Most of us know by now that no newbie has ever gained the Masters. Ken Venturi’s second place end to Jack Burke Jr. in 1956 was the closest any non-pro has come to successful because the inaugural version in 1934 at Augusta Nationwide.
However have amateurs gained any occasions on the 2 main skilled excursions in North America and in Europe?
The reply is sure, after all. A minimum of seven gamers have carried out it on the PGA Tour, and three on the DP World Tour (previously the European Tour).
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Probably the most well-known instance in the US was Phil Mickelson’s victory in 1991 in Tucson when he gained the Northern Telecom Open, an occasion that’s now not performed on the PGA Tour. He was simply 20 years outdated, a junior on the Arizona State College golf crew, when he made the drive all the way down to play within the occasion on the TPC at Starpass. It got here with loads of drama on the finish. And who will neglect Mickelson, sporting his collar up and donning the conquistador hat trophy after his victory?
Mickelson had a one-shot lead within the last spherical however a triple-bogey eight on the 14th turned that right into a three-stroke deficit. Mickelson, nevertheless, rallied with birdies on two of the ultimate three holes (helped by a double-bogey from Tom Purtzer on the 18th) to win by a single stroke over Bob Tway and Purtzer.
“I am having lots of enjoyable,” Mickelson stated in the course of the week. “There’s actually no cash at stake for me, simply pleasure. I really feel like I am prepared, however I am scared as a result of I by no means been right here earlier than.”
Mickelson would win the occasion two extra occasions as knowledgeable, in 1995 and 1996.
Shane Lowry – Irish Open 2009
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Extra not too long ago, on the opposite aspect of the pond, Shane Lowry gained the 2009 Irish Open as an newbie at Baltray. In dreadful circumstances, Lowry emerged victorious over Robert Rock on the the third playoff gap. Lowry, 22 on the time, missed a four-footer on the final that will have clinched it for him, however with some encouragement from fellow Irishman Rory McIlroy, he tapped in for par on the third playoff gap to emerge victorious over Rock, who might solely handle a bogey.
“I can’t describe how I really feel,” Lowry, who would win The Open 10 years later at Royal Portrush, stated on the time. “I had an invitation to play right here and simply wished to make the minimize. However after I shot 62 Friday, I felt I might win.”
Right here, then, are another notable amateurs who gained skilled tour occasions:
Dr. Cary Middlecoff (1945 North-South Open)
A dentist within the Military on the time, Middlecoff took go away to compete within the North-South Open at Pinehurst in 1945. It was an excellent determination. He grew to become the primary newbie to win a PGA Tour occasion, and the victory satisfied Middlecoff to take up golf as his skilled vocation. He would go on to win US Open in 1949 and 1956 in addition to the 1955 Masters.
Fred Haas (1945 Memphis Invitational, 1945 Durham Struggle Bond Match)
Additionally in 1945, Haas would win a PGA Tour occasion twice as an newbie. He gained each the Memphis Invitational and the Durham Struggle Bond Match. What’s attention-grabbing about that is that the Arkansas native and LSU grad’s first win in Memphis broke Byron Nelson’s 11-tournament win streak. He turned professional the subsequent yr.
Frank Stranahan (1946 Kansas Metropolis Invitational, 1946 Fort Value Invitational, 1948 Miami Open)
No person gained extra PGA Tour occasions as an newbie than Frank Stranahan. He did it thrice. His first got here on the Kansas Metropolis Invitational in 1946, then later that yr he additionally gained the Fort Value Invitational. Two years later, he would file a win on the Miami Open. Often known as the “Toledo Strongman” as a result of he was additionally a powerlifting champion, Stranahan was a three-time member of the US Walker Cup crew. In 1954 he joined the PGA Tour, the place he gained 9 occasions.
Gene Littler (1954 San Diego Open)
An newbie victory on the 1954 San Diego Open would turn out to be a prelude to an amazing skilled profession by Littler. The World Golf Corridor of Fame member, nicknamed “Gene the Machine,” gained the 1953 US Beginner and 1961 US Open and was victorious on the PGA Tour 29 occasions. The San Diego native and Navy veteran additionally survived most cancers in 1972 and got here again to win 4 extra occasions on the PGA Tour.
Doug Sanders (1956 Canadian Open)
The person who infamously missed a two-foot putt that will have given him victory on the The Open in 1970 at St. Andrews, gained his first PGA Tour occasion as an newbie within the 1956 Canadian Open. Recognized for his flamboyant gown and in depth shoe assortment, he would turn out to be the final newbie to win a PGA Tour occasion till Scott Verplank in 1985.
Scott Verplank (1985 Western Open)
Within the 1985 Western Open performed at Butler Nationwide in Oak Brook, Ailing., Verplank, an Oklahoma State senior, gained in a playoff over Jim Thorpe. The Dallas native was additionally the low newbie on the 1985 US Open, and he additionally gained the Western Beginner that yr. He would go on to win 5 occasions on the PGA Tour.
Pablo Martin-Benavides (2007 Open de Portugal)
In 2007, Martin-Benavides grew to become the primary newbie participant to win a DP Tour occasion when he carded a bogey-free last spherical 68 to edge out Raphael Jacquelin in Portugal. The Spaniard got here near conducting that feat practically 4 years earlier as a 17 yr outdated when he led the Canaries Open de Espana by three rounds however could not shut the deal. He would later be ranked because the no. 1 participant in school golf as a member of the crew at Oklahoma State College.
Danny Lee (2009 Johnny Walker Traditional)
Not solely did Lee win the 2009 Johnny Walker Traditional as newbie, however the New Zealander additionally grew to become the youngest winner in DP World Tour historical past at 18 years and 213 days outdated with that victory. The yr earlier than, Lee grew to become the youngest participant ever to win the U.S. Beginner at The Vines Resort & Nation Membership. A member of the PGA Tour since 2012, Lee has one win, the 2014 Greenbriar Traditional, and 28 top-ten finishes.
