Gene Sarazen
Name:
Gene SarazenCountry:
USALived:
[1902-1999]. Born on Feb 27, 1902 in Harrison, New York. Died on May 13, 1999 in Naples, Florida (aged 97).Original/Home Club:
Harrison, New YorkOccupation:
Professional golfer, TV commentator and presenter, inventor of the modern sand wedgeTurned Pro:
1921America
PGA of America
Played as the PGA Seniors' Championship. Second-placed Charles Sheppard (USA) finished 3 shots behind Gene Sarazen (USA). [Dunedin GC, Dunedin, nr Tampa, FL. at the time known as PGA National GC].
America
PGA of America
Played as the PGA Seniors' Championship. Second-placed Al Watrous (USA) and Perry Del Vecchio (USA) finished 2 shots behind Sarazen (USA). [Dunedin GC, Dunedin, nr Tampa, FL. at the time known as PGA National GC].
Europe
Teacher's
Played as the inaugural Teacher International Senior Professional Championship (Jun 30-July 1; 36-hole match between the US PGA Senior Champion and a leading British senior professional; for the unofficial title of world senior professional champion). Sarazen (USA) beat Percy Alliss (Eng) 4 and 3. [Southport & Ainsdale GC, Southport, Merseyside].
America
x
Played as the Miami Biltmore International Four-Ball. Winning Team: Ben Hogan & Gene Sarazen, by 4 and 3 in the final. [The Biltmore, Coral Gables, Miami, FL].
Played as the Lake Placid Open.
Played as the Florida West Coast Open.
America
x
Played as the Chicago Open (July 23-25; last played in 1928). Second-placed "Lighthorse" Harry Cooper (Eng/USA), Horton Smith (USA) and Ky Laffoon (USA) finished 1 shot behind Gene Sarazen (USA). [No.3 Course, Medinah CC, Bloomingdale, nr Chicago, IL; first two rounds also used the No.1 and No.2 courses].
Aus/NZ
x
Played as the Australian Open (Sept 24-26). Second-placed Harry Williams (Aus, amateur) finished 4 shots behind Sarazen (USA). [Metropolitan GC, South Oakleigh, Melbourne, Aus].
Played as the Long Island Open.
Majors
x
The Masters Tournament (2nd) (April 4-8; played as the Augusta National Invitation Tournament). Sarazen (USA) beat Craig Wood (USA) in a 36-hole playoff: Sarazen 144 (E), Wood 149 (+5). Wood was also runner-up in the first Masters a year earlier. [Augusta National GC, Augusta, GA].
Played as the Massachusetts Open.
America
x
Played as the Hawaiian Open. Second-placed Paul Runyan (USA) and Hawaiian native Guinea Kop (USA) finished in second place behind Sarazen (USA). [Waialae CC, Honolulu, Hawaii]. Note: After its well-publicised first two years in 1928/29, the Hawaiian Open settled down to become a local, relatively low money event from 1930 thru' 1964. It was typically played at Waialae CC, and occasionally attracted a few top professionals from the PGA Tour. Most famously during this period, Gene Sarazen won it in 1934. Local amateur Arthur Armstrong, from Palolo, Honolulu, was the most prolific winner of the title (1939, '40, '43, '45, '46).
Majors
PGA of America
The US PGA Championship (16th) (Aug 8-13). Sarazen (USA) beat Willie Goggin (USA) 5 and 4 in the 36-hole final. [Blue Mound G&CC, Wauwatosa, nr Milwaukee, WI].
America
x
Played as the Coral Gables-Miami Biltmore Open (March 18-20; the first of two Miami Biltmore Opens played in 1932). Second-placed Walter Hagen (USA) and Paul Runyan (USA) finished 1 shot behind Gene Sarazen (USA). [The Biltmore, Coral Gables, Miami, FL; at the time known as the Miami Biltmore CC].
Majors
USGA
The US Open (36th) (June 23-25). Second-placed Bobby Cruickshank (Scot) and Thomas Philip "Phil" Perkins (Eng) finished 3 shots behind Gene Sarazen (USA), who added the US Open to the British Open title he won two weeks earlier. [Fresh Meadow CC, Flushing, NY; this A.W Tillinghast-designed course no longer exists. In 1946, Fresh Meadow CC took over, moved to and renamed the course of the defunct Lakeville G&CC at Lake Success, L.I.].
Majors
R&A
The Open Championship (67th) (June 8-10). Second-placed Macdonald "Mac" Smith (Scot) finished 5 shots behind Sarazen (USA), in the only Open Championship played at Prince's. [Prince's GC, Sandwich, Kent].
Played as the True Temper Open.
Played as the Florida West Coast Open.
America
x
Played as the (last) La Gorce Open (March 19-21). Second-placed Tommy Armour (Scot/USA) finished 3 shots behind Gene Sarazen (USA), whose 5-under-par 66 final round clinched the win. [La Gorce CC, Miami Beach, FL].
Played as the Lannin Memorial Tournament.
Played as the Concord Country Club Invitational
America
WGA
Played as the Western Open (Aug 21-23). Second-placed Al Espinosa (USA) finished 7 shots behind Gene Sarazen (USA). [Old course, Indianwood G&CC, Lake Orion, Mich].
Played as the Lannin Memorial Tournament.
America
x
Played as the inaugural Agua Caliente Open (Jan 20-23; at the time the world's biggest money event in golf). Second-placed Horton Smith (USA) and Al Espinosa (USA) finished 2 shots behind Gene Sarazen (USA). [CS&DC de Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico; at the time called Agua Caliente CC].
Played as the United States Pro Invitational.
America
x
Played as the Miami Open (Jan 4/5). Second-placed William Leach (USA) finished 1 shot behind Gene Sarazen (USA), who recorded his fourth straight win in this event. [Miami CC, Miami, FL; this course closed for good in 1956. It was located at NW 11th St and NW 12th Ave, alongside the Miami River].
Played as the Florida West Coast Open.
Played as the Middle Atlantic Open.
America
x
Played as the Miami Open (Jan 4/5). Second-placed Jock Hutchison (Scot) finished 8 shots behind Gene Sarazen (USA), who recorded his third straight win in this event. [Miami Springs G&CC, Miami, FL; at the time known as Miami Springs Municipal Course].
America
x
Played as the Miami Beach Open (Jan 11/12; next played in 1950). Second-placed George Christ (USA) finished 1 shot behind Gene Sarazen (USA), who won this title for the third straight year. [Final two rounds at La Gorce CC, Miami Beach, FL. First two rounds at Miami Beach GC; at the time known as Bayshore GC].
America
x
Played as the Miami Open (Jan 7/8). Second-placed Jock Hutchison (Scot/USA) finished 1 shot behind defending champion Gene Sarazen (USA). [Miami CC, Miami, FL; this course closed for good in 1956. It was located at NW 11th St and NW 12th Ave, alongside the Miami River].
America
Metropolitan GA
Played as the Metropolitan Open (July 18-20). Second-placed and defending champion Johnny Farrell (USA) finished 2 shots behind Tommy Armour (Scot/USA), who shot a course record 66 in the first round. [Shackamaxon CC, Scotch Plains, NJ].
America
x
Played as the Miami Beach Open (Jan 2/3). Second-placed Johnny Farrell (USA) finished 3 shots behind defending champion Gene Sarazen (USA). [Miami Beach GC, Miami Beach, FL; at the time known as Bayshore GC].
Played as the Nassau Bahamas Open.
America
x
Played as the inaugural Miami Beach Open (Jan 3/4). Second-placed Jock Hutchison (Scot/USA) finished 4 shots behind Gene Sarazen (USA), who recorded the first of his three straight wins in this event. [Miami Beach GC, Miami Beach, FL; at the time known as Bayshore GC].
America
Metropolitan GA
Played as the Metropolitan Open (May 25-27). Second-placed Bobby Cruickshank (Scot) finished 1 shot behind Johnny Farrell (USA). [Wykagyl CC, New Rochelle, New York].
Played as the Long Island Open.
America
x
Played as the Miami Open (Dec 30/31). Second-placed and defending champion Willie Klein (USA) finished 3 shots behind Gene Sarazen (USA), who recorded the first of his four straight wins in this event. [Miami Springs G&CC, Miami, FL; at the time known as Miami Hialeah Golf Club].
America
Metropolitan GA
Played as the Metropolitan Open (July 17/18). Second-placed Joe Turnesa (USA) finished 1 shot behind Gene Sarazen (USA). [Grassy Sprain GC, Bronxville, NY; this course no longer exists].
Majors
PGA of America
The US PGA Championship (6th) (Aug 23-29). Defending champion Sarazen (USA) beat Walter Hagen (USA) 1-up with a birdie-3 at the 38th hole in the final. [Pelham CC, Pelham, nr New York City, NY].
Majors
USGA
The US Open (26th) (July 14/15). Second-placed Bobby Jones (USA, amateur) and John Black (USA) finished 1 shot behind Sarazen (USA). [Skokie CC, Glencoe, nr Chicago, IL].
Majors
PGA of America
The US PGA Championship (5th) (Aug 12-18). Sarazen (USA) beat Emmet French (USA) 4 and 3 in the 36-hole final. [Oakmont CC, nr Pittsburgh, PA].
America
Southern GA
Played as the Southern Open (March 3/4; the first SGA-sponsored Southern Open, and the first of two Southern Opens played in 1922). Second-placed Leo Diegel (USA) finished 8 shots behind Gene Sarazen (USA), who recorded his first significant professional tour win. [New Orleans CC, New Orleans, Louisiana].
Tournaments:
2021 Opens: whether by accident or design, four of the top five mens’ Open Championships played in the British Isles occupy consecutive weeks in July: the Irish Open (1-4), Scottish Open (8-11), The Open (15-18) and Wales Open (22-25). The recently relaunched English Open is scheduled for early-August.
Hoag Classic: Ernie Els defends his title in this prestigious PGA Tour Champions event, played since 1991 at the Newport Beach Country Club, CA (Mar 5-7).
Who's Who:
Brooks Koepka: won his second Phoenix Open title, with a chip-in eagle at TPC Scottsdale’s short par-4 17th included in his final round.
Annika Sörenstam: the legendary Swede makes a return to the LPGA Tour in the Gainbridge LPGA, to be played at Lake Nona, her home club (Feb 25-28).
Traigh Golf Course (pronounced "try", and meaning "beach" in Gaelic): You'll find this nine-hole seaside gem on the scenic coast road (as opposed to the more inland and quicker A830) between Arisaig and Morar. Although not on the well-beaten path of Scotland's "trophy" courses, if you are passing through this area, it's a must play.
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Cullen Links Golf Club: "immensely scenic", "quirky as golf can get", "short!", "hugely enjoyable" ... Cullen Links attracts as wide a variety of comments as it lays down golfing challenges. Shoehorned into this 4,600 yard treasure trove are ten par-3s, seven par-4s and a good-length par-5. Here you'll find all the seaside scenery a golfer could ask for, and a lot more besides. Read More...
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