1955 - Men (All)
The winners in the category "1955 - Men (All)" are shown in the table below, which also includes relevant information on venues, scores and prize money.
Majors
x
The Masters Tournament (19th) (April 7-10). Second-placed Ben Hogan (USA) finished 7 shots behind Middlecoff (USA), which at the time was a record margin of victory in the Masters. [Augusta National GC, Augusta, GA].
Majors
R&A
The Open Championship (84th) (July 6-8). Second-placed John Fallon (Scot) finished 2 shots behind defending champion Thomson (Aus). This was the second of Thomson's five Open Championship wins. [The Old Course, St Andrews, Fife].
Majors
USGA
The US Open (55th) (Jun 16-19). Fleck (USA) beat Ben Hogan (USA) in an 18-hole playoff: Fleck 69 (-1), Hogan 72 (+2). Fleck, a municipal golf course pro from Iowa, prevailed in a playoff to deny the legendary Hogan his fifth US Open title. [Lake course, Olympic Club, nr San Francisco, CA].
Majors
PGA of America
The US PGA Championship (37th) (July 20-26). Ford (USA) beat Dr Cary Middlecoff (USA) 4 and 3 in the 36-hole final. Ford was competing in his first PGA Championship. [Meadowbrook CC, Northville, nr Detroit, Mich.].
Amateur
R&A
The Amateur Championship (60th). Lt. Joseph W. "Joe" Conrad (USA) beat Alan Slater (Eng) 3 and 2 in the 36-hole final. [Royal Lytham & St Annes GC, nr Blackpool, Lancs].
Amateur
USGA
The US Amateur Championship (55th) (Sept 12-17). E. Harvie Ward Jr (USA) beat Bill Hyndman Jr (USA) 9 and 8 in the 36-hole final. [James River course, The CC of Virginia, Richmond, VA].
America
George S. May
Played as the All American Open (Aug 4-7; aka the Tam O'Shanter). Second-placed Leo Biagetti (USA) finished 3 shots behind Doug Ford (USA). [Tam O'Shanter CC, Niles, nr Chicago, IL; now the municipal Tam O'Shanter Golf Course].
America
x
Played as the 50th Argentine Open (Abierto de la Republica/Argentina). Roberto De Vicenzo (Arg) finished in second place behind Bertolino (Arg). [Campos Argentinos de Golf, San Isidro, Buenos Aires].
America
WGA
Played as the Western Open (June 23-26). Second-placed Mike Souchak (USA) finished 2 shots behind Cary Middlecoff (USA), who shot a final round 63 to clinch his win. [Portland GC, Portland, Oregon].
Played as the Brazil Open (Aberto do Brasil). Arturo Soto (Arg) finished in second place behind Gonzalez (Brazil). [Gavea GC, São Conrado, Rio de Janeiro].
America
x
Played as the Canadian Open (Aug 17-20). Second-placed Jack Burke Jr (USA) finished 4 shots behind Arnold Palmer (USA), who recorded the first of his 62 PGA Tour wins at this event. [Weston G&CC, Toronto, Ont.]
America
x
Played as the inaugural (and only) Cavalcade of Golf (Sept 8-11). Second-placed Sam Snead (USA) finished 2 shots behind Cary Middlecoff (USA), who collected the second largest winner's cheque on the PGA Tour that year. [Shackamaxon CC, Scotch Plains, New Jersey].
America
x
Played as the Colonial National Invitation (May 5-8). Second-placed Dow Finsterwald (USA) finished 8 shots behind Chandler Harper (USA), who recorded the last of his seven PGA Tour wins. [Colonial CC, Ft Worth, TX].
America
x
Played as the Eastern Open (Oct 6-9). Second-placed Art Wall Jr (USA) finished 1 shot behind 33-year-old Frank Stranahan (USA). Stranahan recorded his first win as a professional, having turned professional a year earlier following a spectacular amateur career. [Mt Pleasant Municipal GC, Baltimore, MD].
America
Convair
Played as the Convair San Diego Open (Jan 20-23). Second-placed Johnny Palmer (USA) finished 2 shots behind Bolt (USA), who won this event for the second time in three years. [Riverwalk GC, San Diego, CA; at the time known as Mission Valley CC].
America
x
Played as the Los Angeles Open (Jan 7-10). Second-placed Ted Kroll (USA) finished 2 shots behind Littler (USA), who recorded his first PGA Tour win as a pofessional. [Inglewood CC, Inglewood, Los Angeles, CA. Course is believed to have closed].
America
x
Played as the inaugural Hot Springs Open (May 12-15). Second-placed Doug Ford (USA) and Cary Middlecoff (USA) finished 5 shots behind Bo Wininger (USA), who recorded his second PGA Tour win. [Arlington course, Hot Springs CC, Hot Springs, AR].
America
x
Played as the Houston Open (Feb 24-27). Second-placed Jerry Barber (USA) finished 2 shots behind back-to-back PGA Tour winner Mike Souchak (USA), who recorded his second PGA Tour win, coming just one week after his first (in the Texas Open). [Memorial Park GC, Houston, TX].
America
x
Played as the Jamaica Open. Won by Antonio "Tony" Cerda (Arg). [Constant Spring GC, Kingston, Jamaica].
America
KCGA
Played as the Kansas City Open (May 19-22). Second-placed Chandler Harper (USA) and Billy Maxwell (USA) finished 6 shots behind Mayer (USA). [Hillcrest CC, Kansas City, MO].
America
Labatt Brewing
Played as the Labatt Open (Aug 25-28). Gene Littler (USA) beat Stan Leonard (Can) with a par at the first playoff hole (par-5 1st), to win his fifth PGA Tour title. Just prior to the playoff, Littler and Leonard agreed to share the first and second place prize money. [Summerlea G&CC, Vaudreuil-Dorion, Québec].
America
Metropolitan GA
Played as the Metropolitan Open. (Sept 20-22, 25; Metropolitan Golf Assoc event). Art Doering (USA) beat Al Brosch (USA) in a Sunday playoff (Doering 74, Brosch 75). This was Doering's first appearance in the Metropolitan Open. [Fenway GC, Scarsdale, NY].
America
x
Played as the Mexican Open (Abierto Mexicano de Golf). Tony Holguin (USA) finished in second place behind De Vicenzo (Arg). [GC Chapultepec, Naucalpan, Mexico City].
America
x
Played as the Miami Beach Open (March 24-27; last played in 1951). Second-placed Bob Rosburg (USA) finished 2 shots behind 36-year-old Eric Monti (USA), who recorded the first of his three PGA Tour wins. [Miami Beach GC, Miami Beach, FL; at the time known as Bayshore GC].
America
x
Played as the (last) Miami Open (Dec 8-11). Sam Snead (USA) beat Tommy Bolt (USA) with a par 4 at the first playoff hole, to record his sixth win in this event. Reduced to 54 holes after first round was cancelled due to rain. [Miami Springs G&CC, Miami, FL; at the time known as Miami Springs Municipal Course].
America
Miller Brewing Co.
Played as the Milwaukee (Miller) Open (July 14-17). Second-placed Julius Boros (USA), Mike Souchak (USA) and Ted Kroll (USA) finished 4 shots behind Cary Middlecoff (USA). [Blue Mound G&CC, Wauwatosa, nr Milwaukee, Wisconsin].
Played as the Palm Beach Round Robin.
America
x
Played as the Panama Open. Second-placed Roberto De Vicenzo (Arg) finished 1 shot behind his compatriot Cerda (Arg). [GC de Panama, Panama City, Panama].
America
Bing Crosby
Played as the Bing Crosby Pro-Am Invitational (Jan 14-16; 54-hole event). Second-placed Paul Maguire (USA) and Julius Boros (USA) finished 4 shots behind Middlecoff (USA). [Pebble Beach Links, Monterey Peninsula, CA. Earlier rounds also at: Cypress Point Club and Monterey Peninsula CC].
America
x
Played as the Peru Open (Abierto de Peru). Won by De Luca (Arg).
America
Philadelphia Daily News
Played as the inaugural Philadelphia Daily News Open (Sept 15-18). Ted Kroll (USA) beat Doug Ford (USA) with a 30-foot birdie-three putt at the first playoff hole. [Cobbs Creek GC, Philadelphia, PA].
America
x
Played as the Phoenix Open (Feb 3-6). Second-placed Billy Maxwell (USA) and Johnny Palmer (USA) finished 1 shot behind Littler (USA). [Arizona CC, Phoenix, AZ].
America
x
Played as the Rubber City Open (July 28-31). Henry Ransom (USA) beat Jackson Bradley (USA), Jack Burke Jr (USA) and Doug Ford (USA) with a birdie at the first playoff hole, to claim the last of his five PGA Tour wins. [South course, Firestone CC, Akron, Ohio].
America
Mayfair Inn
Played as the inaugural Sanford Open (Dec 15-18). Second-placed Ed "Porky" Oliver (USA) and Mike Souchak (USA) finished 1 shot behind Al Balding (Can), who became the first Canadian to win a PGA Tour event in the United States. [Mayfair CC, Sanford, Florida].
America
x
Played as the Tournament of Champions (Apr 28-May 1). Second-placed Jerry Barber (USA), Pete Cooper (USA) and Bob Toski (USA) finished 13 shots behind Littler (USA), who recorded the first of his three straight wins in this event. [Wynn Las Vegas, Nevada; at the time known as Desert Inn CC].
Played as the St Petersburg Open.
America
x
Played as the Texas Open (Feb 17-20). Second-placed Fred Haas (USA) finished 7 shots behind 27-year-old Mike Souchak (USA), who recorded his first PGA Tour win. Souchak's 72-hole total of 257 was a PGA Tour record at the time, as was his opening day 60, which included a record front-nine 27. [Brackenridge Park GC, San Antonio, TX].
America
x
Played as the Thunderbird Invitational. Mayfield (USA) beat Mike Souchak (USA) in a playoff. [Thunderbird CC, Rancho Mirage, CA].
America
x
Played as the Insurance City Open (Sept 2-5). Second-placed Fred Hawkins (USA) and Mike Souchak (USA) finished 7 shots behind Sam Snead (USA). During the first round of the tournament, W.W. "Bill" Whedon (an amateur) became the first player to record two holes-in-one in the same round of golf on the PGA Tour. Monday Labour Day finish. [Wethersfield CC, nr Hartford, CT].
America
x
Played as the Tucson Open (Feb 10-13). Second-placed Bud Holscher (USA) and Art Wall Jr (USA) finished 3 shots behind defending champion Tommy Bolt (USA), who holed a 30-foot eagle putt on the final hole to seal the win. [El Rio G&CC, Tucson, AZ. Now known as El Rio GC].
America
x
Played as the Virginia Beach Open (April 21-24). Second-placed Dick Mayer (USA) finished 4 shots behind Harper (USA). [Cavalier Y&CC, Virginia Beach, Virginia; now called Cavalier G&YC].
America
George S. May
Played as the World Championship of Golf (Aug 11-14; PGA Tour event for the richest first prize in world golf). Second-placed Fred Haas (USA) finished 2 shots behind Julius Boros (USA), who recorded his second win in this event. [Tam O'Shanter CC, Niles, nr Chicago, IL; now the municipal Tam O'Shanter Golf Course].
America
x
Ed Furgol (USA) beat Peter Thomson (Aus) with a par at the third playoff hole, to win the International Trophy for best individual score in the Canada Cup. Flory Van Donck (Belg) was eliminated at the second playoff hole. Team winners of the Cup: Chick Harbert & Ed Furgol (USA). [Columbia CC, Chevy Chase, Maryland].
America
x
Played as the Greater Greensboro Open (April 14-17). Second-placed Art Wall Jr (USA) and Julius Boros (USA) finished 1 shot behind Snead (USA). This was the fifth of Snead's eight wins in this event. [Starmount Forest CC, Greensboro, NC].
Europe
x
Played as the Belgian Open (Aug 10-12). Second-placed Arthur de Vulder (Belg ) finished 1 shot behind Thomas (Wales). [Royal GC des Fagnes, Spa, Ardennes, Belgium].
Europe
UK / Ire PGA
The inaugural PGA Close Championship (July 21-23; restricted to only UK & Ireland professionals until 1966). Second-placed Max Faulkner (Eng) finished 2 shots behind Bousfield (Eng). [Pannal GC, Pannal, nr Harrogate, N Yorks].
Europe
Dunlop
Played as the Dunlop Masters (Sept 19-21). Second-placed Henry Cotton (Eng) finished 4 shots behind Bradshaw (Ire), who won this title for the second time in three years. [Little Aston GC, Streetly, Sutton Coldfield, Warwicks].
Europe
News of the World
Played as the News of the World Match Play (Sept 14-17). Bousfield (Eng) beat Eric Brown (Scot) 4 and 3 in the 36-hole final. [Old course, Walton Heath GC, Walton on the Hill, Surrey].
Europe
Daks
Played as the Daks Tournament. Second-placed Dai Rees (Wales) finished 2 shots behind Pritchett (Eng). [Old course, Sunningdale GC, Sunningdale, Berks].
Europe
Dunlop
Played as the Dunlop £2635 Tournament (played over 90 holes). Second-placed Eric Brown (Scot) finished 1 shot behind Alliss (Eng). [West course, Wentworth Club, Virginia Water, Surrey].
Europe
x
Played as the Dutch Open (July 30-Aug 1). Angelini (Italy) beat Gerard de Wit (Neth) by 1 shot in a 36-hole playoff (Angelini 142, de Wit 143). [Kennemer G&CC, Zandvoort, Netherlands].
Europe
x
Played as the Swiss Open. Won by Flory Van Donck (Belg). [GC Crans-sur-Sierre, Crans-Montana, Switzerland].
Europe
x
Played as the Open de France. Second-placed Harry Weetman (Eng) finished 2 shots behind Nelson (USA), the second of only a few Americans to have won this title. [Vallée course, Racing Club de France (RCF), La Boulie GC, Versailles, nr Paris].
Europe
x
Played as the German Open. Won by Bousfield (Eng). [Hamburg GC-Falkenstein, Blankenese, nr Hamburg].
Europe
x
Played as the Italian Open. Henri de Lamaze (Fra) finished in second place behind Van Donck (Belg), who claimed the last of his four Italian Open wins. [Venezia GC, Lido di Venezia, Veneto].
Europe
Swallow / Penfold
Played as the Swallow-Penfold Tournament. Second-placed Syd Scott (Eng) and Eric Brown (Scot) finished 2 shots behind Christy O'Connor (Ire), who became the first player to win £1,000 for a golf tournament played in Europe. [Southport & Ainsdale GC, Southport, Merseyside].
Europe
x
Played as the Portuguese Open. Flory Van Donck (Belg) beat defending champion Ángel Miguel (Esp) in a 36-hole playoff (Van Donck 128; Miguel 135). [Estoril GC, Estoril, Portugal].
Europe
Spalding
Played as the Spalding £1,350 Tournament (April 20-22; British PGA circuit season-opener). Second-placed Eric Lester (Eng) finished 1 shot behind 46-year-old Cecil Denny (Eng), who recorded his first top flight professional win in Britain. [High course, Moor Park GC, Rickmansworth, Herts].
Europe
x
Played as the Spanish Open. Second-placed Angel Miguel (Esp) finished as the lowest scoring professional, 3 shots behind Conde de Lamaze (Fra, amateur). [Arriba course, Real (Royal) Club de la Puerta de Hierro, Madrid].
Europe
Yorkshire Eve. News
Played as the Yorkshire Evening News £1550 Tournament (June 22-24). Second-placed Harry Weetman (Eng) finished 3 shots behind Antonio Cerdá (Arg), who claimed his first top-flight victory in Britain. [Sand Moor GC, Leeds, W Yorks, England].
Asia
x
Played as the Philippine Open. Won by Tugot (Phil). [East course, Wack Wack G&CC, Manila, Philippines].
Played as the Japan Open (Sept 19-21; Japanese major ch'ship). Won by Koichi Ono (Jpn) for the third time in five years. [Hirono GC, Shijimi, Miki, Hyogo, Japan].
Japan
Japan E&W PGAs
Played as the Japan PGA Championship (Japanese major ch'ship). Son Shi-kin* (China) beat Yoshiro Hayashi (Jpn) at the 39th hole in the final. [Sagami CC, Yamato, Kanagawa, Japan]. *Son Shi-kin of China became a naturalised Japanese citizen in 1955, changing his name to Koichi Ono.
Aus/NZ
x
Played as the Australian Open (May 26-28). Second-placed Norman Von Nida (Aus) and Kel Nagle (Aus) finished 1 shot behind Locke (RSA). [Gailes GC, Brisbane, Aus].
Aus/NZ
x
Played as the Australian PGA Ch'ship (June 1-4). Pickworth (Aus) beat Frank Phillips (Aus) 8 and 7 in the 36-hole final. [Indooroopilly GC, Brisbane, Qld; played on the Club's former location, which is now home to St Lucia Golf Links].
Aus/NZ
x
Played as the New Zealand Open (Oct 6-8). Second-placed Kel Nagle (Aus) finished 10 shots behind Thomson (Aus). [Royal Auckland & Grange GC, Papatoetoe, Auckland; at the time known as Auckland GC, Middlemore].
Aus/NZ
x
Played as the New Zealand PGA Championship (Oct 9-12). Frank Phillips (Aus) beat defending champion Bruce Crampton (Aus) 1 up in the final. [Royal Auckland & Grange GC, Papatoetoe, Auckland; at the time known as Auckland GC, Middlemore].
Africa
SA Golf Union
Played as the South African Professional Match Play Ch'ship. Locke (S Africa) beat Brian Ellmore (S Africa) 7 and 6 in the 36-hole final. [Zwartkop CC, Centurion, nr Pretoria, RSA].
Played as the South African Open. Second-placed Reg Taylor (S Africa, amateur) finished 1 shot behind Locke (S Africa). This was the last of nine South African Open wins for Locke. [Zwartkop CC, Centurion, nr Pretoria, RSA].
Awards
PGA of America
Snead (USA) won the PGA of America Vardon Trophy, recording the season's lowest scoring average on the PGA Tour.
Awards
PGA of America
Boros (USA) won his second PGA Tour leading money winner title, with 1955 season earnings of $63,121 on the Tour. Cary Middlecoff (USA) was second on the money list.
Rees (Wales) won the Harry Vardon Trophy as the British PGA Tour 1955 Order of Merit winner. Award based on lowest scoring average in the season's top professional events. Rees's 71.85 was based on 35 rounds played.
Awards
PGA of America
Ford (USA) won the PGA of America Player of the Year Award (based on points allocated for PGA Tour wins, money-list position and scoring average).
Chevron Championship: Carlton Woods near Houston in Texas provides the stage for the first women’s major championship of 2025, where Nelly Korda defends her title. (April 24-27).
Soudal Open: successor to the Belgian Open, the Soudal Open takes place on the quiet, wooded North course of Rinkven Golfclub. Belgian stars Thomas Pieters and Nicolas Colsaerts will be vying for top honours. (May 22-25).
Rory McIlroy: with his 2025 win in The Masters, Rory joined the pantheon of golfing greats who have achieved a career Grand Slam of men’s majors ... Gene Sarazen, Ben Hogan, Gary Player, Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods are the only others in this select band.
Bernhard Langer: he may have played in his last Masters Tournament, but the 67-year-old German will be trying to extend his own record, and win a 13th senior major title at the 36th Regions Tradition. (May 15-18).
Marco Simone Golf & Country Club: With a clubhouse that might befit a Roman Emperor, and a golf course to match, you can be sure of a memorable outing at Rome's most talked about golf facility.
Jim Fazio's original layout was much changed to create a modern Ryder Cup course ... now one of the Eternal City's (and Italy's) most revered.
Here at Prince’s Golf Club you'll find 27 excellent holes of links golf. Just over the fence and sharing similar terrain is Royal St George’s; but Prince’s is far from overshadowed by its venerable neighbour. The three nine-hole loops at Prince's, laid out over gently undulating terrain, are sure to bring a smile of satisfaction to all lovers of links golf.
Stay&Play at Prince's: excellent onsite Lodge accommodation available
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