Two World Golf Hall of Fame members died on this date, well before their time. Craig Wood succumbed to a heart ailment at age 66 in 1968, and in 2011, Spanish legend Seve Ballesteros died after fighting brain cancer.
On this date in 1962, the year he won two majors, Arnold Palmer won the Tournament of Champions. He had scores of 69-70-69-68 for 276 and first prize of $11,000.
One of the most unique—and successful—putters in history, Leo Diegel, died on this date in 1951 at age 52 from cancer. Diegel, a two-time PGA champion, pointed his elbows straight outward and swung them like a pendulum. His style was called Diegeling.
A pair of major figures in golf history were born on this date. World Golf Hall of Famer Betsy Rawls was born in 1928 in Spartanburg, South Carolina. Future hall of famer Rory McIlroy was born in 1989 in Holywood, Northern Ireland. At just 31, McIlroy is still building up his resume and needs just a Masters victory to complete a career Grand Slam.
On this date in 1990, Brooks Koepka, three-time major championship winner, was born in West Palm Beach, Florida.
On this date in 1960, Arnold Palmer lost a playoff to Bill Collins at the Houston Classic, 69 to 71, to take second place after the two had tied at 280.
Pete Brown, a pioneering African-American golfer who won the Waco Open in 1964 on the PGA Tour, died on this date in 2015 at age 80.
On this date in 1961 and 1962, the great Mickey Wright won the LPGA Titleholders Championship at Augusta Country Club. In 1961 it was by one shot over Patty Berg and Louise Suggs, and in 1962 it was in a playoff with Ruth Jessen.
On this date in 1947, Johnny Miller was born in San Francisco and assembled a Hall of Fame career, highlighted by winning the 1973 U.S. Open and 1976 Open Championship. In retirement he was a golf analyst for NBC Sports.
John Daly was born on this date in 1966 and became an unlikely golf champion, winning two majors, the 1991 PGA and 1995 Open Championship.
On this date in 1929, the Ryder Cup Match was played in cold and snow as the Great Britain team beat the United States, 7-5, at Moortown Golf Club.
On this date in 1964, Marilynn Smith had a huge victory at the LPGA Titleholders Championship played at Augusta Country Club, adjacent to Augusta National, when she defended her title with a one-stroke victory over Mickey Wright, the all-time greatest women’s player.
One of the most diminutive major championship winners in history, Jerry Barber, was born on this date in 1916 in Woodson, Illinois, west of Springfield. Barber was 5-5, 137 pounds, and won the 1961 PGA Championship in a playoff over Don January.
Lee Westwood was born on this date in 1973 at Worksop, Nottinghamshire, England. Westwood has not won a major despite a few close calls, but his biggest international impact has been his fervent play in the Ryder Cup Match every two years.
On this date in 1937, Don Massengale was born in Jackson, Texas. He was a second-tier player on tour who came close to golf immortality by finishing as runner-up in the 1967 PGA Championship.
World Golf Hall of Fame member Deane Beman was born on this date in 1938 in Washington, D.C. Beman, who made his fame first as an amateur star then pro tour player, was PGA Tour Commissioner from 1974-1994.
On this date in 1991, Jack Nicklaus won the oldest senior major, the PGA Seniors' Championship, at PGA National by six shots over Australia’s Bruce Crampton.
An incredible talent who never got to show the record he could have accumulated, Young Tom Morris was born on this date in 1851. He won four Open Championships, including three in a row to retire the champion’s belt, and then died at just 24 in St. Andrews, Scotland.
On this date in 1922, amateur legend Billy Joe Patton was born in Morganton, North Carolina. He made a remarkable run at winning the Masters in 1954 that is still captivating to read about. Like his good friend Arnold Palmer, Patton attended Wake Forest College. Patton died in Morganton in 2011.
On this date in 1993, the PGA Seniors' Championship was won at PGA National by Tom Wargo, who parred the second hole of a playoff to beat Bruce Crampton.