One of the transcending figures in golf, Gene Sarazen, was born on this date in 1902, a little less than a month from when Bobby Jones was born on St. Patrick's Day 1902. Sarazen, known as the Squire and the first to win the career Grand Slam, lived into the Tiger Woods years and died on May 13, 1999, age 97.
It’s February but this date in history involves the PGA Championship, which golf fans know traditionally has been held in August and May in recent decades. On this date in 1971, Jack Nicklaus won the PGA by two shots over Billy Casper, despite shooting a 73 in the final round. The PGA was played in February because of the locale: PGA National Golf Club (not the PGA National known today, but a course now called BallenIsles) in Palm Beach Gardens. Officials wanted to avoid the heat and humidity of August and played it in more comfortable February. The victory made Nicklaus the first golfer to win the Grand Slam twice.
Today's date in 1957 is traditionally thought of as when it was announced the Masters would institute a 36-hole cut with that year's tournament. From 1957 to 1961, it was low 40 and ties. From 1962-2012 it was low 44 and ties and any player within 10 shots of the leader. In 2013 it changed to low 50 and ties and any player within 10 shots of the lead. Also on this date in 1956, there was some happy family news for Arnold and Winnie Palmer. Their first daughter was born, Margaret (Peggy) Palmer.
On this date in 1957, Arnold Palmer shot a final-round 69 at Memorial Park to win his fourth PGA Tour victory, at the Houston Open. Football icon Bear Bryant was among those watching during the week as Palmer shot rounds of 67-72-71-69—279, earning the richest prize on the winter tour, $7,500. After getting his check, Arnie said, “As of today I have invested [the money] in a house.”
On this date in 1961, Arnold Palmer shot a first-round 65 to take control of the Baton Rouge Open, leading to a victory after scores 65-67-68-66—266, earning $2,800. Also on this date, Iowa City native Zach Johnson was born in 1976. The two-time major winner is a grinder and has 12 PGA Tour victories including the 2007 Masters and the 2015 Open Championship at the home of golf, The Old Course at St. Andrews.
Steve Stricker was born on this date in 1967 in Edgerton, Wisconsin. The low-key University of Illinois alum won 12 times on the PGA Tour and has become a dominant force on the Champions Tour with 17 victories, including seven majors. He has not won a regular tour major. He was the winning U.S. Ryder Cup captain in 2021 when the match was played in his native Wisconsin.
A notorious murder took place on this date in 1831, and a famous golf course got its name from the murder victim. Dutchman Baltus Roll, 61, was murdered on his farm, in his farmhouse on Watchung Mountain, in the area of Springfield, New Jersey. Roll was murdered at night by two would-be robbers who thought he had gold coins in the house--which he did not. Over time, Roll's name remained in local lore, and was adjusted when Baltusrol Golf Club came into existence on Baltus Roll's farmland. Of a less alarming event, on this date in 1960, Arnold Palmer’s breakout year as major star, he finished tied for fifth at the Tucson Open after shooting rounds of 65-74-69-68—276, good for $872.86.
Arnold Palmer started the Houston Classic off in Round 1 on this date in 1957 with a 67, giving him control of the tournament and he went on to win and take home top prize of $7,500. For another Palmer anecdote on this date, in 1960, Arnold’s breakout year as a major star, he finished tied for fifth at the Tucson Open after shooting rounds of 65-74-69-68—276, good for $872.86.
On this date in 1955, Arnold Palmer, playing his inaugural season on the PGA Tour, finished playing in the Texas Open for the first time. He had scores of 69-70-64-67—270 to tie for sixth. However, because he was serving a six-month apprenticeship, he wasn’t allowed to collect approximately $460 in prize money. Also on this date, one of the key outsiders who made an impact on golf majors would have been 85 today. Herb Kohler, the leader of the bathroom-fixture company, was born in 1939. Kohler was the force behind Blackwolf Run and Whistling Straits, Wisconsin courses that have been the sites of a few major championships, including the PGA, U.S. Senior Open and Women's Open. Kohler also had ownership of the Old Course Hotel in St. Andrews, Scotland. He died on September 3, 2022.
Tucson has had a long history as a PGA Tour stop and was a notable locale before the tour would head to Florida. On this date in 1967, Arnold Palmer won the Tucson Open even though he had a poor final round. His 73 was still good enough to win, thanks to a 66-67-67 start at Tucson National. He led by four with a round to go and barely hung on, winning by one over Chuck Courtney; they both drove into the lake on 18, Palmer making a double bogey and Courtney a triple. Top prize was $12,000.
One of the most distinguished players, golf observers and TV analysts in the game, man or woman, was born on this date in 1945. Judy Rankin, a World Golf Hall of Fame member, was born in St. Louis. The 26-time LPGA Tour winner was born in St. Louis, grew up a golf phenom, and after her playing days were done became an astute and measured speaker in the TV booth.
Before there were a 58 and 59s shot on the PGA Tour, there were several 60s. One was shot on this date at the Texas Open in 1955 when Mike Souchak had the first-round lead at Brackenridge Park in San Antonio. His 60 tied the then all-time record for 18 holes set in 1951 by Al Brosch in the Texas Open, then tied in 1952 by Bill Nary at El Paso, Tex.; by Ted Kroll in the 1954 Texas Open, and by Tommy Bolt at Hartford, Conn., in 1954. Souchak also had a back-nine score of 27, which broke the previous nine-hole score of 28. Also, on this date in 1961, Paul Runyan shot a second-round 70 at PGA National in Dunedin, Florida, en route to a victory worth $1,500 in the 22nd Senior PGA Championship.
Marlene Bauer Hagge, a member of the World Golf Hall of Fame, was born on this date in 1934. She won 26 LPGA events, including the 1956 LPGA Championship. She and sister, Alice, were golf prodigies who appeared on the cover of Golf Digest in the '50s en route to pro careers as founders of the LPGA. Marlene died on May 16, 2023, at age 89. On this date in 1986, Gary Player won the Senior PGA Championship at PGA National with a score of 281, two ahead of Lee Elder.
Not as often as he would like, Chi Chi Rodriguez would show how well he could play as well as entertain. On this date in 1987, he rebounded from a third-round 76 and shot a five-under-par 67 to overtake a faltering Dale Douglass and win the 48th Senior PGA Championship at PGA National's Champion Course. And it’s been five years already since Gene (The Machine) Littler died on this date at age 88. Born a year after Arnold Palmer, Littler, from San Diego, got a head start on a hall of fame career over Arnie when Palmer spent three years in the Coast Guard. Littler won the 1954 San Diego Open as an amateur. His lone professional major was the 1961 U.S. Open, the year after Arnold won his only U.S. Open.
Mary Kathryn (Mickey) Wright, the greatest woman golfer of all time, was born on this date in San Diego in 1935. A member of the World Golf Hall of Fame, she won four U.S. Women’s Opens and 82 LPGA Tour titles. Wright died nearly four years ago on February 17, 2020, but in her lifetime she was shown a lot of love as her swing was referred to by many, including Ben Hogan, as the finest swing all-time, by a man or a woman.
It was 106 years ago on this date that one of the greatest golfers, and one of the game's greatest ambassadors, was born in Minneapolis. Patty Berg, who played tough football in her neighborhood growing up with the likes of Bud Wilkinson, became a golf superstar and was a popular draw in the early days of the LPGA Tour. She had a great catchphrase at her clinics, where she would make a flamboyant follow-through and urge the attendees to "swing to the finish.” The World Golf Hall of Fame player won 15 major titles.
The modern Big Three of Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus and Gary Player finished 1-2-3 three times on the PGA Tour. The first was on this date in 1963 at the Phoenix Open at Arizona Country Club, where the finish was twice delayed by near hurricane-force winds and rain. The order was oldest to youngest: Palmer was first with scores of 68-67-68-70—273, a 15-under total, and $5,300 prize money. Player finished one stroke back, and Nicklaus was third at 275. Also on this date in 1989, the 50th Senior PGA finished at PGA National Golf Club, with late-bloomer Larry Mowry winning by one shot over Miller Barber and Al Geiberger.
Nick Taylor will be among the leaders today at the WM Phoenix Open going after a victory. On this date in 1962, Arnold Palmer won the Phoenix Open after some of the best scoring of his career. He had rounds of 64-68-71-66 for 269, winning by 12 shots at Phoenix Country Club. Also on this date in 1911, one of the more obscure pioneering woman golfers, Helen Hicks, was born on this date in Cedarhust, New York. Hicks won the 1937 Western and 1940 Titleholders.
On Thursday of this week, Nick Taylor of Canada shot a 60 at the WM Phoenix Open. He was two days off from quite a coincidence. On this date in 1951, Al Bosch is credited with shooting the first round of 60 on the PGA Tour, during the third round of the Texas Open. Also on today's date, it's World Golf Hall of Fame member Greg Norman's 69th birthday. The two-time major winner was born in Queensland, Australia. Another birthday today is LPGA star Lexi Thompson, the ANA Inspiration winner, who was born in 1995 in Coral Springs, Florida. She turned professional at age 15 in June 2010.
This is the traditional date in golf history, in 1834, that the St. Andrews Club was christened the Royal & Ancient Golf Club of St. Andrews, with King William IV as its patron. And staying across the pond, on this date in 1958, World Golf Hall of Fame member Sandy Lyle, winner of the 1985 Open Championship and 1988 Masters, was born in Shrewsbury, England.