Offered here is rare original photograph from when Arnold Palmer turned professional in 1954. Arnold Palmer had an unconventional path to stardom. He served 3 years in the Coast Guard after college at Wake Forest, and then was a paint salesman in Cleveland when he shocked the golf world by winning the 1954 US Amateur. 

Three months after that historic '54 Amateur win, Arnold Palmer turned professional on November 17, 1954. A day later, on November 18, 1954, Palmer signed with Wilson Sporting Goods for $5000 plus a $2000 signing bonus. 

The offered photograph is a rare Type 1 original from 1954. On the reverse is handwritten "Amateur Winner Golfer Arnold Palmer Joins Wilson, Run Saturday." There is also a partial newspaper cutout from when this image was run in a newspaper - almost certainly used when announcing the newly-professional Arnold Palmer had joined Wilson Sporting Goods. A truly historic original photograph from when Arnold Palmer turned professional. 6 5/8" x 8 1/2". PSA Type 1.