September 26, 2016, Arnold Palmer died at age 87. In addition to his seven majors, Palmer is one of the most memorable figures in team golf history and led the Ryder Cup in numerous statistical categories and was a two-time winning captain

 

September 23, a couple of Open Championships ended on this date in the 1800s. In 1868, at Prestwick, Young Tom Morris won the ninth Open by three shots over his father, Tom Morris, Sr., at just age 17 when he shot 154.  In 1892, at Muirfield, Harold Hilton also won by three over John Ball, Hugh Kirkaldy and Sandy Herd.

 

Septemeber 18, 1863, the Open Championship was played with Willie Park, Sr., winning by two shots over Tom Morris, Sr., also known as Old Tom. Park shot 168 in three 12-hole rounds played in one day, beating out the field of 14 players at Prestwick Golf Club. On this date in 1892, the winner of the 1924 U.S. Open, Cyril Walker, was born in Manchester, England. He came to the U.S. in 1914 and was working out of Englewood Country Club when he won the U.S. Open at Oakland Hills. But he died destitute in 1948 in New Jersey at age 55.

 

September 16, 1953, 1976 U.S. Open champion Jerry Pate was born in Macon, Georgia. His victory came as a 22-year-old rookie with great promise for many more majors that never came, partly due to a subsequent shoulder injury.

September 13, a pair of Open Championships ended on this date. In 1866, at Prestwick, Willie Park, Sr., won for the third time, beating brother Davie Park by two shots. In 1872, also at Prestwick, Tom Morris, Jr., won for the fourth straight time, winning by three strokes over David Strath.

 

September 10, 1875, the Open Championship was held at Prestwick Golf Club, South Ayrshire, Scotland. The entire tournament was on one day. Eighteen players began at 11:30 a.m. Willie Park, Sr. won by two strokes over runner-up Bob Martin with a score of 166. Park had won the first championship in 1860 and his 1875 victory gave him four wins.

 

September 5, 1925, the great amateur Bobby Jones, President in Perpetuity of Augusta National Golf Club, won the 29th playing of the U.S. Amateur, beating Watts Gunn, 8 and 7, at Oakmont for his second title.

 

September 4, two American golf stars, both in the World Golf Hall of Fame, were born on this date. In 1942, Raymond Floyd, a four-time major winner, was born in Fort Bragg, North Carolina. And in 1949, eight-time major champion Tom Watson was born in Kansas City, Missouri.