Fred McLeod, a Scottish golfer whose record has been obscured in these modern times, was born on this date in 1882 in North Berwick. He notably won the 1908 U.S. Open, but golf fans might recognize the name because it comes up every so often for his role as one of the first Honorary Starters in Masters Tournament history, along with his cohort Jock Hutchison.
Today is the birthdate of a pair of accomplished golfers who both are trying to achieve their own measure of success but at greatly different ages. Lydia Ko, who set records at a young age, was born in 1997 in Seoul, South Korea, but grew up in New Zealand. One of her major wins was the ANA Inspiration in 2016. Englishman Lee Westwood was born in 1973. He has not won a major but has revived his game in 2021 with a few close finishes near the top.
On this date in 1989, the Chrysler Cup, a Ryder Cup-style event for senior tour players on United States and International teams, concluded at the TPC at Prestancia course in Sarasota, Florida. Arnold Palmer was the U.S. captain for the five years it was played, 1986-1990, and had a 4-1 record. This year the U.S. won 71-29 and
on the final day, Captain Palmer defeated Bruce Devlin, 70-74. The winning team members each received $50,000 each.
Born on this date in 1938 in Washington, D.C., was World Golf Hall of Fame member Deane Beman, who was a lauded amateur before becoming modestly successful on tour. His main claim to fame was as the PGA Tour Commissioner from 1974 to 1994.
On this date in 1991, Jack Nicklaus won the PGA Seniors’ Championship by six shots at PGA National Golf Club, winning handily over Australia’s Bruce Crampton, who often was a runner-up to a Nicklaus major victory.
It was one of the most unlikely results to see Jack Nicklaus finish second by 12 shots but that he and Dale Douglass did when Hale Irwin won the 1997 58th PGA Seniors’ Championship at PGA National Golf Club’s Champion Course, which Nicklaus had redesigned. Irwin shot 274 to win the middle of three straight titles.
One of the mythical amateurs in American golf was born on this date in 1922. Billy Joe Patton was born in Morganton, North Carolina. Among his achievements wasn’t a victory but a legendary third-place finish in the 1954 Masters. He finished one shot out of a playoff with Ben Hogan and Sam Snead, which Snead won, 70-71.
On this date in 1993, one of the unheralded success stories on the senior tour, Tom Wargo, won the PGA Seniors' Championship at PGA National, winning a two-hole playoff with the more successful Bruce Crampton. Wargo was from a small club in Centralia, Illinois, and didn’t have notable pro success until turning 50. In 1994 he would win the Senior Open for two major titles.
Lee Trevino won the 1994 PGA Seniors' Championship on this date, edging Jim Colbert by a shot at PGA National Golf Club.
Don Bies won his only major on both the regular and the senior tours when he won The Tradition on this date in 1989. He won by a shot over Gary Player at the GC at Desert Mountain.
The 1979 Masters, the 43rd playing, ended on this date with Fuzzy Zoeller beat all kinds of odds to win in a playoff in his first appearance at Augusta National. There shouldn’t have been a playoff. Ed Sneed was three ahead with three to go but bogeyed all three holes. Jack Nicklaus missed the playoff by one. Sneed, Zoeller and Tom Watson went into the first sudden-death playoff in Masters history, with Zoeller winning on the second playoff hole, No. 11, with a birdie.
The 1974 Masters, the 38th playing, ended on this date with Gary Player winning his second of three green jackets. Tom Weiskopf and Dave Stockton finished two shots behind.
Of the Masters results on this date, a few are among the most memorable golf events in history. In 1975, Jack Nicklaus won what many consider in the top five best Masters ever, a one-shot victory over Johnny Miller and Tom Weiskopf, highlighted by a 40-foot birdie putt on 16. That Masters was the year Lee Elder broke the color barrier at Augusta as he became the first African-American to play in it. That was Jack’s fifth Masters, and he won his sixth in 1986 in the 50th playing for his record 18 majors. At age 46 it was his final major and his final-round score was a 65, beating Greg Norman and Tom Kite by one. And lastly, Tiger Woods won in 1997 for his first major with a record 18-under score that won by 12, also with Kite second.
Of the many Masters that were completed on this date, two stand out. In 1953, Ben Hogan won the 17th playing with a record score of 274. And in 1964, Arnold Palmer won his final major championship in a rout, winning by six over Dave Marr and Jack Nicklaus.
One of the legendary Masters finishes took place on this date in 1965 at the 28th playing. Jack Nicklaus won his second green coat, shooting a tournament record of 271, 17 under par. He was nine strokes ahead of Arnold Palmer and Gary Player, one of the few times The Big Three finished 1-2-3.
Of the many Masters that concluded on this date, the most memorable was in Arnold Palmer’s sensational 1960 season when he won the 24th Masters at Augusta National Golf Club. He birdied the final two holes to win by one shot over Ken Venturi.
Of the many Masters to finish on this date, a couple standouts are Arnold Palmer’s playoff victory in 1962 at the 26th Masters when he won his third of four and Jack Nicklaus’ fourth of six victories in 1972. Jack finished three shots in front of Tom Weiskopf, Bruce Crampton, and Bobby Mitchell. Of special note, Spanish legend Seve Ballesteros was born on this date in 1957 and would win two Masters, in 1980 and 1983. He died on May 7, 2011.
On this date in 1935, the 2nd Masters concluded with Gene Sarazen beating Craig Wood by five shots in a 36-hole playoff to win, 144-149, the day after Sarazen’s infamous double eagle on the 15th had gotten him into a tie after regulation.
In one of the biggest shockers in Masters history, the 10th playing was won on this date in 1946 by Herman Keiser by one shot over legendary Ben Hogan.
Of the many Masters that ended on this date, the one in 1936 was only the third playing but it gave the tournament its first two-time winner with Horton Smith, who had won the first Masters in 1934. Smith was a shot ahead of Harry Cooper, with defending champion Gene Sarazen third.