We said farewell to these noted golf figures in 2017.
Anselmo began teaching Tiger Woods in Huntington Beach, Calif., when Woods was 10. He later wrote a book, “A-Game Golf: The Complete Starter Kit for Golfers from Tiger Woods’ Amateur Instructor.”
The Texas native didn’t turn pro until he was 52. He was only the second Monday qualifier to win a senior tour event, capturing the 1989 Greater Grand Rapids Open. He later added a second senior tour win.
Argentina’s greatest golfer won more than 230 tournaments worldwide, including eight on the PGA Tour, most notably the 1967 Open Championship, but he is best known for the scorecard error that cost him a spot in a playoff with Bob Goalby in the 1968 Masters and his subsequent quote, “What a stupid I am!”
One of the most accomplished sports broadcasters, Enberg was instantly recognizable from his signature “Oh, my!” expression. He worked for NBC from 1975-99, and anchored golf for the network from 1995-99.
NBC Sports and Golf Channel personality David Feherty revealed on Aug. 1 that his oldest son, Shey, had died of an overdose on his 29th birthday.
A native of South Africa, Hobday played most of his career on the South African and European tours. As a senior, he won five times between 1993 and 1995, including the 1994 U.S. Senior Open.
A two-time Ryder Cupper, the Englishman won 41 times as a pro, including 23 on the European Senior Tour.
A player, teacher, writer and administrator, Jacobs was instrumental in the founding of the European Tour. He was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 2000.
William “Hootie” Johnson served as the chairman of the Augusta National Golf Club from 1998-2006. He oversaw two projects that added length to the course and allowed 18-hole television coverage for the first time. He also famously crossed swords with women’s activist Martha Burk, declaring that the club would not admit female members “at the point of a bayonet.”
Kelley played the PGA Tour in the 1960s and earned his only professional win in 1990 at the senior tour’s Newport Cup.
Laesch, who founded Golfstat in 1984, was one of the foremost innovators in college golf. He died of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, commonly known as Lou Gehrig’s disease.
Owens, who played cross-handed, won twice on the PGA Tour and twice on the senior tour. As a result of injuries suffered in a parachute jump, he was allowed to use a cart in most events. He also is credited as the inventor of the long putter, which he conceived to help him beat the yips.
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Winner of the 1952 U.S. Women’s Amateur, the Hawaii native won five LPGA events from 1953-58. She is best known, however, for one she didn’t win - the 1957 U.S. Women’s Open. After it appeared she had won, she was disqualified for signing an incorrect scorecard. Sympathetic fans took up a collection and raised more than $3,000 for her, which was almost double the winner’s purse.
The wife of Ping founder Karsten Solheim, it was Louise who came up with the name Anser for the revolutionary putter. More than that, though, she ran the administrative side of the family business. “Together, they made an amazing team that formed the foundation for Ping today,” said son Allan Solheim.
Still played the PGA Tour and the senior tour between the 1950s and 1990s. He won three times on the PGA Tour and played in the 1969 Ryder Cup.
Frank Donovan “Sandy” Tatum Jr. was an amateur golfer, a lawyer, an administrator and a golf course architect. From 1978-80 he served as president of the USGA. During the 1974 U.S. Open, when he was chairman of the USGA’s competition committee, he uttered one of the most famous quotes in golf: “We’re not trying to humiliate the best players in the world. We’re simply trying to identify who they are.”
A pro from South Africa, Tshabalala won the 1976 French Open as well as several tournaments organized by the non-white Tournament Players Association.
A native of South Africa, Westner won 14 times as a pro, including twice on the European Tour. In January 2017 he shot and killed himself after allegedly holding his wife hostage, according to multiple published reports.
