On this date in 1927, the 10th PGA Championship concluded, with peerless Walter Hagen beating Joe Turnesa, 1 up, for his fourth consecutive PGA title and fifth overall; at Cedar Crest Country Club in Dallas, Texas.
The 1951 Ryder Cup ended on this date at Pinehurst Resort with the U.S. team winning 9½-2½ over Great Britain. Sam Snead was playing captain for the Americans and Arthur Lacey non-playing GB skipper. The format only had four foursomes matches on Day 1 and eight singles matches the second day.
On this date in 1957, Arnold Palmer won the sixth San Diego Open, shooting 65-68-68-70—271, beating Al Balding by one shot at Mission Valley Country Club. 1st place was worth $2,800.
The first Ryder Cup held after World War II was completed on this date in 1947 with the USA defeating Great Britain, 11-1, at Portland Golf Club in Oregon. The captains were Ben Hogan for the Americans and Henry Cotton for GB.
Gary Player, the fitness-minded third of the Big Three of him, Palmer and Nicklaus, turns 87 on this date. The South African won nine major championships and undoubtedly set a record for most miles flown in a sports career.
On this date in 1993 the U.S. LPGA delivered tricks when it defeated the Japan LPGA, 23-9, in the Nichirei International at Ami Golf Club in Ibaragi-ken, Japan.
In 1965, Clifford Ann Creed, nicknamed Tiger for her tenacity, won the LPGA Las Cruces Golf Open at Las Cruces Country Club in New Mexico. She shot three under par and beat Donna Caponi by two shots.
On this date in 1995, the LPGA Tour defeated the Japanese LPGA, 19-17, at the Nichirei International at Tsukuba Country Club in Ibarangi, Japan.
Peggy Kirk Bell was born on this date in 1921. One of the greatest women’s figures in golf history, she starred as an amateur standout before becoming a renowned teacher, owner of the Pine Needles resort and an advocate for women in the game. Among her honors was the USGA’s Bob Jones Award in 1990. She passed away at age 95 on Nov. 23, 2016, just a few weeks after Arnold Palmer died.
On this date in 1991, former NFL quarterback John Brodie won the Security Pacific Senior Golf Classic.
Mary Bea Porter won the 1975 LPGA Golf Inns of America tournament on this date, at Whispering Pines in Rancho Santa Fe, by three shots over Donna Caponi.
On this date in 1964, Ruth Jessen won the LPGA Phoenix Thunderbirds Ladies' Golf Open at Arizona Biltmore Country Club in Phoenix. She shot 289, three ahead of Mickey Wright.
On this date in 1965, Marlene Hagge won the LPGA Phoenix Thunderbirds Golf Tournament at Biltmore Country Club in Phoenix with a four-under-par total, two ahead of Judy Torluemke (later Rankin).
The 1935 PGA Championship wrapped up on this date, with Johnny Revolta winning at Twin Hills Golf & Country Club in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Revolta defeated Tommy Armour, 5 & 4, in the match-play final.
In the 1967 Ryder Cup, which ended on this date at Champions Golf Club in Houston, the United States enjoyed a record 15-point victory over Great Britain. Ben Hogan captained the U.S. squad to its final 23½-8½ margin.
In the final event of the LPGA Tour’s inaugural year, 1950, Patty Berg won the LPGA Hardscrabble Women's Golf Invitation at Fort Smith, Arkansas, in a 2-up victory over Betsy Rawls, then an amateur.
The fifth PGA Professional Championship (not the major PGA Championship) was held October 19-22 in 1972. Don Massengale had a 66 on the 20th at Pinehurst Resort and went on to win by two strokes over Bob Bruno. Defending champion Sam Snead was third at 284.
On this date in 1975, Shelley Hamlin won the LPGA of Japan Golf Classic in Tokyo by one stroke over Hollis Stacy. Hamlin had three LPGA Tour victories in all and passed away at age 69 in October 2018.
The improbable 2004 Open Championship winner Todd Hamilton was born on this date in 1965. My claim to fame with him is that I covered him in high school golf for the Pantagraph in Bloomington, Illinois, when Hamilton played for Biggsville Union High School.
Willie Park Sr. won the first Open Championship on this date in 1860. He had a score of 164 to win at Prestwick Club, Scotland. There were just eight players. In second by two strokes was Tom Morris Sr., who would become known as Old Tom in the history books.