the teams owner and founder Ralph Wilson died in March. The Bills will be put up for sale, opening the possibility of a new owner eventually relocating the franchise. The commissioner shed light on what the NFLs approach will be in determining the next Bills owner and the franchises status in western New York. Goodell said there would potentially be two votes taken by NFL owners. The first would approve sale of the team to the prospective owner selected by Wilsons estate. If necessary, a separate vote would be required to approve any relocation of the franchise. "We are making those two separate votes," Goodell said. "The intention is that whoever buys the team will make the team work in western New York." The Bills are essentially locked into playing at Ralph Wilson Stadium through the end of the 2019 season under the terms of the lease the franchise reached with the state and Erie County in December 2012. The Bills would inncur a $400 million penalty by broaching the prospect of moving during the leases term.ddddddddddddThere is a one-time exception that would allow the Bills to break the lease for just under $28.4 million in 2020. Goodell became the first to publicly suggest the Bills will require a new stadium. Previously, Bills officials and state and local leaders have called that a possibility, while not ruling out the potential of making more renovations to Ralph Wilson Stadium, which opened in 1973. Gov. Andrew Cuomo has already recognized the likelihood of the Bills needing a new facility. On Tuesday, he state hired AECOM, a California-based architectural and design firm, to identify three or four sites across the region that could serve as the teams new home. AECOM officials will begin touring sites on Monday and have until July 11 to produce a feasibility study to be distributed to prospective ownership groups. Sites could potentially include Buffalo as well as Niagara Falls. The study will include estimates on the facilitys revenue-generating potential through seats, suites, sponsorship, parking and concessions. The firm also will study the potential for developing real estate around the potential stadium sites, and consider the benefits and costs of building a stadium with a retractable roof. It has not been determined how the cost of a new stadium would be divided. Officials believe having the framework of a new stadium plan in place would help represent the regions commitment to keeping the Bills to a new owner and the NFL. The state has stepped up its timetable because of the possibility a new owner could be selected by Wilsons estate by the end of July and presented for approval at league meetings in October. ' ' '