Dow Finsterwald
Name:
Dow Henry Finsterwald SrCountry:
USABorn:
Sept 6, 1929 in Athens, Ohio.Original/Home Club:
Occupation:
Professional golferTurned Pro:
1951MAJORS (1): US PGA Championship (1958). Ryder Cup player (1957, 1969, 1961, 1963); Ryder Cup captain (1977). PGA Tour wins (11).
Former PGA Tour player.
America
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Played as the "500" Festival Open Invitational (May 31-Jun 3; held in conjunction with the Indy 500 race week). Second-placed Tommy Aaron (USA), Julius Boros (USA), Tony Lema (USA) and Bobby Nichols (USA) finished 2 shots behind Dow Finsterwald (USA), who recorded the last of his 11 PGA Tour wins. [Brickyard Crossing GC, at the time known as Speedway GC, Indianapolis, IN].
America
x
Played as the Los Angeles Open (Jan 9-12; PGA Tour season opener). Second-placed Bill Collins (USA), Jay Hebert (USA) and Dave Ragan (USA) finished 3 shots behind Finsterwald (USA). [Rancho Park GC, Los Angeles, CA].
America
x
Played as the Greater New Orleans Open Invitational (April 21-24). Second-placed Al Besselink (USA) finished 6 shots behind Dow Finsterwald (USA). [Bayou Oaks at City Park, New Orleans, LA. Played on what was known as City Park's No.1 (East) course; now part of the South course).
America
KCGA
Played as the Kansas City Open (Sept 4-7). Finsterwald (USA) beat Don Fairfield (USA) at the first playoff hole. [Blue Hills CC, nr Kansas City, Missouri].
America
x
Played as the Greater Greensboro Open (April 9-12). Second-placed Art Wall Jr (USA) finished 2 shots behind Finsterwald (USA). [Starmount Forest CC, Greensboro, NC].
Majors
PGA of America
The US PGA Championship (40th) (July 17-20; first year in stroke-play rather than match play format). Second-placed Billy Casper (USA) finished 2 shots behind Finsterwald (USA), who recorded his first and only major championship win. [Llanerch CC, Havertown, nr Philadelphia, PA].
Awards
PGA of America
Finsterwald (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
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Played as the Tucson Open Invitational (Feb 7-11). Dow Finsterwald (USA) beat Don Whitt (USA) by 4 shots in an 18-hole Monday playoff (Finsterwald 5-under-par 65, Whitt 69). [El Rio G&CC, Tucson, AZ. Now known as El Rio GC].
Awards
PGA of America
Finsterwald (USA) won the PGA of America Vardon Trophy, recording the season's lowest scoring average on the PGA Tour.
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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