With Europe off to a dominating start after Day 1 of the Ryder Cup at Bethpage Black, leading by 3, a similar Euro good vibe took place on this date in 1987, Europe beating the U.S., 15-13, at Muirfield Village in Ohio for the first U.S. lost on its home soil in the series. On this date in 2002, Europe led after Day 1 at the Ryder Cup at The Belfry in England.
The American team will try to win the Ryder Cup starting today at Bethpage Black on Long Isand. On this date in 1993, the U.S. beat the Euros, 15-13, at The Belfry in England. Davis Love III won the securing point in a 1-up Singles win over Costantino Rocca of Italy, making a winner of Captain Tom Watson. A more stirring U.S. victory was on this date in 1999 at The Country Club in Brookline, Mass., when the U.S. came back from trailing 10-6 with Singles to go and won by a point.
It’s not the happiest of milestones on this date. The most loved golfer in history, Arnold Palmer, died at age 87 of heart failure in a Pittsburgh hospital in 2016. Arnold came into this world on Tuesday, September 10, 1929, in Latrobe, Pennsylvania, and he exited it on this date, September 25, 2016, age 87, on a Sunday evening at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center Shadyside Hospital, passing away due to complications of heart problems. And on this date in 1987, the Ryder Cup opened at Muirfield Village in Ohio, with Europe leading 6-2 at the end of Day 1 after winning all four afternoon Four-Ball matches.
The 1995 Ryder Cup ended on this date at Oak Hill Country Club with Europe winning 14½-13½; the winning point came from Philip Walton’s 1-up victory over Jay Haas. Elsewhere, in 1967, Arnold Pallmer shot a 69 on this date to win the Thunderbird Classic, topping off his week with his best round of four (71-71-72-69—283) and getting the $30,000 first-place payout.
A pair of Open Championships ended on this date. In 1868, at Prestwick, Young Tom Morris edged his father, Old Tom, by three shots to win. And in 1892, Harold Hilton also won by three shots, at Muirfield, over John Ball, Sandy Herd and Hugh Kirkaldy. And on this date in 1967, Arnold Palmer shot a third-round 72 at the Thunderbird Classic. It was his worst of four rounds, the others 71, 71 and 69 for a 283 and first place.
On this date in 1957, Arnold Palmer shot a 68 to back a first-round 67 and win the Mountain View Open with a 135 score, good for $350. And the 1973 Ryder Cup ended on this date at Muirfield, Scotland, with the U.S. beating Great Britain & Ireland, 19-13. It was the first year to have Ireland in the team mix.
On this date in 1973, the second day of the Ryder Cup was held at Muirfield, Scotland. Arnold Palmer played a pair of team matches, winning one and losing one. In Morning Foursomes, Peter Oosterhuis-Tony Jacklin (GBI) defeated Palmer-Dave Hill, 2 up, and in Afternoon Four-Ball, Palmer-J.C. Snead defeated Brian Barnes-Peter Butler, 2 up. And Captain Paul Azinger’s famous pod system helped the American team stop a three-match losing streak on this date in 2008 to win the Ryder Cup at Valhalla Golf Club, 16½-11½, against Europe.
Among the major results on this date, two big ones were Francis Ouimet’s playoff victory over Harry Vardon and Ted Ray in the U.S. Open at The Country Club, and the 1969 Ryder Cup at Royal Birkdale in England, which ended in a 16-16 draw when Jack Nicklaus famously conceded Tony Jacklin’s three-foot putt in their singles match on the final hole to ensure a tie in their contest and the overall score. On this date in 1973, Arnold Palmer played on Day 1 of the Ryder Cup, held at Muirfield, Scotland. Arnie played as partners with Jack Nicklaus in two matches against Great Britain & Ireland opponents. In morning Foursomes, Palmer-Nicklaus defeated Maurice Bembridge-Eddie Polland, 6 and 5, but in the afternoon Four-Ball, Bembridge-Brian Huggett defeated Palmer-Nicklaus, 3 and 1.
On this date in 1968, Arnold Palmer and Jack Nicklaus shot a 64 in the first round of the PGA Team Championship, but would cool off with 72-69-68 in the next three rounds for 273, a tie for 15th. And the 2004 Ryder Cup ended on this date at Oakland Hills Country Club with Europe retaining the trophy with a whomping over the United States, 18½-9½, the largest margin of victory by the American opponent in the series.
The 1971 Ryder Cup ended on this date at Old Warson Country Club in St. Louis, with the U.S. defeating Great Britain, 18.5 to 13.5. On the final day, Arnold Palmer played two singles matches. He and Harry Bannerman halved in the morning, and then Peter Oosterhuis downed Arnie, 3 and 2, in the afternoon.
The 1949 Ryder Cup ended on this date at Ganton Golf Club with the United States defeating Great Britain, 7-5, aided by a U.S. blitz of winning six of eight singles games. Also, on this date in 1967, Arnold Palmer shot a final-round 68 in the Philadelphia Golf Classic, for a 282 total and a tie for sixth, earning $3,454. His four rounds were 70-72-72-68.
With the next Ryder Cup kicking off next week at Bethpage Black, we note on this date in 1979 that the U.S. won 17-11, at The Greenbrier. It was the first time Europe played the U.S., having expanded from its longstanding Great Britain & Ireland opposing side. Also, the 1971 Ryder Cup began on this date at Old Warson Country Club, in St. Louis. Arnold Palmer paired with Gardner Dickinson to win a pair of matches: Morning Foursomes, Palmer-Dickinson (U.S.) defeated Peter Townsend-Peter Oosterhuis, 2 up; Afternoon Foursomes, Palmer-Dickinson defeated Townsend-Oosterhuis, 1 up
The next Ryder Cup is just a couple weeks away at Bethpage Black on Long Island, New York. The 1985 Ryder Cup ended on this date at The Belfry in England with Europe winning a pivotal battle, 16½-11½ over the U.S. Also, on this date in 1968, Arnold Palmer won the first Kemper Open by shooting a 67 in the final round to complete a four-round scoring week of 69-70-70-67—276, and win $30,000.
In 1958, the year Arnold Palmer won his first Masters, on this date at the Denver Centennial Open he shot a 69 to finish tied for third. His prize money for shooting 67-68-66-69—270 was $1,300. Also, tradition says on this date in 1868 that Young Tom Morris made the first hole in one in golf on the 8th hole at Prestwick in Scotland.
On this date in 1964, Arnold Palmer finished the World Series of Golf at Firestone Country Club’s South Course in Akron, Ohio. The final standings: Tony Lema 70-68—138, $50,000; Ken Venturi 69-74—143, $15,000; Bobby Nichols 77-70-147, $5,000; Palmer 74-74—148, $5,000. Also, a pair of Open Championships ended on this date. In 1866, at Prestwick Golf Club, Willie Park Sr. won for the third time, and in 1872, also at Prestwick, Tom Morris, Jr. won a fourth straight time (no championship was held in 1871).
On this date in 1969, Arnold Palmer recorded the lowest 18-hole score of his career when he shot a 60 at his hometown club, Latrobe Country Club. Also, Argentinian golfer Angel Cabrera was born on this day in 1969 in Córdoba. Cabrera won the 2007 U.S. Open and 2009 Masters but has recently gone through legal trouble for domestic violence before joining the PGA Champions Tour.
Golf history goes silent today in tribute to the 9-11 victims in the terrorist attack on American land in New York City, Washington, D.C., and area near Shanksville, Pennsylvania. Appropriate on a day like today that the last location would be a reminder of a sad golf stroke: the shank. We don’t go totally silent, utilizing the iconic Arnold Palmer. On this date in 1954, at the 9th Annual Bill Waite Memorial Tournament, Palmer and partner Tommy Sheehan of Detroit defeated George Rowbotham (Philadelphia) and Ben Smith (Detroit), 4 and 3, in the better-ball final at Shawnee-on-Delaware, Pa. This was the tournament he was playing when he met future wife Winnie Walzer.
This date is one that is remembered in golf history for what it gave the game: seven-time major winner and all-time beloved golf icon Arnold Palmer was born on this day, a Tuesday, in 1929, the first child to Milfred and Doris Palmer in the Latrobe/Ligonier/Youngstown area of Pennsylvania. And also on this date in 2009, on the occasion of his 80th birthday, a statue was unveiled of Palmer at Laurel Valley Golf Course, Ligonier.
Six years ago on this date, Brian Barnes, an English player, died at age 74. Barnes was one of the great characters in the game and played in the Ryder Cup from 1969 to 1979. On this date in 1962, Arnold Palmer finished play in the first World Series of Golf. Palmer played in three WSOGs, an unofficial 36-hole event involving the winners of the year’s major championships, held at Firestone Country Club, par-70, 7,165-yard South Course, Akron, Ohio. The first WSOG was played on September 8-9, 1962, with the results: Jack Nicklaus 66-69—135, $50,000; Arnold Palmer 65-74—139, $12,500; Gary Player 69-70—139, $12,500.
On this date in Arnold Palmer history, in 1955, PGA Tour rookie Arnold Palmer shot a 78 at the Cavalcade of Golf in the first round then withdrew rather than continue with such a bad score. On this date in 1977, Palmer shot a 65 in the B.C. Open’s first round. He would add 69-75-74 to shoot 283 and tie for 22nd ($1,780). The 65 was his lowest round of the ‘77 season, in which he entered 20 tournaments, won none, and had a scoring average of 72.49.