Doug Ford
Name:
Douglas Michael "Doug" Ford SrCountry:
USALived:
[1922-2018]. Born Aug 6, 1922 in West Haven, Connecticut. Died on May 14, 2018 in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida (aged 95).Original/Home Club:
Occupation:
Professional golferTurned Pro:
1949MAJORS (2): US PGA Championship (1955); The Masters (1957). Ryder Cup player (1955, '57, '59, '61).
Ford was a talented baseball player who received a contract offer from the New York Yankees. He opted for a career in golf, advised by his father that it would very probably outlast a career in baseball. Ford was still playing golf on a regular basis into his late 80s.
America
Golf Digest
Played as the Golf Digest Commemorative Pro-Am (unofficial US Snr Tr event). First-time US Snr Tr winner Ford (USA) beat 69-year-old defending champion Sam Snead (USA) with a birdie at the first playoff hole (par-4 16th). [Newport CC, Newport, Rhode Island].
America
x
Played as the Canadian Open (July 3-6). Second-placed Al Geiberger (USA) finished 1 shot behind Doug Ford (USA), who recorded his second win in this event and the last of his 19 PGA Tour wins. [Scarboro G&CC, Toronto, Ont.].
America
x
Played as the Eastern Open (June 21-24; not played again as a PGA Tour event until 1970, when it resurfaced as the Doral-Eastern Open, and was played as such until 1986; see "Doral Open"). Second-placed Bob Goalby (USA) finished 1 shot behind 39-year-old Doug Ford (USA). [Mt Pleasant Municipal GC, Baltimore, MD].
America
Bing Crosby
Played as the Bing Crosby National Pro-Am (Jan 18-22). Ford (USA) beat Joe Campbell (USA) at the first playoff hole. Monday finish after earlier bad weather. [Pebble Beach Links, Monterey Peninsula, CA. Earlier rounds also at: Cypress Point Club and Monterey Peninsula CC].
America
x
Played as the "500" Festival Open Invitational (May 25-28; held in conjunction with the Indy 500 race week). Defending champion Doug Ford (USA) beat Arnold Palmer (USA) with a 12-foot birdie putt at the second playoff hole. [Brickyard Crossing GC, at the time known as Speedway GC, Indianapolis, IN].
America
x
Played as the inaugural "500" Festival Open Invitational (May 26-29; held in conjunction with the Indy 500 race week). Second-placed Jerry Barber (USA) finished 2 shots behind Doug Ford (USA). [Brickyard Crossing GC, at the time known as Speedway GC, Indianapolis, IN].
America
x
Played as the Canadian Open (50th) (June 17-20). Second-placed Dow Finsterwald (USA), Art Wall (USA) and Bo Wininger (USA) finished 2 shots behind Doug Ford (USA). [GC Islesmere, Sainte-Dorothée Laval, Québec].
America
x
Played as the Pensacola Open (March 13-16). Second-placed Ken Venturi (USA) and defending champion Art Wall Jr (USA) finished 2 shots behind Ford (USA). [Pensacola CC, Pensacola, FL].
America
x
Played as the Panama Open. Won by Ford (USA). [GC de Panama, Panama City, Panama].
Majors
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The Masters Tournament (21st) (April 4-7). Second-placed Sam Snead (USA) finished 3 shots behind Ford (USA), who recorded his second major championship victory. Ford holed-out from a greenside bunker to cement his win with a birdie-three at the 72nd hole. [Augusta National GC, Augusta, GA].
America
x
Played as the Los Angeles Open (Jan 4-7; PGA Tour season opener). Second-placed Jay Hebert (USA) finished 1 shot behind Ford (USA). [Rancho Park GC, Los Angeles, CA].
America
WGA
Played as the Western Open (Jun 27-30). Doug Ford (USA) beat George Bayer (USA) with a par at the third playoff hole. Gene Littler (USA) and Billy Maxwell (USA) were eliminated at the first playoff hole. [Plum Hollow CC, Southfield, nr Detroit, Mich.].
America
Metropolitan GA
Played as the Metropolitan Open. (Sept 18-20; Metropolitan Golf Assoc event). Second-placed Mike Turnesa (USA) finished 3 shots behind Doug Ford (USA), who shot a course record 7-under-par 66 in the final round to clinch the win. [Inwood CC, Inwood, Long Island, NY].
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).
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].
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.].
America
x
Played as the Greater Greensboro Open (April 1-5). Ford (USA) beat Marty Furgol (USA) by 3 shots in an 18-hole playoff (Ford 72, Furgol 75). [Starmount Forest CC, Greensboro, NC].
America
x
Played as the inaugural Virginia Beach Open (April 16-19). Second-placed Ansel Snow (USA) finished 2 shots behind Ford (USA), who claimed his second PGA Tour win. [Cavalier Y&CC, Virginia Beach, Virginia; now called Cavalier G&YC].
America
Labatt Brewing
Played as the inaugural Labatt Open (Aug 20-23). Second-placed Walter Burkemo (USA) finished 5 shots behind Doug Ford (USA). [Summerlea G&CC, Vaudreuil-Dorion, Québec].
America
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Played as the Miami Open (Dec 10-13). Second-placed Sam Snead (USA) finished 4 shots behind Doug Ford (USA). [Miami Springs G&CC, Miami, FL; at the time known as Miami Springs Municipal Course].
America
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Played as the Jacksonville Open (March 21-24). Following a tie at the end of regulation play, Sam Snead (USA) forfeited an 18-hole playoff to 28-year-old Ford (USA), who recorded his first PGA Tour win. Snead's forfeit was based on him not wanting fans to think he won unfairly, following a favourable ruling he received during a penalty incident in the second round. [Hyde Park GC, Jacksonville, FL].
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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