US golf legend Arnold Palmer dies at 87

US golfer Arnold Palmer, viewed as one of the greatest players in the sport's history, has died at the age of 87.

Palmer died at the UPMC Presbyterian Hospital in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, where he had been undergoing heart tests, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reported.

The United States Golf Association also confirmed his death in a tweet calling him "golf's greatest ambassador".

During a long career, he won more than 90 tournaments worldwide.

Palmer attracted thousands of diehard fans known as "Arnie's Army" and helped to promote the game into the television age.

Golfer Tiger Woods tweeted: "Thanks Arnold for your friendship, counsel and a lot of laughs. Your philanthropy and humility are part of your legend."

Arnold Palmer was born in Latrobe, Pennsylvania, in 1929, the son of a groundskeeper at the local country club.

He was one of golf's most dominant players in the late 1950s and early 1960s, winning seven major titles over seven seasons.

He also notched up 62 PGA Tour wins.

Newsletter

These images show the Sun’s surface in greater detail than ever before

On Wednesday, astronomers released what they said were the most detailed images ever taken of the surface of our sun. As...

Magnitude 7.7 quake hits between Cuba and Jamaica, but no injuries

A powerful magnitude 7.7 earthquake struck in the Caribbean Sea between Jamaica and eastern Cuba on Tuesday, shaking a v...

US House passes bill on sanctions against Chinese officials for meddling in Dalai Lama’s succession

The US House of Representatives has passed a bill that authorises financial and travel sanctions against Chinese officia...

Squid Brains Are Nearly as Complex as Dog Brains, Researchers Claim

We all know that cephalopods are wicked smart, and their complex nerve systems go some way to explain their aptitudes. N...

Four Japanese evacuees from Wuhan taken to hospital with fevers

Japanese officials say four evacuees on a flight from the Chinese city of Wuhan have a cough and fever. Tokyo Metropolit...

US military recovers remains from Afghanistan plane crash

The United States on Tuesday recovered the remains of two personnel from a US military aircraft that crashed in Afghanis...