The 28th U.S. Open ended on this date in 1924 at Oakland Hills in Birmingham, Michigan. The winner was unheralded Cyril Walker, who won his only big title by three shots over Bobby Jones at a stout nine over par.
Harry Vardon frittered away a four-shot lead after the first day and lost the 1902 Open Championship on this date to Sandy Herd, who won by a stroke over Vardon and James Braid at Royal Liverpool in Hoylake, England.
On this date in 1927, the first Ryder Cup Match concluded in a United States 9½–2½ victory over Great Britain, held at Worcester Country Club in Worcester, Massachusetts. The U.S. captain Walter Hagen played in two matches and won both his June 3 foursomes match (with Johnny Golden) and his Singles match versus Arthur Havers. The GB captain was Ted Ray, who lost both his matches. The fate of playing this year’s Ryder Cup is still to be determined.
The hall-of-fame golfer Hale Irwin was born on this date in 1945 in Joplin, Missouri. Irwin was known for playing hard golf courses well, and won the U.S. Open in 1974, 1979 and 1990, plus the U.S. Senior Open in 1998 and 2000.
Charlie Sifford was born on this date in 1922 in Charlotte, North Carolina. Sifford was a groundbreaking African-American golfer who won twice on the PGA Tour and persevered through horrible treatment to play the game he loved and pave the way for other minorities. He won the PGA Seniors' Championship in 1975.
On this date in 1975, the LPGA Championship wrapped up at Pine Ridge Golf Course, with Kathy Whitworth winning it for the third time, by one shot over Sandra Haynie
Bobby Jones got his Grand Slam feat of 90 years ago started on this date in 1930 by winning the British Amateur at St. Andrews. He won a 7 and 6 contest with Englishman Roger Wethered.
On this date in 1937, Denny Shute won his second straight PGA Championship by defeating Harold (Jug) McSpaden in 37 holes at the Pittsburgh Field Club.
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).