This Day in Golf History: March 31

On this date in 1957, Arnold Palmer won the Azalea Open, but in 1958, during a playoff loss to Howie Johnson at the Azalea, A.P. called a penalty on himself on the 14th when the ball moved while he was preparing to putt. And in 1985, Arnold played 72 holes at Players Ch. for final time; shooting a nine-over 297, T-69. Of special birthday significance, World Golf Hall of Famer Tommy Bolt was born in Haworth, Oklahoma, on this date in 1916, and three-time U.S. Senior Open champion Miller Barber was born on March 31, 1931, in Shreveport, Louisiana. Each had a pair of unique nicknames; Bolt was Terrible Tempered Tommy and Thunder Bolt and Barber was known as Precious and the Mysterious Mr. X. On this date in 1996, Fred Couples had a final-round 64 to win the Players Championship for the second time, four shots in front of Tommy Tolles and Colin Montgomerie.