Until something more monumental occurs, this date in golf history will forever by remembered for the death of Young Tom Morris, died on Christmas Day 1875 at just age 24. A Scottish professional, he won the Open Championship four times and is viewed as one of the first identified prodigies in golf history. After he won three titles in a row from 1868-1870, the championship belt was retired.
On this date in 1861, John Ball, Jr. was born in Hoylake of the UK. Ball was one of the most prolific amateur champions ever, winning the Amateur Championship eight times and the Open Championship once. He was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 1977.
Herman Barron was born on this date in 1909; he was a member of the 1947 Ryder Cup team for the U.S. and won the 1963 Senior PGA. Also born on this date, in 1946, former Golf Digest Schools instructor and former CBS golf announcer Peter Kostis.
On this date in 1894, the United States Golf Association was formed in New York. The USGA would begin its championships the following year, the first U.S. Open being held at Newport Country Club in Rhode Island.
On this date in 1985, Alice Miller and the laconic one, Don January, won the Mazda Champions at 17 under par, beating Pat Bradley and Lee Elder in a playoff at Tryall Golf Club in Jamaica.
On this date in 1987, Nancy Lopez and Miller Barber finished at 12 under par to win the Mazda Golf Champions event in Jamaica at the Tryall Golf and Beach Club. They finished three shots ahead of Colleen Walker and Arnold Palmer.
Larry Mize won the 1993 Johnnie Walker World Championship by a whopping 10 strokes on this date. It was played at Tryall Golf Club.
On this date in 1994, Greg Norman, Fred Couples and Paul Azinger from the PGA Tour won the Wendy's 3-Tour Golf Challenge at the Jack Nicklaus Resort Course at PGA West in La Quinta, California. They had a final total of 10 under par.
This time of year is known as the Silly Season because of the unusual formats you’d see in pro events. On this date in 1989, it was a mixed team event. Mike Hill and Patti Rizzo shot 25 under par and won the Mazda Champions event at the Hyatt Dorado Beach in Puerto Rico. A typical Silly Season event is being held this weekend with the PNC Championship with generational teams competing.
On this date in 1979, Trevor Immelman was born in Cape Town, South Africa. He has two PGA Tour victories, including the 2008 Masters.
On this date in 1996, the Diner’s Club Matches concluded, with Dottie Pepper & Juli Inkster winning the LPGA portion, Jim Colbert & Bob Murphy taking the Champions Tour, and Tom Lehman & Duffy Waldorf winning the regular PGA Tour portion.
On this date in 1980, Nancy Lopez and Curtis Strange won the JCPenney Golf Classic by two shots at Bardmoor Country Club in Largo, Florida. They split a $72,000 first prize.
Happy 34th: On this date in 1988, Rickie Fowler was born in Murrieta, California. The five-time PGA Tour winner has been on the brink of major stardom but hasn’t broken through yet; he has finished second four times in major championships. His last victory was nearly four years ago.
The great Charles Boswell, a 13-time winner of the U.S. Blind Golfers’ Association, was born on this date in 1916. Boswell won numerous awards, but Pat Browne later passed his USBGA total.
The first PGA National Four-Ball Championship ended on this date at PGA National Golf Club in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, with Gay Brewer and Butch Baird winning by three with a 259 total. Arnold Palmer and Jack Nicklaus, who would come to dominate this event, tied for seventh, seven strokes back.
On this date in 1954, Arnold Palmer’s debut on the PGA Tour ended with a missed cut. Palmer had turned pro in November 1954, and the Miami Open in Miami Springs was his tour debut, but he missed the cut with rounds of 78-74—152, played on December 9 and 10.
On this date in 1926 is usually recognized as the date the U.S. Golf Association legalized the use of steel in golf club shafts. Hickory was the primary shaft material for many years leading up to the use of steel. Once steel became the common shaft, aluminum, graphite and other hi-tech materials expanded the shaft market.
The QBE Shootout this weekend will combine male and female players together. On this date in 1985, siblings Laurie Rinker and Larry Rinker won the mixed team JCPenney Golf Classic at Bardmoor Country Club in Largo, Florida, at 21 under par.
Luke Donald and Billy Horschel share a birthday on this date. Donald was born in 1977 in England; he attended Northwestern in Illinois. He was No. 1 in the World at one point but has not been among the best lately. Horschel was born in 1986 and has seven PGA Tour wins, the latest the 2022 Memorial Tournament overseen by Jack Nicklaus.
On this date in 1987, Jane Crafter and Steve Jones won the JCPenney Golf Classic at Bardmoor Country Club in Largo, Florida, with a score of 20 under par, two ahead of Debbie Massey and Mark McCumber.