In 1961, Paul Runyan shot a second-round 70 at PGA National in Dunedin, Florida, en route to a victory worth $1,500 in the 22nd Senior PGA Championship.
On this date in 1986, Gary Player won the Senior PGA Championship at PGA National with a score of 281, two ahead of Lee Elder.
It’s been a year already since Gene (The Machine) Littler died on this date at age 88. Born a year after Arnold Palmer, Littler, from San Diego, got a head start on a hall of fame career over Arnie when Palmer spent three years in the Coast Guard. Littler won the 1954 San Diego Open as an amateur. His lone professional major was the 1961 U.S. Open, the year after Arnold won his only U.S. Open.
Mary Kathryn (Mickey) Wright, the greatest woman golfer of all time, was born on this date in San Diego in 1935. A member of the World Golf Hall of Fame, she won four U.S. Women’s Opens and 82 LPGA Tour titles.
The great Patty Berg was born on this date in 1918 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The World Golf Hall of Fame player won 15 major titles but was also an excellent ambassador for the game. In her teaching exhibitions she would advise players to “swing to the finish” with a flamboyant follow-through.
On this date in 1989, the 50th Senior PGA Championship finished at PGA National Golf Club, with late-bloomer Larry Mowry winning by one shot over Miller Barber and Al Geiberger.
One of the more obscure pioneering woman golfers was born on this date in 1911. Helen Hicks, who won the 1937 Western and 1940 Titleholders, was born in Cedarhurst, New York.
A pair of marquee players born in different eras were born on this date. In 1955, two-time major winner Greg Norman was born in Queensland, Australia. Forty years later, Lexi Thompson, the 2014 ANA Inspiration winner, was born in Coral Springs, Florida. At age 15, she turned professional in June 2010.
On this date in 1958, World Golf Hall of Fame member Sandy Lyle, winner of the 1985 Open Championship and 1988 Masters, was born in Shrewsbury, England.
On this date in 1962, Arnold Palmer shot a first-round 64 in the Phoenix Open, one of his lowest rounds ever on the PGA Tour, to be the leader.
This date is not one of glee but today’s date is a celebration of two hall of fame players. Betty Jameson, an LPGA founding member, died on this date in 2009 at age 89. In 2015, Billy Casper passed away from a heart attack at age 83. Casper won the 1959 and 1966 U.S. Open and the 1970 Masters.
Today’s “out of this world” moment was when golf went universal. Astronaut Alan Shepard hit a couple golf balls while on the moon on this date in 1971, using a makeshift 6-iron he had quietly brought on board the Apollo 14 flight. Because of his cumbersome spacesuit, he had to swing with his right arm only. Back on earth, Shepard said he “shanked the first one; it rolled into a crater about 40 yards away. The second one, I kept my head down. I hit it flush and it went at least 200 yards.”
World Golf Hall of Famer José María Olazábal, who won the 1994 and 1999 Masters, was born on this date in 1966 in Hondarribia, Spain
Today has a pair of Arnold Palmer moments to observe, both involving the Palm Springs area. In 1962, he won the Palm Springs Golf Classic, shooting 69-67-66-71-69—342 to take top prize of $5,300. And in 1968, he won the Bob Hope Desert Classic after a two-hole, sudden-death playoff with Deane Beman. Arnold had scores of 72-70-67-71-68—348, taking home $20,000.
Retief Goosen, inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 2019, was born on this date in 1969 in Pietersburg, Limpopo Province, South Africa.
One of golf’s great personal tragedies took place in 1949. Ben Hogan was nearly killed when he and wife, Valerie, were hit head on by a bus when they were traveling on a foggy Texas road, heading home from the West Coast. Hogan’s severe injuries were expected to end his golf career, but he was able to get back on the course by the following year.
On this date in 1959, the 20th Senior PGA Championship finished at PGA National Golf Club in Dunedin, Florida, with winner Willie Goggin using a borrowed set of woods to win by one shot over Denny Shute, Leland Gibson and Paul Runyan.
The suspended first round and then second round of the Waste Management Phoenix Open will be played today on the PGA Tour with Wyndham Clark leading at 10 under par. On this date in 1957, Arnold Palmer played the first round of the Phoenix Open, shooting a 66. Arnie ended up at 277 in a tie for fifth.
Two World Golf Hall of Fame members were born on this date. In 1955 Curtis Strange was born in Norfolk, Virginia, and would win back-to-back U.S. Open titles. In 1957, three-time major winner Payne Stewart was born in Springfield, Missouri. He won two U.S. Opens and a PGA Championship.
This is a historical date in regards to oldest living major champion. Jack Burke Jr., a Masters and PGA champion, was born on this date in 1923. He is the oldest living major winner at age 97. Kel Nagle, an Open Championship winner, once was the oldest, at the time of his death on this date in 2015 at age 94.