In 1983, the European team was on the cusp of starting to assert itself in the Ryder Cup, but on this date in 1983, the 25th Ryder Cup ended in spectacular style with the U.S. edging Europe, 14½-13½, at PGA National in Florida. Both Seve Ballesteros and Lanny Wadkins hit spectacular shots on 18 in their separate matches to get a half point. Bernard Gallacher missed a short putt on 17 to ensure Tom Watson a 2 & 1 victory and the deciding U.S. point. On this date in 1960, Arnold Palmer finished third in the 54-hole West Virginia Open, and in 1971 on “The Pebbles and Bamm-Bamm Show” episode, “Arnold Palmrock” was in the town of Bedrock and met Fred Flintstone.
On this date in 1961, the LPGA Championship was won for the third time by Mickey Wright, at Stardust C.C., by nine shots over Louise Suggs. Also, Horton Smith, the winner of the first and third Masters Tournament in 1934 and 1936, died on this date in 1963 at age 55 from Hodgkin’s disease.
The inaugural PGA Championship ended on this date in 1916 at Siwanoy Country Club in Bronxville, New York, with England’s Jim Barnes winning an epic 1-up victory in 36 holes over Jock Hutchison; Barnes made a four-foot putt on the final hole to clinch the title. And on this date In 1881, The Open Championship was completed at Prestwick Golf Club, won by Bob Ferguson with a three-stroke victory over Jamie Anderson in poor weather conditions.
On this date in 1966, Arnold Palmer shot an 80 in the second round of the Sahara Invitational in Las Vegas. That followed an opening 71. But it was a rough weather day and he still made the cut. Palmer recovered in the final two rounds with a pair of 67s and tied for second, earning $9,750. And the 1963 LPGA Championship ended on this date at Stardust Country Club with Mickey Wright winning for the fourth time, this time by two strokes over three players, including main rival Louise Suggs.
On this date in 1967, Arnold Palmer defeated George Knudson in the quarterfinal round of the Piccadilly World Match Play, at Wentworth West. That put Arnie in the semifinals against Billy Casper, who he beat 3 and 2. Also, on this date in 2008, the Senior Players Championship ended at Baltimore Country Club with D. A. Weibring winning by a shot over Fred Funk.
On this date in 1964, Arnold Palmer completed ultimate victory in the Piccadilly World Match Play at Wentworth West. In a 36-hole match, he defeated Neil Coles, 2 and 1, in the final. In the quarterfinals he defeated Peter Butler, 1 up, and he won in the semifinal, 8 and 6, against Gary Player. And in the year of Bobby Jones’ birthday, 1902, the U.S. Open, at Garden City Golf Club, ended on this date with Scot Laurie Auchterlonie winning by six strokes over Stewart Gardner and amateur Walter Travis.
On this date in 1968, Arnold Palmer played his first match of the Piccadilly World Match Play, at Wentworth West in England. It was a quarterfinal battle with Brian Huggett, and Arnie came out on top, 2 up. He lost the next match against Bob Charles, 7 and 6. The matches were 36 holes. And the Senior Players Championship ended in 2010 on this date with Mark O’Meara winning in a one-hole playoff with Michael Allen at TPC Potomac.
On this date in 1965, the 16th Ryder Cup ended at Royal Birkdale Golf Club in England with the U.S. defeating Great Britain 19½-12½. Byron Nelson was the non-playing American captain and Harry Weetman was his G.B. counterpart. Arnold Palmer, Dave Marr, Julius Boros, Tony Lema and Peter Alliss (G.B.) each won two singles matches on the final day. Also, in 1987, on this date Arnold Palmer shot a first-round 66 at the Pepsi Senior Challenge and eventually finished tied for 5th.
On this date in 1888, the Open Championship wrapped up at the Old Course in St. Andrews with Jack Burns of Scotland winning by a single shot over Ben Sayers and David Anderson Jr. in Burns’ only Open victory. On this date in 1960 Arnold Palmer was named Professional Golfer of the Year, and in 1965, Palmer and Dave Marr went 1-1 at the Ryder Cup in two Four-Ball matches.
On this date in 1891, The Open Championship ended at St. Andrews’ Old Course with Hugh Kirkaldy winning by two strokes over his brother Andrew Kirkaldy and Willie Fernie. This was the last time the Open was played as 36 holes over one day. On this date in 1965, Arnold Palmer and Dave Marr went 1-1 in the 16th Ryder Cup, held at Royal Birkdale, on Day 1 of the competition. Eight foursomes matches were held, four in the a.m. and four in the afternoon. Arnie and Dave traded 6-and-5 matches with Dave Thomas and George Will, the Yanks losing in the a.m. but winning in the second session.
On this date in 1928, the PGA Championship concluded at the East Course at Five Farms Country Club in Lutherville, Maryland, with Leo Diegel dominating Al Espinosa, 6 and 5, in the final. Diegel also won in 1929. Also, the great bon vivant of golf, Walter Hagen, died on this date in 1969 at the age of 76. He won 11 majors but was equally known for his showmanship and man-about-town personality. One of his major admirers and friends, Arnold Palmer, was a pall bearer at his funeral.
On this date in 1957, the 12th Ryder Cup ended at Lindrick Golf Club in Yorkshire, England, with Great Britain defeating the U.S., 7½-4½. The U.S. led 3-1 after the Day 1 Foursomes but it got trounced in singles on Day 2, 6½-1½, to lose for captain Jack Burke, Jr. Dai Rees captained the winning squad, which came out on top for the first time since 1933. On this date in 1963, Arnold Palmer shot a 66 in Round 3 of the Whitemarsh Open.
On this date in 2016, a public memorial service was held at St. Vincent College basilica for Arnold Palmer, televised on Golf Channel. Also, the 2010 Ryder Cup, at Celtic Manor Resort in Newport, Wales, ended in a 14.5 to 13.5 victory for Europe. the inaugural U.S. Open was held on this date in 1895 at Newport Country Club in Rhode Island. Englishman Horace Rawlins won by two shots over Scotland’s Willie Dunn. Rawlins had a 36-hole score of 173 for first, two ahead of Dunn.
On this date in 1953, the 10th Ryder Cup ended at Wentworth in England, with the Americans coming out ahead 6½-5½ points. Both Jack Burke Jr. and Sam Snead won two matches each to help lead the U.S. to a sixth straight victory over Great Britain. On this date in 1974, Arnold Palmer shot a first-round 73 in the Lancome Trophy, and would finish 4th three days later.
On this date in 1953, the United States took a 3-1 lead over Great Britain after Day 1 of the Ryder Cup. Also, in 1876, the Open Championship concluded at St. Andrews’ Old Course with Bob Martin winning when David Strath, a fellow Scotsman, refused to participate in a playoff after the two had tied at the end of regulation at 176. There were 34 players in the field.
On this date in 2010, at Celtic Manor in Newport, Wales, the Ryder Cup was played with just one session due to rain. Only the Four-Ball session was played, with the U.S. leading 2.5 to 1.5 after play concluded. Also on this date, in 1921, the 4th PGA Championship was completed at Inwood CC with Walter Hagen defeating two-time champion Jim Barnes, 3 & 2, in the final. It was the first of Hagen’s legendary five PGA titles.
A pair of Ryder Cups ended on this date. In 2012 at Medinah Country Club, Europe blitzed the singles matches to retain the Cup 14½-13½, and in 2018 at Le Golf National, Europe stomped on the Americans, 17½–10½. In Arnold Palmer history on this date, in 1972 he shot a 74 in the final round of the John Player Classic, at Turnberry in Scotland, to finish off a tournament week of 71-73-73-74—291, and a tie for seventh.
The contentious “War by the Shore” Ryder Cup ended on this date in 1991 at Kiawah Island with the U.S. edging Europe 14½-13½ after Bernhard Langer missed a 6-foot par putt that would have clinched a 14-14 tie. Europe would have kept the cup as the previous winner. On this date in 2016, a private ceremony was held for Arnold Palmer following his death on Sunday, September 25, at age 87.
On this date in 1997, the Ryder Cup ended on continental Europe for the first time, this year at Valderrama Golf Club in Spain with Europe edging the U.S., 14½-13½. Also, on this date in 1973, Arnold Palmer shot an 80 in the third round of the John Player Classic, Turnberry, Scotland. But fear not, Palmer fans. The conditions included cold, wind, rain and hail and Arnie was described by reporters as having caught the worst of it, sending his score soaring. Charles Coody shot an incredible one-under 70 and had 212 with Arnold well back at 227.
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.