ity ▁among ▁British ▁and ▁European ▁fans , ▁not ▁just ▁American ▁ones . ▁ ▁Pal mer ▁was ▁greatly ▁disappoint ed ▁by ▁his ▁runner - up ▁finish ▁in ▁the ▁ 1 9 6 0 ▁British ▁Open . ▁His ▁appearance ▁over se as ▁drew ▁American ▁attention ▁to ▁the ▁Open ▁Championship , ▁which ▁had ▁previously ▁been ▁ignored ▁by ▁the ▁American ▁golf ers . ▁Pal mer ▁went ▁on ▁to ▁win ▁the ▁Open ▁Championship ▁in ▁ 1 9 6 1 ▁and ▁ 1 9 6 2 , ▁and ▁last ▁played ▁in ▁it ▁in ▁ 1 9 9 5 . ▁Martin ▁Sl um bers , ▁chief ▁executive ▁of ▁the ▁Royal ▁& ▁An cient , ▁called ▁Pal mer ▁" a ▁true ▁gentleman , ▁one ▁of ▁the ▁greatest ▁ever ▁to ▁play ▁the ▁game ▁and ▁a ▁truly ▁icon ic ▁figure ▁in ▁sport ". ▁His ▁participation ▁in ▁The ▁Open ▁Championship ▁in ▁the ▁early ▁ 1 9 6 0 s ▁" was ▁the ▁catal yst ▁to ▁truly ▁international ize ▁golf ," ▁said ▁European ▁Tour ▁chief ▁executive ▁Keith ▁P elle y . ▁ ▁Pal mer ▁won ▁seven ▁major ▁champion ships : ▁ ▁Masters ▁Tournament : ▁ 1 9 5 8 , ▁ 1 9 6 0 , ▁ 1 9 6 2 , ▁ 1 9 6 4 ▁ ▁U . S . ▁Open : ▁ 1 9 6 0 ▁ ▁The ▁Open ▁Championship : ▁ 1 9 6 1 , ▁ 1 9 6 2 ▁▁ ▁Pal mer ' s ▁most ▁pro l ific ▁years ▁were ▁ 1 9 6 0 – 1 9 6