The 1991 Open Champion and present TV golf analyst, Ian Baker-Finch, was born on this date in 1960 in Nambour, Queensland, Australia.
One of the most pure, genuine and unique golf teachers in history was born on this date in 1904. Harvey Penick, who coached such stars as Ben Crenshaw, Tom Kite, Mickey Wright, Betsy Rawls and Kathy Whitworth, was born in Austin, Texas. His homespun philosophy was brought out late in his life in a series of books, beginning with The Little Red Book, one of the top selling golf books of all time. Penick died in 1995 and has a spot in the World Golf Hall of Fame.
On this date in 1967, the Ryder Cup match at Champions Golf Club concluded with the U.S. steamrolling Great Britain, 23½-8½, with Ben Hogan captaining the Americans to the record victory.
Four players have won the U.S. Open four times: Jack Nicklaus, Bobby Jones, Ben Hogan and Willie Anderson, who was born on this date in 1879 in North Berwick, Scotland. Anderson won the American championship in 1901, and 1903 to 1905, making him the only golfer to win the National Open three years in a row.
On this date in 1996, Annika Sorenstam won the Women's World Championship at Seoul, South Korea, with scores of 66-69-69-70—274, one shot ahead of Helen Alfredsson, earning $125,000 first-place money.
One of golf’s obscure “one major winners” was born on this date in 1910. Vic Ghezzi, the PGA Championship winner in 1941 in a 38-hole battle with Byron Nelson, was born in Rumson, New Jersey, and won 11 PGA Tour events.
Before Bubba Watson came along, there were two notable Watsons on tour. Most well known was Tom, but known as “The Other Watson” was Denis Watson, a South African golfer who was born on this date in 1955 in Zimbabwe. Denis Watson won three times on the PGA Tour and otherwise was remembered for his runner-up finish in the 1985 U.S. Open.
The first Open Championship was played on this date in 1860 with eight players competing at Prestwick. Willie Park Sr. was the winner by two shots over the iconic figure of Old Tom Morris. The match, which was three rounds of 12 holes, was played to simply determine who the best player in the land was, now that the recognized No. 1, Alan Robertson, had died the previous year.
On this date in 1983, the Ryder Cup Match ended at PGA National. In one of the matches that began to turn the tide in American dominance in the series, the U.S. won 14½-13½. The clinching match was Bernard Gallacher’s 2 and 1 loss to American Tom Watson that gave the U.S. its winning point. But the close battle was a refreshing change to what had often been total U.S. dominance.
On this date in 1961, the late Mickey Wright, the greatest female player, won the LPGA Championship by nine shots over Louise Suggs at Stardust Country Club.
The inaugural PGA Championship concluded on this date in 1916 with “Long” Jim Barnes defeating Jock Hutchison, 1 up, in a 36-hole final at Siwanoy Country Club in Bronxville, New York. 32 players were in the field, and Barnes won $500.
The 1963 Ryder Cup Match ended on this date at East Lake Golf Club with the United States easily defeating Great Britain, 23-9, behind player-captain Arnold Palmer.
On this date in 2008, D.A. Weibring won the Senior Players Championship by one shot over Fred Funk at the Baltimore Country Club for his only major victory on either the regular or senior tour.
On this date in 1902, the U.S. Open concluded at Garden City Golf Club on Long Island, New York, with winner Laurie Auchterlonie winning with a scoring record that was six strokes ahead of Stewart Gardner and standout amateur Walter Travis.
Mark O’Meara won the Senior Players Championship on this date in 2010 at the TPC Potomac, winning a playoff with Michael Allen on the first hole.
On this date in 1965, the U.S. defeated Great Britain in the Ryder Cup Match held at Royal Birkdale in England. The final was 19½-12½, rewarding American captain Byron Nelson with a victory.
On this date in 1888, The Open Championship was won by Jack Burns on The Old Course at St. Andrews when he beat Ben Sayers and David Anderson Jr. by one shot.
On this date in 1891, The Open concluded at St. Andrews with Hugh Kirkaldy winning by two shots over Willie Fernie and Hugh’s brother Andrew. It was the last time the championship was held on a single day of 36 holes.
Eleven-time major championship winner Walter Hagen died on this date in 1969 in Traverse City, Michigan, having been afflicted for five years with throat cancer. He was 76. Arnold Palmer was deeply moved by The Haig’s passing. Arnold had long admired someone who was a kindred spirit when it came to bold play and a personality for the people. Arnie had met Hagen when he was a young boy, and as he grew into being a golf icon himself was a good friend. Examples of their friendship included when Palmer won the 1961 Open Championship, he said, “The first phone call I had after I won the Open was from Walter Hagen.” And Palmer was a close enough friend that he was a pallbearer at Hagen’s funeral.
The English great Harry Vardon won his only non-Open Championship major when he won the 1900 U.S. Open on this date at Chicago Golf Club. He defeated his fellow English star J.H. Taylor by two shots.