Phil Rodgers

Phil Rodgers
Personal information
Born (1938-04-03)April 3, 1938
San Diego, California, U.S.
Died June 26, 2018(2018-06-26) (aged 80)
University City, California, U.S.
Height 5 ft 8 in (1.73 m)
Weight 175 lb (79 kg; 12.5 st)
Nationality  United States
Career
College University of Houston
Turned professional 1961
Retired 1993
Former tour(s) PGA Tour
Senior PGA Tour
Professional wins 6
Number of wins by tour
PGA Tour 5
Other 1
Best results in major championships
Masters Tournament T7: 1974
U.S. Open T3: 1962
The Open Championship 2nd: 1963
PGA Championship T7: 1972

Phil Rodgers (April 3, 1938 – June 26, 2018) was an American professional golfer.

Life

Rodgers was born in San Diego, California. He won the 1958 NCAA Division I Championship while playing at the University of Houston. Immediately after, he was placed in the first position on the first team of the 1958 All-American golf team, which included many well known professionals including future winners of the PGA Championship, Al Geiberger and Bobby Nichols and Masters Tournament winner, Tommy Aaron.

While in the Marine Corps, Rodgers won virtually every service tournament (he was even pulled out of Boot Camp to play in the All Services tournament), then turned professional in 1961. He won five times on the PGA Tour in the 1960s. Playing sparingly in 1961, but winning the "unofficial" 54-hole Sahara Pro-Am in Las Vegas, Nevada, Rodgers started his first full year on the PGA Tour in 1962, which began with the Los Angeles Open. Tied for the lead after 54 holes with Fred Hawkins at 206, Rodgers ran away from the field shooting a 9-under-par 62 making 9 birdies and 9 pars to win his first championship by 9 strokes.

Despite some sensational wins, Rodgers seems better known for two losses. He lost to Bob Charles in a 36-hole playoff in the 1963 Open Championship. Lesser known is that he lost the 1962 U.S. Open by two strokes despite going 6-over-par on two holes. In the first round, he took a quadruple bogey 8 on the 17th hole, and 4-putted the 12th hole in the third round. Still, after chipping in for a birdie on the 12th hole in the final round, he stood at 2-under-par with six holes left, needing 6 pars to win. Instead he made 3 bogeys enabling Arnold Palmer and Jack Nicklaus to finish regulation play tied for first at 1-under-par. Nicklaus went on to win the playoff and scored his first victory as a professional.

After a stint on the Senior PGA Tour, Rodgers became a much sought-after teacher, specializing in the short game. One of his first pupils was Jack Nicklaus, who publicly credited Rodgers with teaching him more precise wedge play which helped him win his fourth U.S. Open championship in 1980 at age 40. For several years, Golf Magazine ranked Rodgers in their top 100 teachers.

Rodgers died in San Diego on June 26, 2018 from leukemia at the age of 80.[1][2]

Professional wins

PGA Tour wins (5)

No.DateTournamentWinning scoreMargin of victoryRunner(s)-up
1 Jan 8, 1962 Los Angeles Open −16 (67-71-68-62=268) 9 strokes United States Bob Goalby, United States Fred Hawkins
2 Feb 18, 1962 Tucson Open Invitational −17 (64-68-65-66=263) 3 strokes United States Jim Ferrier
3 Apr 28, 1963 Texas Open Invitational −16 (66-71-66-65=268) 2 strokes United States Johnny Pott
4 Mar 13, 1966 Doral Open Invitational −10 (69-69-70-70=278) 1 stroke United States Jay Dolan, United States Kermit Zarley
5 Jun 12, 1966 Buick Open Invitational −4 (70-73-71-70=284) 2 strokes United States Johnny Pott, United States Kermit Zarley

PGA Tour playoff record (0–2)

No.YearTournamentOpponentResult
1 1963 The Open Championship New Zealand Bob Charles Lost 36-hole playoff (Charles: 69-71=140, Rodgers: 72-76=148)
2 1965 Azalea Open United States Dick Hart Lost to par on eighth extra hole

Other wins

this list may be incomplete

Results in major championships

Tournament 1956 1957 1958 1959
Masters Tournament 22 CUT
U.S. Open CUT CUT
The Open Championship
PGA Championship
Tournament 1960 1961 1962 1963 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969
Masters Tournament CUT CUT T25 T17 T36
U.S. Open T3 T32 CUT 6 CUT T13
The Open Championship T3 2 T19 CUT T4 T43
PGA Championship CUT CUT CUT T28 T48
Tournament 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977
Masters Tournament CUT 23 T7 CUT
U.S. Open CUT CUT CUT CUT
The Open Championship CUT
PGA Championship T48 CUT T7 T71
  Top 10
  Did not play

CUT = missed the half-way cut (3rd round cut in 1962 PGA Championship)
"T" indicates a tie for a place

Summary

TournamentWins2nd3rdTop-5Top-10Top-25EventsCuts made
Masters Tournament000015116
U.S. Open001123124
The Open Championship01133375
PGA Championship00001195
Totals01247123920
  • Most consecutive cuts made – 4 (twice)
  • Longest streak of top-10s – 2 (twice)

See also

References

  1. ↑ Romine, Brentley (June 27, 2018). "Phil Rodgers, gifted player and instructor, dies at 80". Golfweek. Retrieved June 27, 2018.
  2. ↑ "Phil Rodgers, 'The Brashest Man' in Golf, Dies at 80". The New York Times. Reuters. June 27, 2018.
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