This date in golf history marks two key events in PGA Championship history. In 1957, Lionel Hebert defeated Dow Finsterwald, 2 and 1, in the last PGA final played at match play, at Miami Valley Golf Club. In 1968, 48 year old Julius Boros won at Pecan Valley, the oldest winner of a major until Phil Mickelson broke it in 2021. If Tom Watson had won the 2009 Open Championship, he would have smashed the age record at 59.
On this date in 1980, Tom Watson won his third Open Championship, a four-stroke victory over Lee Trevino at Muirfield Golf Club.
On this date in 1964, Bobby Nichols won the PGA Championship at Columbus Country Club, winning start to finish and foiling the efforts of Jack Nicklaus and Arnold Palmer, who finished second by three shots.
Louis Oosthuizen hoped to win The Open today, 11 years after he won on this date at St. Andrews by seven shots. But also on this date in 1982, Tom Watson won his fourth Open Championship, by one shot over a faltering Nick Price and Peter Oosterhuis, at Royal Troon.
On this date in 1983, Tom Watson repeated as Open Championship winner, winning by a shot at Royal Birkdale over Hale Irwin and Andy Bean. It was Watson’s fifth Open but his last, and eighth, major victory; he fell flat at the end the following year at St. Andrews and couldn’t close the deal in several close finishes in majors afterward.
One of the most astounding results in golf history occurred on this date in 1938 when diminutive 1934 winner Paul Runyan beat the mighty Sam Snead, 8 and 7, in the PGA Championship final at Shawnee Country Club.
Arnold Palmer won the first of his two straight Open Championships on this date in 1961 at Royal Birkdale Golf Club in England. Arnie had lost by a shot in 1960 at St. Andrews, but he was ahead by one this time, with Dai Rees in second.
Tom Weiskopf, who valiantly tried to get an edge on fellow Ohioan Jack Nicklaus in his career, won his only major on this date in 1973 when he led from start to finish at the Open Championship played at Royal Troon.
On this date in 1962, Arnold Palmer won a second consecutive Open Championship, at Royal Troon, in dominating fashion in a six-shot victory over Australian Kel Nagle.
On this date in 1964, the greatest woman player of all time, Mickey Wright, won the U.S. Women's Open at San Diego Country Club for her fourth title, beating Ruth Jessen in a playoff.
On this date in 1976, JoAnne Carner won the U.S. Women’s Open at Rolling Green Golf Club in a playoff with Sandra Palmer.
One of the most lauded performances in Open Championship history concluded on this date in 1953 when Ben Hogan won at Carnoustie in the only Open he played. He won by four shots over four players, including future five-time winner Peter Thomson. Earlier in the year he had won the Masters and U.S. Open.
On this date in 1960, Arnold Palmer, having come to St. Andrews after winning the Masters and U.S. Open earlier in the year, fell one shot short of first place when Kel Nagle of Australia won the Open Championship in the centenary playing of golf’s oldest major. Palmer was bidding to win the Grand Slam of the four majors in one season.
In 1933, Denny Shute won the Open Championship at St. Andrews in a 36-hole playoff, defeating Craig Wood by five shots.
Three-time Open champion Bobby Locke of South Africa, one of golf’s all-time greatest putters, won the 1950 Open on this date at Royal Troon. In second by two shots was Argentinian great Roberto De Vicenzo, who was the 1967 champion.
Peter Thomson, one of four five-time winners of the Open Championship, won his third on this date in 1956 at Royal Liverpool. It was a three-shot victory over Belgian Flory Van Donck.
On this date in 1958, Peter Thomson of Australia won his fourth Open Championship when he defeated Dave Thomas of Wales in a 36-hole playoff at Royal Lytham & St. Annes Golf Club.
The Open Championship of 1947 ended on this date at Royal Liverpool with Fred Daly winning by one shot over two players, including American amateur Frank Stranahan.
One of golf’s most inspirational victories culminated on this date in 1954 when Babe Didrikson Zaharias won the U.S. Women’s Open at Salem Country Club, north of Boston. She won by 12 shots, a little more than a year after colon cancer surgery.
Getting a bit of revenge for many past times Jack Nicklaus got the best of him, Tom Weiskopf won the 1995 U.S. Senior Open at Congressional Country Club on this date, four shots ahead of Nicklaus.