Arnold Palmer is remembered not only as a great golfer but also as a great friend

Golf lost one of its greatest icons when Arnold Palmer died at age 87 on Sunday.

But as the tributes pour in from around the sport — and beyond — it’s clear that so many people think of “The King” as much more than just a golfing legend.

“He was one of my best friends, closest friends, and he was for a long, long time. I will miss him greatly,” Jack Nicklaus wrote.

“Arnold transcended the game of golf. He was more than a golfer or even great golfer. He was an icon. He was a legend. Arnold was someone who was a pioneer in his sport. He took the game from one level to a higher level, virtually by himself. Along the way, he had millions of adoring fans—Barbara and I among them. We were great competitors, who loved competing against each other, but we were always great friends along the way. Arnold always had my back, and I had his. We were always there for each other. That never changed.”

Tiger Woods tweeted: “Thanks Arnold for your friendship, counsel and a lot of laughs. Your philanthropy and humility are part of your legend. It’s hard to imagine golf without you or anyone more important to the game than the King.”

So many others have shared special thoughts and memories of Palmer with words and photos, often with his accomplishments on the golf course intertwined with his greatness as a human being.

charles.schilken@latimes.com

Twitter: @chewkiii