John: I guess you didn't read what Wayne had to say.
RT
I did, and it is clear to me I'll agree to disagree with you. Phil Mickelson is an immensely popular player today. He's a golf champion. He plays very, very well and is liked very, very much. And he's charitable. There are a lot of similarities to Palmer from my viewpoint.
Chi Chi Rodriguez gives a lot back to the game of golf with his facilities to help at-risk youth. Joe Louis Barrow serves as the head of the First Tee (I think) and probably is paid a nominal salary. (I apologize if he has an outsized United Way pay package.) Arnold Palmer's chief contribution to the game is that he played it, which he would have probably done anyway he loves it so much.
I am separating one's 'significance' from their 'contribution to' a sport or art. Wayne makes a valid point I hadn't considered about the trips to the UK to play in the Open Championship.
The USGA paid (I think, apologies if I'm wrong) Palmer to be a face on the campaign to get people to contribute. Lo and behold, Ely Callaway paid him to help sell drivers. There's nothing wrong with this, but it sure doesn't look like he became active in the USGA because it is the right thing to do like Billy Joe Patton or whatever other guy you want to name.