8 Arnold Palmer
1958 Masters
Augusta National
During the final round of the Masters in 1958, Arnold Palmer was tied for the lead with playing partner Ken Venturi when the two arrived at the notorious par-3 12th. Palmer played a 6-iron to the 155-yard hole but found an area of soft ground through the back of the green 
where his ball plugged. He called for a ruling from the official on the spot, but unfortunately this turned out to be Arthur Lacey, the visiting President of the British PGA. Lacey turned down Palmer’s request for relief, which was correct everywhere else, but a local rule was in force at Augusta and Arnie should have been allowed to drop. That is when the trouble started.
Arnold sullenly took a penalty drop and ended with a double bogey 5. He then played a second ball from next to the original spot and made par. In situations of uncertainty, a player may play a second ball and let the committee decide afterwards. However, according to Venturi, Arnie hadn’t declared he was playing a second ball until after he made double bogey with the first – a clear breach of the rules. Palmer denied this claim. Venturi came close to refusing to sign Palmer’s card at the end of the round, and there was bad blood between the two for decades afterwards. Venturi apparently said to Arnie “If you had holed the first ball, would you have played the second one?” It was an unfortunate incident and sullied what turned out to be Arnie’s first Major win.
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