On this date in 2011, Tom Watson made a birdie on the first playoff hole with David Eger to win the 72nd Senior PGA Championship at Valhalla Golf Club. It was his second Senior PGA victory. That is a more golfworthy event on this day than another event for another “TW” who attended Stanford: Tiger Woods was arrested in 2017 and charged with DUI in Jupiter, Florida.
Julius Boros died on this date in 1994, having won three majors: PGA in 1968, U.S. Open in 1952 and 1963); he died at age 74 of a heart attack.
The remarkable Sam Snead was born on this date in 1912, the same year that ushered in Byron Nelson and Ben Hogan. Snead won seven majors and the most PGA Tour victories with 82, tied last year by Tiger Woods. Snead died in 2002 just four days short of his 90th birthday.
A PGA Tour player from the past who had one of the more entertaining nicknames was born on this date in 1961. Steve Pate, known as Volcano for his explosive manner, kept things in check well enough, using a slow backswing, to win six times on tour.
The 1948 PGA Championship concluded on this date at Norwood Hills Country Club in St. Louis with Ben Hogan earning a 7 & 6 victory over Mike Turnesa in the final.
On this date in 1910, World Golf Hall of Fame member Jimmy Demaret, a three-time Masters winner, was born in Houston, Texas.
Sam Snead entered and departed this world around this date four days apart. He was born in Ashwood, Virginia on May 27, 1912 (the same year as Ben Hogan and Byron Nelson) and died on May 23, 2002, in Hot Springs, Virginia, within view of turning 90.
The first winner of the Masters Tournament, Horton Smith, was born on this date in 1908 in Springfield, Missouri. Smith, well known for his putting prowess, won two Masters, 1934 and 1936. He was a respected teacher during the second half of his career and did a lot to promote the PGA of America.
Gary Woodland, who will have to wait until September to defend winning the 2019 U.S. Open, was born on this date in 1984 in Topeka, Kansas.
In an example of how major championships moved around the calendar, the normally-placed July Open Championship ended on this date in May 1897 at Royal Liverpool Golf Club. Harold Hilton, the great English amateur, won by a single shot over Scot legend James Braid, a five-time Open winner.
On this date one year ago, the PGA Championship concluded at Bethpage State Park with Brooks Koepka leading from start to finish but just hanging on to win by two shots after making five bogeys in the last eight holes. Runner-up was Dustin Johnson.
On this date in 1964, Arnold Palmer won his 44th PGA Tour Event at the Oklahoma City Open. Arnie took on rain, a condensed schedule and government testing of sonic booms and still won. The Feds were testing the effects of sonic booms—seriously—and OKC was the testing ground. Maybe that’s why the heavens let loose and caused Thursday and Friday to be unplayable due to rain, pushing everything back to a 36-hole finale on Monday. Palmer won first prize of $5,800, at Quail Creek Country Club (72, 7,042).
On this date in 1992, the LPGA Championship concluded at Bethesda Country Club, won by Betsy King for her fifth major in a runaway by 11 strokes over three runners-up.
On this date in 1982, Kathy Whitworth won the Atlanta LPGA event for her 83rd LPGA victory to take the all-time lead over Mickey Wright. On the same day in Atlanta, Joan Joyce had 17 putts in her round to break the record of 19 held by Beverley Klass. Also on this same day, Jack Nicklaus won the Colonial National Invitational for his first victory in nearly 2 years. He shot a 67 to win by three over Andy North.
Ken Venturi was born on this date in 1931 in San Francisco. The World Golf Hall of Fame member won an inspirational U.S. Open in 1964, and is also well remembered for his TV analyst work on CBS. His career was at one time expected to be as dominant as Arnold Palmer’s but he had hand issues that curtailed his career. He died two days after his 82nd birthday in 2013.
On this date in 1995, Kelly Robbins won the only major of her career at DuPont Country Club in the LPGA Championship. She held on by one shot over Laura Davies.
On this date in 1962, Mickey Wright won the LPGA Western Open on Montgomery Country Club after a four-hole playoff with Mary Lena Faulk.
On this date in 2013, Tiger Woods won his second Players Championship, TPC at Sawgrass by two shots over three players.
On this date in 1928, Walter Hagen won his third Open Championship, by two strokes over Gene Sarazen at Royal St. George's Golf Club.
On this date in 1929, The Open Championship was won by Walter Hagen at Muirfield, six strokes ahead of fellow American Johnny Farrell.