The world of golf is in mourning following the death of one of the sport's pioneers, Arnold Palmer, at the age of 87.

Golf has changed almost seismically in the 54 years since Stuart Wilson teed up in the same field as the legend on Wednesday, July 11, at Royal Troon for The 1962 Open Championship.

American super stardom on the golfing scene was a relatively new concept on British shores. Meanwhile, bumper paychecks were a thing of the future - the King himself took home £1,400 compared to the cool £1,175,000 pocketed by this year's victor Henrik Stenson.

Despite the stark differences between the modern game and the golf of yesteryear, there was no doubt on Wilson's part as to the potency of Palmer's influence on the game; crowds were gripped by him, flocking religiously to follow the King hole by hole, much like they do the Rorys, Tigers and Rickies of today.

The sport has grown extraordinarily since those days, driven forward by exciting, engaging and enthralling characters.

There can be little doubt that Arnold Palmer sits at its core.