Who's who: Chi Chi Rodríguez

  • Torrey Pines - South course, host of the Farmers Insurance Open
  • Prince's GC, England
  • Torrey Pines - South course, host of the Farmers Insurance Open
  • Terras da Comporta, Dunas
  • Monte Rei G&CC
  • Marco Simone GC (Italy); host of the Ryder Cup 2023
  • Pebble Beach host of the US Open; US Women's Open; Pebble Beach Pro-Am
  • Marco Simone GC

Who's who: Chi Chi Rodríguez

  • Name:

    Juan Antonio "Chi Chi" Rodríguez
  • Country:

    Puerto Rico
  • Born:

    Oct 23, 1935 in Rio Piedras, Puerto Rico.
  • Original/Home Club:

  • Occupation:

    Professional golfer; founder of Chi-Chi Rodríguez Youth Foundation; golf course designer.
  • Turned Pro:

    1960

Roll of Honour

Senior MAJORS (2). Ryder Cup player (1973). Total professional wins (38), including PGA Tour (8) and Champions Tour (22). Senior PGA Tour leading money winner (1987). Bob Jones Award (1989). Old Tom Morris Award (1989, GCSAA). World Golf Hall of Fame (inducted in 1992).

Did you know?

One of the most popular and colourful golfers of the 1960s and '70s, Rodríguez became the first Puerto Rican to be inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame.

Top tournaments won by Chi Chi Rodríguez

1993
America
Bunker Hills
201 (-15)
$157,500
Burnet

Category

America

Winner (holder)

Rodriguez, Chi Chi

Venue

Bunker Hills

Score

201 (-15)

Prize money

$157,500

Title sponsor

Burnet

Played as the Burnet Senior Classic (June 19-20). Second-placed Jim Colbert (USA) and Bob Murphy (USA) finished 2 shots behind Rodríguez (PR/USA), who recorded the last of his 22 Snr PGA Tour victories. [Bunker Hills GC, Coon Rapids, nr Minneapolis, Minn.].

1992
America
206 (-10)
$75,000
x

Category

America

Winner (holder)

Rodriguez, Chi Chi

Score

206 (-10)

Prize money

$75,000

Title sponsor

x

Played as the inaugural (and only) Ko Olina Senior Invitational (Nov 6-8). Second-placed Charles Coody (USA) finished 6 shots behind Rodríguez (PR/USA). [Ko Olina GC, Kapolei, Oahu, Hawaii].

1991
America
Vintage Club, CA
206 (-10)
$75,000
ARCO

Category

America

Winner (holder)

Rodriguez, Chi Chi

Venue

Vintage Club, CA

Score

206 (-10)

Prize money

$75,000

Title sponsor

ARCO

Played as the Vintage ARCO Invitational. Second-placed Mike Hill (USA) and Don January (USA) finished 1 shot behind Rodríguez (PR/USA). [Vintage Club, Palm Desert, California].

1991
America
Stonebriar CC
208 (-8)
$60,000
Murata

Category

America

Winner (holder)

Rodriguez, Chi Chi

Venue

Stonebriar CC

Score

208 (-8)

Prize money

$60,000

Title sponsor

Murata

Played as the Murata Reunion Pro-Am. Rodríguez (PR/USA) beat Jim Colbert (USA) with a par at the fourth playoff hole. [Stonebriar CC, Frisco, nr Dallas, Texas].

Category

America

Winner (holder)

Rodriguez, Chi Chi

Score

204 (-12)

Prize money

$67,500

Title sponsor

x

Played as the Las Vegas Senior Classic. Second-placed Walt Zembriski (USA) finished 3 shots behind Rodríguez (PR/USA). [Wynn Las Vegas, Nevada; at the time known as Desert Inn CC].

Category

America

Winner (holder)

Rodriguez, Chi Chi

Score

132 (-8)

Prize money

$67,500

Title sponsor

GTE

Played as the GTE West Classic (not played in 1990). Second-placed Gary Player (RSA) and Bruce Crampton (Aus) finished 1 shot behind Rodríguez (PR/USA). [Ojai Valley Inn & CC, Ojai, nr Ventura, California].

1990
America
Four Hills CC
205 (-11)
$52,500
Sunwest Bank

Category

America

Winner (holder)

Rodriguez, Chi Chi

Venue

Four Hills CC

Score

205 (-11)

Prize money

$52,500

Title sponsor

Sunwest Bank

Played as the Sunwest Bank Charley Pride Senior Classic (Aug 10-12). Second-placed Charles Coody (USA), Jim Dent (USA) and Jim Ferree (USA) finished 2 shots behind Rodríguez (PR/USA). [Canyon Club, Albuquerque, New Mexico; at the time known as Four Hills CC].

1990
America
203 (-13)
$75,000
Ameritech

Category

America

Winner (holder)

Rodriguez, Chi Chi

Score

203 (-13)

Prize money

$75,000

Title sponsor

Ameritech

Played as the Ameritech Senior Open (July 18-20). Second-placed George Archer (USA) and Al Kelley (USA) finished 7 shots behind Rodríguez (PR/USA). [Bear course, Grand Traverse Resort, Acme, nr Traverse City, Michigan].

Category

America

Winner (holder)

Rodriguez, Chi Chi

Score

204 (-12)

Prize money

$67,500

Title sponsor

x

Played as the Las Vegas Senior Classic. Second-placed George Archer (USA) and Charles Coody (USA) finished 1 shot behind Rodríguez (PR/USA). [Wynn Las Vegas, Nevada; at the time known as Desert Inn CC].

Category

America

Winner (holder)

Rodriguez, Chi Chi

Score

4 skins

Prize money

$120,000

Title sponsor

x

Played as the Senior Skins Game (Jan 21/22; four-man Snr PGA Tr unofficial money event). Defending champion Rodriguez (PR/USA) won with a total of 4 skins worth $120,000. Second was Gary Player (RSA) 7 skins worth $120,000. Third was Billy Casper (USA) 3 skins worth $80,000. Fourth was Arnold Palmer (USA) 4 skins worth $70,000. [Mountain course, La Quinta Resort, La Quinta, Calif.].

1989
America
Hermitage CC, VA
203 (-13)
$52,500
Crestar

Category

America

Winner (holder)

Rodriguez, Chi Chi

Venue

Hermitage CC, VA

Score

203 (-13)

Prize money

$52,500

Title sponsor

Crestar

Played as the Crestar Classic. Second-placed Jim Dent (USA) and Dick Rhyan (USA) finished 1 shot behind Rodríguez (PR/USA). [Hermitage CC, Manikin-Sabot, Virginia].

1988
America
202 (-14)
$45,000
Digital

Category

America

Winner (holder)

Rodriguez, Chi Chi

Score

202 (-14)

Prize money

$45,000

Title sponsor

Digital

Played as the Digital Seniors Classic. Second-placed Bob Charles (NZ) finished 1 shot behind Rodríguez (PR/USA), who won this event for the third straight year. [Nashawtuc CC, Concord, Massachusetts].

Category

America

Winner (holder)

Rodriguez, Chi Chi

Score

5 skins

Prize money

$300,000

Title sponsor

x

Played as the inaugural Senior Skins Game (Jan 30/31; four-man Snr PGA Tr unofficial money event). Rodriguez (PR/USA) won with a total of 5 skins worth $300,000. Second was Gary Player (RSA) 2 skins worth $40,000. Third was Arnold Palmer (USA) 1 skin worth $20,000. Sam Snead (USA) was shutout with no skins. [Fazio course, Turtle Bay Resort, Kahuku, Oahu, Hawaii].

1988
America
Deerwood Club
208 (-8)
$37,500
Doug Sanders

Category

America

Winner (holder)

Rodriguez, Chi Chi

Venue

Deerwood Club

Score

208 (-8)

Prize money

$37,500

Title sponsor

Doug Sanders

Played as the Doug Sanders Kingwood Celebrity Classic. Second-placed Miller Barber (USA) and John Brodie (USA) finished 2 shots behind Rodríguez (PR/USA). [Deerwood Course, Clubs of Kingswood, Houston, Texas].

1987
America
Bent Tree CC, TX
201 (-15)
$30,000
x

Category

America

Winner (holder)

Rodriguez, Chi Chi

Venue

Bent Tree CC, TX

Score

201 (-15)

Prize money

$30,000

Title sponsor

x

Played as the Senior Players Reunion Pro-Am. Second-placed Bruce Crampton (Aus) finished 1 shot behind Rodríguez (PR/USA). [Bent Tree CC, Dallas, Texas].

1987
America
Dominion CC
203 (-13)
$37,500
Vantage

Category

America

Winner (holder)

Rodriguez, Chi Chi

Venue

Dominion CC

Score

203 (-13)

Prize money

$37,500

Title sponsor

Vantage

Played as the Vantage at the Dominion. Second-placed Butch Baird (USA) finished 3 shots behind Rodríguez (PR/USA). [Dominion CC, San Antonio, Texas].

1987
America
Quail Creek, OK
200 (-16)
$37,500
Silver Pages

Category

America

Winner (holder)

Rodriguez, Chi Chi

Venue

Quail Creek, OK

Score

200 (-16)

Prize money

$37,500

Title sponsor

Silver Pages

Played as the inaugural Silver Pages Classic. Second-placed Bruce Crampton (Aus) finished 3 shots behind Rodríguez (PR/USA). [Quail Creek G&CC, Oklahoma City, OK].

1987
America
Chester Valley
202 (-8)
$33,750
Utd Hospitals

Category

America

Winner (holder)

Rodriguez, Chi Chi

Venue

Chester Valley

Score

202 (-8)

Prize money

$33,750

Title sponsor

Utd Hospitals

Played as the United Hospitals Senior Championship. Second-placed Lee Elder (USA) finished 1 shot behind Rodríguez (PR/USA). [Chester Valley GC, Malvern, nr Philadelphia, PA].

1987
Awards
$509,145
see Score
Snr PGA Tr

Category

Awards

Winner (holder)

Rodriguez, Chi Chi

Venue

Score

$509,145

Prize money

see Score

Title sponsor

Snr PGA Tr

Rodriguez (Puerto Rico) won the Arnold Palmer Award as the Senior PGA Tour 1987 leading money winner, with earnings of $509,145 on the Tour. Bruce Crampton (Aus) was second with $437,904; Bob Charles (NZ) was third with $389,437.

1987
Awards
70.07
n/a
Snr PGA Tr

Category

Awards

Winner (holder)

Rodriguez, Chi Chi

Venue

Score

70.07

Prize money

n/a

Title sponsor

Snr PGA Tr

Rodriguez (Puerto Rico) won his second straight Byron Nelson Award, recording the season's lowest scoring average on the Senior PGA Tour. Bob Charles (NZ) was second with 70.18; Bruce Crampton (Aus) was third with 70.39.

1987
America
198 (-18)
$37,500
Digital

Category

America

Winner (holder)

Rodriguez, Chi Chi

Score

198 (-18)

Prize money

$37,500

Title sponsor

Digital

Played as the Digital Seniors Classic. Second-placed Orville Moody (USA) finished 8 shots behind defending champion Rodríguez (PR/USA). [Nashawtuc CC, Concord, Massachusetts].

1987
America
Inglewood GC, WA
206 (-10)
$45,000
GTE

Category

America

Winner (holder)

Rodriguez, Chi Chi

Venue

Inglewood GC, WA

Score

206 (-10)

Prize money

$45,000

Title sponsor

GTE

Played as the GTE Northwest Classic. Second-placed Butch Baird (USA) finished 1 shot behind Rodríguez (PR/USA). [Inglewood GC, Kenmore, nr Seattle, Washington].

1987
Majors
282 (-6)
$47,000
General Foods

Category

Majors

Winner (holder)

Rodriguez, Chi Chi

Score

282 (-6)

Prize money

$47,000

Title sponsor

General Foods

Played as the General Foods PGA Seniors' Championship (Feb 12-15). Second-placed Dale Douglass (USA) finished 1 shot behind Chi Chi Rodriguez (PR/USA). [Champion course, PGA National Resort, Palm Beach Gdns, FL].

1986
America
203 (-13)
$30,000
Digital

Category

America

Winner (holder)

Rodriguez, Chi Chi

Score

203 (-13)

Prize money

$30,000

Title sponsor

Digital

Played as the Digital Seniors Classic. Second-placed Gary Player (RSA) finished 1 shot behind Rodríguez (PR/USA). [Nashawtuc CC, Concord, Massachusetts].

1986
America
Hermitage CC, VA
202 (-14)
$45,000
Utd Virginia Bnk

Category

America

Winner (holder)

Rodriguez, Chi Chi

Venue

Hermitage CC, VA

Score

202 (-14)

Prize money

$45,000

Title sponsor

Utd Virginia Bnk

Played as the United Virginia Bank Seniors Classic. Second-placed Don January (USA) finished 3 shots behind Rodríguez (PR/USA). [Hermitage CC, Manikin-Sabot, Virginia].

1986
Awards
69.65
n/a
Snr PGA Tr

Category

Awards

Winner (holder)

Rodriguez, Chi Chi

Venue

Score

69.65

Prize money

n/a

Title sponsor

Snr PGA Tr

Rodriguez (Puerto Rico) won the Byron Nelson Award, recording the season's lowest scoring average on the Senior PGA Tour. Bruce Crampton (Aus) was second with 69.89; Gary Player (RSA) was third with 69.94.

Category

Majors

Winner (holder)

Rodriguez, Chi Chi

Score

206 (-10)

Prize money

$45,000

Title sponsor

x

Played as the Senior Tournament Players Championship (June 19-22). Second-placed Bruce Crampton (Aus) finished 2 shots behind first-time Snr PGA Tour winner Rodriguez (PR/USA), who recorded his first career win in a major championship. Reduced to 54 holes due to bad weather. [Canterbury GC, Beachwood, Ohio].

Category

America

Winner (holder)

Rodriguez, Chi Chi

Venue

Score

267

Prize money

Title sponsor

x

Played as the Panama Open. Butch Baird (USA) and Chi-Chi Rodriguez (PR/USA) tied for first place after they both parred the first two sudden-death playoff holes. Nightfall prevented any further play.

1979
America
Killearn CC
269 (-19)
$18,000
x

Category

America

Winner (holder)

Rodriguez, Chi Chi

Venue

Killearn CC

Score

269 (-19)

Prize money

$18,000

Title sponsor

x

Played as the Tallahassee Open (April 19-22). Second-placed Lindy Miller (USA) finished 3 shots behind Rodríguez (PR/USA), who recorded the last of his eight PGA Tour wins. [Killearn CC, Tallahassee, FL].

Category

America

Winner (holder)

Rodriguez, Chi Chi

Score

275

Prize money

$20,000

Title sponsor

Pepsi-Cola

Played as the Pepsi-Cola Mixed Team Ch'ship (two-person team event; one PGA Tr, one LPGA Tr). Winning team: Chi Chi Rodriguez (Puerto Rico/USA) & Jo Ann Washam (USA). Second-place: Jim Colbert (USA) & Silvia Bertolaccini (Arg) and David Graham (Aus) & Penny Pulz (Aus). [Doral Golf Resort, Miami, FL].

Category

America

Winner (holder)

Rodriguez, Chi Chi

Score

267 (-17)

Prize money

$42,000

Title sponsor

x

Played as the Greater Greensboro Open (Mar 30-Apr 2). Second-placed Lou Graham (USA) and Ken Still (USA) finished 1 shot behind Rodriguez (Puerto Rico/USA). Monday finish required after earlier rain interruptions during the event. [Sedgefield CC, Greensboro, NC].

1972
America
Preston Trail
273 (-7)
$25,000
x

Category

America

Winner (holder)

Rodriguez, Chi Chi

Venue

Preston Trail

Score

273 (-7)

Prize money

$25,000

Title sponsor

x

Played as the Byron Nelson Golf Classic (April 28-May 1). Rodriguez (Puerto Rico/USA) beat Billy Casper (USA) with a birdie at the first playoff hole. [Preston Trail GC, Dallas, TX].

1968
America
Paradise Valley CC
274 (-10)
$20,000
Sahara Hotel

Category

America

Winner (holder)

Rodriguez, Chi Chi

Venue

Paradise Valley CC

Score

274 (-10)

Prize money

$20,000

Title sponsor

Sahara Hotel

Played as the Sahara Invitational (Oct 17-20). Chi Chi Rodríguez (PR/USA) beat Dale Douglass (USA) with a birdie at the first playoff hole, to record his fifth PGA Tour win. [Paradise Valley CC, Henderson, NV; now called Wildhorse GC].

1967
America
Pecan Valley
277 (-7)
$20,000
x

Category

America

Winner (holder)

Rodriguez, Chi Chi

Venue

Pecan Valley

Score

277 (-7)

Prize money

$20,000

Title sponsor

x

Played as the Texas Open Invitational (April 27-30). Second-placed Bob Charles (NZ) and Bob Goalby (USA) finished 1 shot behind Chi Chi Rodríguez (Puerto Rico). [Pecan Valley GC, San Antonio, Texas. This course is now closed].

1964
America
Tam O'Shanter
268 (-16)
$11,000
WGA

Category

America

Winner (holder)

Rodriguez, Chi Chi

Venue

Tam O'Shanter

Score

268 (-16)

Prize money

$11,000

Title sponsor

WGA

Played as the Western Open (Aug 6-9). Second-placed Arnold Palmer (USA) finished 1 shot behind Chi Chi Rodríguez (Puerto Rico/USA). [Tam O'Shanter CC, Niles, nr Chicago, IL; now the municipal Tam O'Shanter Golf Course].

1964
America
272 (-12)
$7,500
Lucky Lager

Category

America

Winner (holder)

Rodriguez, Chi Chi

Score

272 (-12)

Prize money

$7,500

Title sponsor

Lucky Lager

Played as the Lucky International Open (Jan 23-27). Chi Chi Rodriguez (PR/USA) beat Don January (USA) in a playoff, to record his second PGA Tour win. Monday 18-hole playoff scores: Rodriguez 70, January 71. [Harding Park GC, San Francisco, Calif. Now known as TPC Harding Park].

Category

America

Winner (holder)

Rodriguez, Chi Chi

Venue

Score

Prize money

Title sponsor

x

Played as the Denver Open Invitational.

1963
America
Barranquilla CC
287
x

Category

America

Winner (holder)

Rodriguez, Chi Chi

Venue

Barranquilla CC

Score

287

Prize money

Title sponsor

x

Played as the Colombian Open (Abierto de Colombia). Won by Chi-Chi Rodriguez (Puerto Rico/USA). [CC of Barranquilla, Barranquilla, Colombia].

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Tournaments

Ryder Cup: Rome plays host to the first ever Ryder Cup to be staged in Italy, with the USA defending golf’s greatest team trophy at Marco Simone Golf & Country Club (Sept 29-Oct 1).

Solheim Cup: also in September, also in southern Europe, the 18th Solheim Cup will be contested at Finca Cortesin on the Costa del Sol, with Europe defending after their surprise win in Toledo, Inverness Club (Ohio) in 2021 (Sept 22-24). 

Who's Who

Céline Boutier: with many successes as both an amateur and professional golfer, Boutier added a major championship title to her impressive résumé at this year’s Evian Championship.

Alex Cejka: buffeted by rain and high winds, especially on the high-scoring final day, Čejka prevailed over Pádraig Harrington in a playoff at Royal Porthcawl, to scoop the Senior Open Championship title.

Marco Simone Golf & Country Club

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.

Prince's Golf Club, Kent (UK)

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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