On this date in 1967, Margie Masters won the LPGA Quality Chekd Golf Classic at Lake Waco golf course, by one shot over the dynamic group of Carol Mann, Kathy Whitworth, and Mickey Wright.
The 1889 Open Championship, the 29th playing, finished on this date when Willie Park, Jr., defeated Andrew Kirkaldy, 158-163, in a playoff. The two had tied at 155, at Musselburgh Links, necessitating the playoff.
On this date in 1991, Liselotte Neumann won the LPGA Mazda Japan Golf Classic at Seta Golf Club in Tokyo at five-under-par 211.
One of the most talented golfers of all-time, Tom Weiskopf, was born on this date in 1942 in Massillon, Ohio. Weiskopf’s most well-known victory was the 1973 Open Championship; he was a four-time runner-up in the Masters. He died August 20, 2022.
Chandler Harper had one of the greatest names for a pro golfer. The winner of the 1950 PGA Championship, the Virginia native lived to age 90, dying on this date in 2004. On this date in 1981, Patty Sheehan won the LPGA Mazda Japan Golf Classic in Tokyo with a nine-under total, four ahead of Beth Daniel.
The 1959 Ryder Cup ended on this day at Eldorado Country Club in Indian Wells, California, with Sam Snead leading the United States to a strong 8½-3½ victory as a playing captain in the biennial competition.
On this date in 1955 the Ryder Cup was completed at Thunderbird Ranch & Country Club in Rancho Mirage, California. The United States defeated Great Britain, 8-4, for its seventh straight victory. The Americans were captained by Chick Harbert and GB by Dai Rees.
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. And the Open Championship of 1886 ended on this date at Musselburgh Links in East Lothian, Scotland, with David Brown winning by two shots over Willie Campbell. It was the 26th Open., with 42 golfers playing four nine-hole rounds.
The 9th Ryder Cup ended on this date in 1951 at Pinehurst Resort’s No. 2 Course with the United States defeating Great Britain, 9½-2½, under the guidance of playing captain Sam Snead. Arthur Lacey was 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. And as national Election Day nears, a little politics with golf. Jack Westland, a U.S. House of Representatives member from 1953 to 1965, died on this date in 1982 at Pebble Beach, California, at age 77. Westland won the U.S. Amateur in 1952 in a strong amateur career.
The 1947 Ryder Cup Match ended on this date at Portland Golf Club, resuming the series that had been on hold for 10 years due to world conflict. The U.S. won the match, 11-1. Ben Hogan was the U.S. captain, going up against Henry Cotton, a three-time Open Championship winner.
Today’s space is devoted entirely to nine-time major champion Gary Player, who was born on this date in 1935 in Johannesburg, South Africa. Player, the fitness-minded third of the Big Three of him, Palmer and Nicklaus, undoubtedly set a record for most miles flown in his career.
On this date in 1968, Arnold Palmer shot a first-round 70 at the Australian PGA. On the next three days he added rounds of 77-75-71—293 to tie for sixth. And on this date in 1993 the U.S. LPGA defeated the Japan LPGA, 23-9, in the Nichirei International at Ami Golf Club in Ibaragi-ken, Japan.
On this date in 1965, Clifford Ann Creed 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. And in another finish on this date, in 1988, Beth Daniel won the Nichirei Ladies Cup U.S.-Japan Team Golf Championship.
It would be interesting to see how Scottish-born Jimmy Thomson would do in today’s big hitter’s era. Born on this date in 1908, Thomson was stocky in the mode of today’s Jon Rahm and was one of the long hitters of his day. Thomson notably finished runner-up in both the 1935 U.S. Open at Oakmont and 1936 PGA at Pinehurst No. 2. And also 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.
One of the most celebrated woman golfers in the game’s history was born on this date in 1921. Peggy Kirk was born in Findlay, Ohio. Inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 2019 in the lifetime achievement category, Kirk experienced success as a player before becoming well known as a teacher, resort owner and golf ambassador. She married Warren Bell in 1953 and was known as Peggy Kirk Bell from then on. A charter member of the LPGA, Bell also received the prestigious Bob Jones Award in 1990 from the USGA. She passed away at age 95 on Nov. 23, 2016, a short time after Arnold Palmer died.
On a day when NFL games will be running rampant into the evening, we look at this date in 1991 when former NFL quarterback John Brodie won the Security Pacific Senior Golf Classic. And one of the big LPGA stars of the 1980s and 1990s, Patty Sheehan, was born on this date in 1956 in Middlebury, Vermont. A member of the World Golf Hall of Fame, two of Sheehan’s major victories were the 1992 and 1994 U.S. Women’s Open.
On this date in 1975, Mary Bea Porter completed a wire-to-wire victory with a final-round, three-over-par 76 and a 72-hole total of 287 in the LPGA Golf Inns of America tournament at the Whispering Palms course in Rancho Santa Fe. She finished five under par for four rounds and three strokes ahead of runner-up Donna Young. Porter's first-place money of $5,700 more than doubled the $4,935 she had won In 22 events in 1975 to that point.
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. And one of the most shocking tragedies in golf history took place on this day in 1999 when three-time major champion Payne Stewart—who had more championships to be won at just age 42—died in a private plane crash when the plane’s occupants were deprived of oxygen in a structural failure.
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). And the 1991 Open Champion and present TV golf analyst, Ian Baker-Finch, was born on this date in 1960 in Nambour, Queensland, Australia.