Sam Saunders, Arnold Palmer’s grandson, navigates life as a pro golfer

Sam Saunders was steamed. He had made triple-bogey on his 17th hole Thursday, and now his approach shot on the final hole sailed long and skidded over the green.

Saunders didn’t notice walking past one spectator, Diane Hurley of Oxnard, wearing a white T-shirt with Arnold Palmer’s likeness on the front. Hurley knew Saunders is Palmer’s grandson, so she wanted to catch a glimpse of the King’s descendant at Silverado Resort.

“That’s how I got into golf,” Hurley said of Palmer. “Who isn’t an Arnie fan?”

She would get no argument from Saunders.

Barely more than one year after his famous grandfather’s death, Saunders is still trying to carve out his place in the golf world.