This Day in Golf History: May 18

The late esteemed TV journalist Jack Whitaker was born in Philadelphia on this date in 1924. On a somber note, on May 18, 1950, Bobby Jones underwent a second spinal surgery in Boston to alleviate his syringomyelia condition, but it was eventually not considered a success. A wire-service news item read: “Bobby Jones Goes Under Surgery--BOSTON, May 18 -- A surgical operation today on golfdom’s great Bobby Jones--at the base of his skull--was expected to correct a long-standing spinal ailment caused by an accident 20 years ago. Jones was taken to the New England Baptist Hospital for the operation after a checkup at the Lahey Clinic. Dr. Frank Lahey, head of the clinic, said an examination there showed the former golf champion was suffering from pressure on the spinal cord.” And on this date in 1964, Arnold Palmer won his 44th PGA Tour Event at the Oklahoma City Open. Arnie took on rain, a condensed schedule and government testing of sonic booms and still won. The Feds were testing the effects of sonic booms—seriously—and OKC was the testing ground. Maybe that’s why the heavens let loose and caused Thursday and Friday to be unplayable due to rain, pushing everything back to a 36-hole finale on Monday. Palmer won first prize of $5,800, at Quail Creek Country Club (72, 7,042).