Arnold Palmer breaks down during emotional interview recalling British Open memories

Back at the Masters in April, Jack Nicklaus said the traditional Champions Dinner at Augusta jolted to life after several sleepy years when Arnold Palmer got up and gave an emotional address to the room full of green jacket winners. He reflected on his life and time in the sport.

At 85 years old and coming off a shoulder surgery, Palmer does not play anymore. But on Wednesday at St. Andrews, he made what he said was his second swing of the year. The first came during the ceremonial tee shot at Augusta and this one was a ceremonial drive during the Champions Challenge charity event full of former Open winners.

It was an emotional day for Palmer, who, as ESPN analyst Curtis Strange noted, is perhaps making his final trip to St. Andrews. Tom Watson reportedly stood up during the Open champions dinner on Tuesday and spoke emotionally about what Palmer did for Americans in the oldest major in golf, coming over in 1960 and “changing American golf” forever. He’d win it the next year in 1961 and back that up with a second Claret Jug in 1962.

That history was obviously on his mind Wednesday as he finished up with Rinaldi on the 18th green at the Old Course.