One of the more horrific days in golf history took place on this date in 1949 when Ben Hogan was nearly killed in a car-bus crash on a highway near Van Horn in west Texas, in morning fog. Hogan and wife Valerie's car was struck by an oncoming bus that was trying to pass another vehicle. Hogan's heroic move to throw himself in front of his wife saved his life as the impact forced the car's steering column to run through the driver's seat. Incredibly, a year later, Hogan returned to golf and nearly won the Los Angeles Open in his first tournament.
This is the date that's noted in 1922 that the USGA established the U.S. Amateur Public Links Championship. The first event was held in July 1922 at Ottawa Park Golf Course in Toledo, Ohio, won by Edmund R. Held. The event was discontinued after the 2014 playing.
The Waste Management Phoenix Open is on the PGA Tour schedule this week. On this date in 1957, the first round of the Phoenix Open at Arizona Country Club was held, with Arnold Palmer shooting a four-under-par 66 to share the lead with Billy Maxwell. The tournament was eventually won by Billy Casper at 271; Arnie tied for fifth with scores of 66-70-70-71—277 and earned $787.50.
Today marks what would have been Payne Stewart's 61st birthday. The three-time major champion, whose life was cut short when his private jet malfunctioned in flight and crashed on Oct. 25, 1999, is a member of the World Golf, Missouri Sports, and PGA of America halls of fame.
Today marks the 95th birthday of two-time major champion and World Golf Hall of Fame member Jack Burke Jr. He is roughly six months younger than Doug Ford, who was born on August 6, 1922, and is the oldest living winner of a major. With Roberto De Vicenzo's passing last year at age 94, the next oldest male major champion is Peter Thomson, age 88. The oldest-living woman major champion is Betsy Rawls, age 89.
One of the most incredible performances that is also one of the least well-known ended on this date in 1973. Sam Snead finished a 20-under-par 268 total on the East Course at PGA National to win the Senior PGA Championship by 15 shots over Julius Boros. It was also the last of Sam's record six Senior PGAs and it still stands as the record winning margin.
On this date in 1967, Arnold Palmer shot a 64 at Rancho Municipal, one of his best scores ever, in the second round of the Los Angles Open. He shot 67 and 68 the next two rounds to win and collect the $20,000 first-place prize money.
Three-time Open Championship winner Sir Henry Cotton was born on this date in 1907. The English great was a jack of all trades; he was an author, commentator, course designer and teacher.
It was an all-star LPGA Tour threesome at the top when the Naples Pro-Am ended on this date in 1961. Louise Suggs finished first at 2 under par, with Mickey Wright and Marilynn Smith tied for second two shots back. Suggs won five of the first seven LPGA events in 1961 while Wright won four of the first 11.
Tom Watson called Masashi (Jumbo) Ozaki the Arnold Palmer of Japan for his bold play similar to Arnie's. Ozaki is a member of the World Golf Hall of Fame and won 115 tournaments worldwide, although never in the U.S. and never a major. He was born on this date in 1947.
Today is regarded as the date in 1954 that the U.S. Golf Association established the Bob Jones Award, the highest honor it bestows. It is given to the person the USGA deems to demonstrate the spirit, personal character and respect for the game that Jones exhibited, according to the USGA media guide. The first recipient in 1955 was Francis Ouimet; the 2017 award went to PGA club pro Bob Ford.
The very first LPGA Tour event finished on this date in 1950. An amateur, Polly Riley, a Curtis Cup stalwart for many playings, was the winner at Palma Ceia Country Club in Tampa. She won by five shots over Louise Suggs, the tenacious competitor who had a career worthy of the World Golf Hall of Fame. The total purse in that inaugural event was $3,500!
The golfer regarded as the GOAT celebrates a birthday today. Jack Nicklaus is 78, and still very much active in various businesses, design work and the occasional minor competition, such as last month's Father-Son Challenge in Florida.
One of the members of a unique brother duo that pulled off a rare feat was born on this date in 1928. Lionel Hebert was a native of Lafayette, La., and the winner of the 1957 PGA Championship. His older brother, Jay, won the 1960 PGA. Jay won seven tour events and Lionel five.
On this date 68 years ago, the LPGA Tour played the first round of its inaugural tournament, the Tampa Open at Palma Ceia Country Club, a club founded in 1916. Polly Riley, an accomplished amateur from Texas who played on six Curtis Cup teams, won with a score of 295, with Louise Suggs second, five shots back.
On this date in 1950, many newspaper editors were writing the headline "Sam Snead Spoils Storybook End for Ben Hogan" after Snead beat Hogan 72-76 in an 18-hole playoff to win the Los Angeles Open at par-71 Riviera. Hogan was attempting a comeback from his horrific car-bus highway accident in Texas in February 1949.
A lot of things can be accomplished over food. On this date in 1916, the PGA of America had its birth at a luncheon when department-store magnifico Rodman Wanamaker (yes, of PGA Championship trophy fame) brought together a group of top golf professionals at the Martinique Hotel at Broadway and West 32nd in New York to discuss the benefits of forming an association, hosted by a business group called the Taplow Club. On April 10, 1916, the PGA was founded when 78 members ratified a constitution and bylaws, including 35 charter members from the January meeting. Six months later, it was tournament time. The association held its first PGA Championship on Oct. 10-14, 1916, at Siwanoy Country Club in Bronxville, N.Y., won by Jim Barnes.
PGA Tour player Jimmy Walker observes his 39th birthday on this date. Born in Oklahoma City, Walker broke through with a major victory at the 2016 PGA Championship at soggy Baltusrol. He has five other tour victories, and is trying to get back to being a major contender after dealing with lyme disease sickness during most of 2017. Walker is an incredible astrophotography enthusiast and posts his images for Astronomy Picture of the Day (APOD) as well as on his own website, www.darkskywalker.com.
Prior to the PGA Senior Championship settling into its now familiar summer date, it was held in January for several years. It finished on this date in consecutive years, 1948 and 1949, won by Charles McKenna and Marshall Crichton, respectively.
On this date in 1945, Byron Nelson won his first of a record 18 PGA Tour events in one season when he won the Phoenix Open and $1,333 first-place money. This was the year he also won a record 11 tournaments in a row and was given the Associated Press Male Athlete of the Year Award.