GOLF WRITER // GENERAL EDITORIAL SPECIALIST
Cherry+Hills+1960+U.S.+Open.jpg

This Day in Golf History

A page that will list golf history, and the people and events that comprise it in the form of This Day in Golf or This Week in Golf.

This Day in Golf History: October 11

On this date in 1964, Arnold Palmer completed ultimate victory in the Piccadilly World Match Play at Wentworth West. In scheduled 36-hole matches, he defeated Neil Coles, 2 and 1, in the final. In the quarterfinals he defeated Peter Butler, 1 up, and he won in the semifinal, 8 and 6, against Gary Player.

Cliff Schrock
This Day in Golf History: October 10

On this date in 1968, Arnold Palmer played his first match of the Piccadilly World Match Play, at Wentworth West in England. It was a quarterfinal battle with Brian Huggett, and Arnie came out on top, 2 up. He lost the next match against Bob Charles, 7 and 6. The matches were to be 36 holes.

Cliff Schrock
This Day in Golf History: October 9

On this date in 1965, the 16th Ryder Cup ended at Royal Birkdale Golf Club with the U.S. defeating Great Britain 19½-12½. Byron Nelson was the non-playing American captain and Harry Weetman was his G.B. counterpart. Arnold Palmer, Dave Marr, Julius Boros, Tony Lema and Peter Alliss (G.B.) each won two singles matches on the final day.  

Cliff Schrock
This Day in Golf History: October 7

On this date in 1891, The Open Championship ended at St. Andrews with Hugh Kirkaldy winning by two strokes over his brother Andrew Kirkaldy and Willie Fernie. This was the last time the Open was played as 36 holes over one day.

Cliff Schrock
This Day in Golf History: October 6

On this date in 1928, the PGA Championship concluded at the East Course at Five Farms Country Club in Lutherville, Maryland, with Leo Diegel dominating Al Espinosa, 6 and 5, in the final. Diegel also won in 1929.

Cliff Schrock
This Day in Golf History: October 5

On this date in 1957, the 12th Ryder Cup ended at Lindrick Golf Club in Yorkshire, England, with Great Britain defeating the U.S., 7½-4½. The U.S. led 3-1 after the Day 1 Foursomes but it got trounced in singles on Day 2, 6½-1½, to lose for captain Jack Burke, Jr. Dai Rees captained the winning squad, which came out on top for the first time since 1933.

Cliff Schrock
This Day in Golf History: October 4

On this date in 1895, the first U.S. Open was held at Newport Golf Club in Rhode Island. England’s Horace Rawlins had a 36-hole score of 173 for first, two ahead of Willie Dunn of Scotland.

Cliff Schrock
This Day in Golf History: October 3

On this date in 1953, the 10th Ryder Cup ended at Wentworth in England, with the Americans coming out ahead 6½-5½ points. Both Jack Burke Jr. and: Sam Snead won two matches each to help lead the U.S. to a sixth straight victory over Great Britain.

Cliff Schrock
This Day in Golf History: October 2

On this date in 1876, the Open Championship was won at St. Andrews by Bob Martin when fellow Scotsman David Strath declined to be in a playoff after the players had tied at 176. There were 34 players in the field.

Cliff Schrock
This Day in Golf History: October 1

On this date in 1921, the 4th PGA Championship was completed at Inwood CC with Walter Hagen defeating two-time champion Jim Barnes, 3 & 2, in the final. It was the first of Hagen’s legendary five PGA titles.

Cliff Schrock
This Day in Arnie History: September 28

On this date in 1973, Arnold shot an 80 in the third round of the John Player Classic, Turnberry, Scotland. But fear not, Palmer fans. The conditions included cold, wind, rain and hail and Arnie was described by reporters as having caught the worst of it, sending his score soaring. Charles Coody shot an incredible one-under 70 and had 212 with Arnold well back at 227.

Cliff Schrock
This Day in Arnie History: September 25

Arnold came into this world on Tuesday, September 10, 1929, in Latrobe, Pennsylvania, and he exited it on this date, September 25, 2016, age 87, on a Sunday evening at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center Shadyside Hospital, passing away due to complications of heart problems.

Cliff Schrock