One of these two iconic figures is well-known among golf fans around the world – the other less so. Arnold Palmer was, well, Arnold Palmer. LeRoy Neiman was an American artist known for his vibrant expressionist paintings and screen prints of athletes and sporting events.
In 1974 he painted Palmer in a colourful kaleidoscopic style the same year the golfing legend was welcomed into the World Golf Hall of Fame. The image was also used as cover art for the April 1974 edition of Golf Digest magazine, and now it is being offered for sale by leading sports collectibles auctioneer Heritage at its “Platinum Night” event on 25-26 February.
If the estimated price tag of $100,000 might be a little daunting for most of us, the auction will include two other Palmer-related items: the black and white wingtip Footjoy shoes he wore when winning his first US Masters title in 1958 (estimated: $15,000); and a signed 1995 poster depicting all the U.S. Ryder Cup captains since 1927 (estimated $4,000).
