On this date in 1979, golfer Jimmy Walker was born in Oklahoma City. He has won six times on tour, most notably in the 2016 PGA Championship at Baltusrol in a battle with Jason Day. He is also a talented photographer of celestial skies and rents space on a telescope.
Some special things happened to Arnold Palmer on this date early in his career. In 1956, in a statement victory, he beat Sam Snead in a six-hole playoff to win the Panama Open after they had tied at 283. In another playoff victory, in 1961, he won the San Diego Open after shooting rounds of 69-68-69-65—271. He and Al Balding tied, and Arnie beat Balding in a one-hole, sudden-death playoff to win the $2,800 first-place money.
On this date in 1996, Liselotte Neumann won the Chrysler-Plymouth Tournament of Champions at Grand Cypress Resort in Orlando, shooting 13 under to win $117,500.
On this date in 1978, Arnold Palmer shot a 68 in the second round of the Phoenix Open. He followed that with 71-67 in the next two rounds to finish fifth, a rare top-10 result for the legendary player who was five years past his last PGA Tour victory and was age 48.
On this date in 1969, Charlie Sifford won the Los Angeles Open to become the second African-American to win a PGA Tour event. He made a birdie on the first playoff hole versus Harold Henning.
On this date in 1970, Billy Casper won the Los Angeles Open at Rancho Park Golf Course (71, 6,800) in a playoff. He shot 276, becoming the second tour pro—behind Arnold Palmer—to earn $1 million in career money.
On this date in 1950, Ben Hogan and Sam Snead tied at the Los Angeles Open for first in Hogan’s incredible return to golf after a road accident. Snead would win the playoff however.
On this date in 1948, the U.S. Golf Association chose to begin a Junior golf championship for boys who had not yet turned 18.
On this date in 1962, Jack Nicklaus finished his first PGA Tour event at the Los Angeles Open, finishing 50th and winning $33.33.
On this date in 1963, Arnold Palmer shot a 66 and won the Los Angeles Open to earn $9,000. He shot rounds of 69-69-70-66—274.
The World Golf Hall of Fame member Cary Middlecoff was born on this date in 1921 in Halls, Tennessee. A Masters and U.S. Open champion, “Doc” was a notorious slow player who tested everyone’s patience, but he was a bright man about the game and utilized his knowledge as a TV commentator and as a Golf Digest Instruction Panelist.
Ben Hogan’s score of 275 won the Los Angeles Open on this date in 1948. Lloyd Mangrum was four strokes behind at Riviera C.C.
Marvin (Vinny) Giles was born on this date in 1943. He was a well-decorated career amateur who won the U.S. Amateur and Amateur Championship (British) in the 1970s. He became a successful sports agent with his Pros Inc. agency.
On this date in 1993, Mark Brooks won the Pebble Beach Invitational by five shots.
On this date in 1948, Ben Hogan shot a 68 to trail leader Jack Harden by one in the first round of the Los Angeles Open at Riviera Country Club. Hogan would win the event for the second year in a row.
From CliffSchrock.com to its readers:
Happy New Year! May 2019 bring all things good to you.
Sorry, dear readers, but as a Packers fan, I pause from golf history to note that on today’s date in 1967, the famous Ice Bowl was played at Green Bay. The Packers defeated Dallas, 21-17, in temperature of 13 below zero in the NFL Championship game, which allowed Green Bay to play in Super Bowl II.
On this date in 1975, Tiger Woods was born in California. At 43, he is still pursuing Sam Snead in career PGA Tour victories (80 to 82) and Jack Nicklaus in major championships (14 to 18).
The great golf course architect Pete Dye, the creator of the bulkhead bunkers and greens, was born on this date in 1925.
World Golf Hall of Fame member Hubert Green was born on this date in 1946 in Birmingham, Alabama. He won 19 PGA Tour events, including two majors. He died on June 19 of this year after a long struggle with throat cancer.