On this date in 1950, Ben Hogan, the 1948 champion, won his second U.S. Open, the 50th overall, at Merion Golf Club, miraculously winning 16 months after his horrific auto collision that nearly took his life.
The last amateur to win a major, Johnny Goodman of Omaha, Nebraska, won the 1933 U.S. Open at North Shore Country Club on this date. He won by a shot over the more heralded Ralph Guldahl.
The intense sectional U.S. Open qualifying stage was held this week for the 121st U.S. Open later in June. On this date in 1934, Olin Dutra completed a comeback from eight shots behind after two rounds to win by one shot at the Merion Cricket Club.
One of the many surprise winners in U.S. Open History won on this date in 1935 at Oakmont when club pro Sam Parks Jr. beat long-hitting Jimmy Thomson by two shots.
On this date in 1900, the Open Championship ended at St. Andrews with J.H. Taylor of England winning for the third time, with Harry Vardon, for once, being totally dominated by finishing eight strokes back in second.
The U.S. Women’s Open will conclude today at the Olympic Club. On this date in 1999, the championship ended at Old Waverly Golf Club with Juli Inkster setting a scoring record in winning by five shots.
1902
The 1902 and 1931 Open Championships ended on this date with Scot Sandy Herd beating James Braid and Harry Vardon by one shot at Royal Liverpool for the former year, and The Silver Scot, Tommy Armour, winning by one shot in 1931 at Carnoustie. Also on this date, Bobby Jones lost the 1925 U.S. Open in a playoff by one shot to Willie Macfarlane.
The inaugural Ryder Cup ended on this date in 1927 with the United States team defeating Great Britain, 9½-2½, at Worcester Country Club in Massachusetts. Walter Hagen was American captain and Ted Ray led GB.
The U.S. Women’s Open is being played this week at the Olympic Club. On this date in 2001, defending champion Karrie Webb won the Women’s Open again, at Pine Needles Lodge, by eight shots.
World Golf Hall of Fame member Charlie Sifford, chronicled as the first African-American to be on the PGA Tour, was born on this date in 1922 in Charlotte, North Carolina.
On this date in 1975, Kathy Whitworth won the LPGA Championship at Pine Ridge Golf Club, by one shot over Sandra Haynie. It was Whitworth’s third LPGA.
On this date in 1930, Bobby Jones won the Open Amateur (British) to take the first step in winning his fabled Grand Slam. He won at St. Andrews in a 7 & 6 victory against England’s Roger Wethered.
The 1937 PGA Championship ended on this date at the Pittsburgh Field Club. The defending champion Denny Shute won over Harold (Jug) McSpaden in 37 holes.
On this date in 2011, Tom Watson won the Senior PGA Championship, at Valhalla Golf Club, for the second time. It was his sixth and final senior major victory.
Julius Boros, the man whose record as the oldest winner of a major was just broken by Phil Mickelson, died on this date in 1994 of a heart attack at age 74. Boros had won three majors, the 1952 and 1963 U.S. Open and the 1968 PGA when he was age 48-plus.
Phil Mickelson’s major victory Sunday notwithstanding, the greatest “old golfer” in history was born on this date in 1912. Sam Snead, winner of seven majors, was born in Ashwood, Virginia. He died in 2002, just six days shy of 90 years old.
On this date in 2013, Koki Idoki won the Senior PGA Championship at Bellerive Country Club near St. Louis by two strokes over Jay Haas and Kenny Perry.
On this date in 1948, the great Ben Hogan won the PGA Championship at Norwood Hills C.C. by a dominate 7-and-6 victory over Mike Turnesa.
Two UK stars of yesteryear died on this date, May 24. Old Tom Morris, four-time Open champion and iconic St. Andrews figure, died in 1908 at age 86. And Englishman Jim Barnes died in 1966 at 80. He won four majors, including the first PGA in 1916, and like Morris is a member of the World Golf Hall of Fame.
With Phil Mickelson trying to make age history today at the PGA, the greatest “old” player, Sam Snead, died on this date in 2002, four days short of his 90th birthday. Some of his age records include oldest player to be credited with winning a PGA Tour event at age 52 years, 10 months, 8 days at the 1965 Greater Greensboro Open and oldest player to make the cut at a major at age 67 years, 2 months, 7 days at the 1979 PGA Championship. Mickelson will be 51 on June 16.