On this date in 1888, tradition says the first six holes at St. Andrews Golf Club, in Yonkers, New York, opened, making it the earliest American course to open, although other clubs have disputed that claim. The members were known as the Apple Dumpling Gang. On this date in 1987, Arnold Palmer shot a second-straight 71 at the Fairfield Barnett Classic and tied for 26th.
On this date in 1966, the United States team of Arnold Palmer and Jack Nicklaus won the World Cup at Yomiuri Country Club in Tokyo, Japan. Their scores were 135-135-136-142—548; individually it was Arnold with 66-67-69-73—275 and Nicklaus 69-68-67-69—273. Also, Jay Sigel, one of America’s most decorated amateurs, was born on this date in 1943 in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania. He won two U.S. Amateurs and 11 Pennsylvania Amateurs among many other feats. He passed away earlier this year on April 19, age 82.
On this date in 1967, Arnold Palmer won the individual title at the World Cup at Club de Golf Mexico, Mexico City, Mexico, with scores of 68-70-71-67—276. It was his first individual title in six tries. As an added feat, he and teammate Jack Nicklaus were the team champion as well with scores of 140-141-140-136—557. Also, Lucas Glover, a one-time major champion of the 2009 U.S. Open, was born on this date in 1979 in Greenville, South Carolina.
Multi-major champion Jon Rahm was born on this date in 1994 in Barrika, Spain. He won the 2021 U.S. Open and 2023 Masters. On this date in 1966, Arnold Palmer shot a 66 in the first round of the World Cup, held at Yomiuri Country Club, Tokyo. That gave him and U.S. team partner Jack Nicklaus a two-man score of 135 and a tie for second place, one shot behind Canada.
On this date in 1889, the Open Championship ended at Musselburgh Links with Willie Park Jr. winning for the second time after beating Andrew Kirkaldy by five shots in a 36-hole playoff, 158-163. And on this date in 1962, the American team of Arnold Palmer and Sam Snead won the Canada Cup.
On this date in 1967, Arnold Palmer played the first round of the 15th World Cup, originally called the Canada Cup. Palmer shot a four-under-par 68 at the Club de Golf Mexico, in Mexico City. He and partner Jack Nicklaus had a first-day 140 total to lead by one shot over Argentina. Also on this date, Arnie won the 1963 Australian Wills Masters. And a pair of single-major winners of the Open Championship, who many observers felt had immense potential for greatness, were born on this date. In 1971, 2001 champion David Duval was born in Jacksonville, Florida, and in 1942, the 1973 champion golfer of the year, Tom Weiskopf, was born in Massillon, Ohio.
On this date in 1973, Arnold Palmer shot a 73 in the first round of the endurance test known as the World Open in Pinehurst. The World Open lasted eight rounds over two weekends. Palmer would shoot 73-70-77-75-73-68-74-76—586, tie for 25th and earn $2,867.43. In 1962 on this date, Palmer shot a first-round 68 in the Canada Cup to finish T-2 in the individual standings, and in 2011, he struck his final hole-in-one, at Bay Hill, on the 163-yard seventh hole of the Charger Course using a 5-iron. In the round he shot 79 to beat his age by three. Also, Chandler Harper, who sported one of the best monikers for a tour pro and won the 1950 PGA Championship, died on this date in 2004 at age 90.
On this date in 1959, the 13th Ryder Cup ended at the Eldorado GC in Palm Desert, California, with the Sam Snead-led U.S. team winning 8½-3½ over Great Britain and its captain Dai Rees.
On this date in 1955, the 11th Ryder Cup Match ended at Thunderbird Ranch & C.C. in Palm Springs, California, with the United States winning 8-4 over Great Britain. Chick Harbert was the captain in this seventh straight American victory; Dai Rees led GB. On this date in 1966, Arnold Palmer shot a final-round 68 at the Dunlop International and tied for first but lost a playoff. Palmerr shot scores of 78-75-73-68—294, but lost to Bob Stanton in a two-hole, sudden-death playoff at Kensington (72, 6,758), Sydney, Australia. Palmer won $1,120.
Walter Hagen won his fourth straight PGA Championship on this date in 1927, winning at Cedar Crest Country Club in Dallas in a thrilling 1-up victory over Joe Turnesa. It was the 10th playing of the PGA Championship and Hagen’s fifth overall PGA. In 1967 on this date, Arnold Palmer finished tied for 19th at the Hawaiian Open at four-over-par 72-74-74-72—292. The winner at a score of 284 was Dudley Wysong in a playoff, at Waialae C.C. in Honolulu. Arnie picked up $1,150.
On this date in 1951, the Ryder Cup ended at Pinehurst Resort with the U.S. defeating Great Britain, 9½-2½. Sam Snead was the playing captain for the Americans; Arthur Lacey was the non-playing leader for Great Britain. On this date in 1965, Arnold Palmer’s article on “Why I Want My Daughters to Play Golf” was published in a European publication. Also, in 1977, Palmer shot a second-round 66 with partner Leonard Thompson at the Disney World Nat’l Team Ch., but the pair missed the cut by four.
On this date in 1957, Arnold Palmer won the San Diego Open, scoring rounds of 65-68-68-70—271. His first-place money: $2,800. In 1974, Palmer shot a final-round 67 with partner Lanny Wadkins in the Disney World National Team Ch. and tied for 25th. Also, Jack Westland, the 1952 U.S. Amateur winner, died on this date in 1982 at Pebble Beach, California. He won 12 other major amateur golf events and went on to serve 12 years in the U.S. House of Representatives.
On this day in 1947 the Ryder Cup ended at Portland Golf Club in Oregon with the U.S. winning the first post World War II match, 11-1, over Great Britain in a modest two-day affair. The playing captains were Ben Hogan and Henry Cotton. On this date in 2009, 80-year-old Arnold Palmer presented Dwight Eisenhower into the World Golf Hall of Fame this night in a program called, “Arnie Honors Another Golfer Who Had Army.”
Happy 90th birthday to South African Gary Player who was born on this date in 1935, six years after Arnold Palmer but four ahead of Jack Nicklaus; the three would become the Big Three in global golf. Player won nine majors. Also, on this date in 1974, Arnold Palmer and partner Lanny Wadkins shot a 63 in the Walt Disney World National Team Championship. That followed a first-round 67. They shot 66 and 67 in the final two rounds to tie for 25th.
On this date in 1963, Arnold Palmer was set free from his contentious nine-year contract with Wilson as it expired on Halloween that year. In 1968, Palmer shot a first-round 70 in the Australian PGA and would tie for sixth after adding rounds of 77-75-71—293 the next three days. Also, 1959 Masters Champion Art Wall Jr. died on this date in 2001 of respiratory failure. He was known for the prolific feat of making 44 holes-in-one.
On this date in 1966, Arnold Palmer won the Australian Open at 20 under par. Also, on this date in 1988, Beth Daniel won the Nichirei Ladies Cup U.S.-Japan Team Golf Championship by two shots over Rosie Jones, shooting five under par. It was held at Country Club the Lakes, Ibaragi-Ken, Japan.
On this date in 1972, Arnold Palmer shot a final-round 69 to finish second in the Sahara Invitational. He had scores of 65-69-71-69—274 for second place, worth $15,400. Also today, big-hitting Jimmy Thomson, who finished runner-up in the 1935 U.S. Open and 1936 Masters, was born on this date in 1908 in North Berwick, Scotland.
On this date in 1973, Arnold Palmer played in his final Sahara Invitational, shooting a fourth-round 73 for an overall 283 total and tie for 20th and $1,338.66 in prize money. Also, standout player, teacher, and golf ambassador Peggy Kirk Bell was born on this date 104 years ago in Findlay, Ohio.
Tiger Woods won the debut of the ZoZo Championship on this date in 2019 by three strokes over Hideki Matsuyama at the Accordia Golf & Country Club. In so doing he tied Sam Snead's record of 82 PGA victories. On this date in 1996, the U.S. LPGA defeated Japan, 21½-14½, in the Nichirei International Golf Tournament at Ami Golf Club.
On this date in 1969, Arnold Palmer shot a 67 in the final round of the San Francisco Open, giving him a total of 277 and a tie for 27th, worth $681.43. On this date in 1975, Mary Bea Porter completed a wire-to-wire victory with a final-round, three-over-par 76 and a 72-hole total of 287 in the Golf Inns of America tournament at the Whispering Palms course. She finished five under par for four rounds and three strokes ahead of runnerup Donna Young. Porter's first-place money of $5,700 more than doubled the $4,935 she had won In 22 events in 1975 to that point.