Scott Hoch was an 11-time winner on the PGA Tour who came within two feet of being a Masters champion.
Hoch, born in 1955 in Raleigh, North Carolina, was a top amateur golfer. In 1978, he made it to the finals of the U.S. Amateur at Plainfield Country Club in New Jersey where he lost to John Cook 5&4.
As a professional, Hoch was a consistent winnter. He captured the Quad Cities Open in 1980 for his first title and the Ford Championship at Doral in 2003 for his last PGA Tour win. He won one tournament every year from 1994 through 1997.
All of his wins though were second-tier titles. In the majors, he was a consistent threat from 1987 through 2002, recording 14 top 10 finishes. Unfortunately, his best chance to be a major champion is the tournament he'll be best remembered for.
In 1989, Hoch entered the final round a shot behind Ben Crenshaw. It was a classic Masters scramble that day with six different players holding a share of the lead.
Nick Faldo was five shots back to start the day, but he shot a spectacular 65 to take a -5 score to the clubhouse. Hoch took sole possession with a birdie on 15, but he missed a short par putt on 17 to fall back in to a tie with Crenshaw and Faldo.
On 18, Crenshaw bogied and Hoch had a 25-footer for birdie, but he missed. In the playoff, Faldo missed the 10th green with his second shot and ended up missing a 15-foot putt for par.
Hoch had played safe to the middle of the green and lagged his putt within two feet. His putt lipped out. On the 11th, Hoch was facing a 6-foot putt for par when Faldo made a 25-footer for birdie and his first major title.
Saturday, October 22, 2011
Wednesday, August 24, 2011
John Cook
Born in Toledo, Ohio, John Cook was an 11-time winner on the PGA Tour and a winner of the U.S. Amateur, but he never won a professional major.
Cook was a top flight amateur. In 1978, he crushed Scott Hoch 5&4 at Plainfield Country Club in Edison, New Jersey. In 1979, he worked his way back to the finals at Canterbury Golf Club in Beachwood, Ohio. Cook was hoping to become the first repeat winner of the U.S. Amateur since Harvie Ward in 1956. Unfortunately, he ran into a hot Mark O'Meara and was routed 8&7.
He was coached personally by Ken Venturi and played golf at Ohio State where he was a member of the 1979 NCAA Championship team.
With such a solid amateur resume, the fact Cook never won a professional major was a disappointment. He had his chances, finishing in the top 10 seven times, including taking two second place finishes.
Both of his runner-up results came in 1992 when he was voted Comeback Player of the Year. At that year's British Open, Cook trailed Nick Faldo by four shots going into the final round at Muirfield in Gullane, Scotland.
Cook shot a solid 1-under par 70, his fourth straight round under par, and held the lead on the back nine. Faldo, who lurched to the finish with a 2-over par 73, rallied in the final holes to win by one.
In the following PGA championship at Bellerive Country Club in Missouri, Cook finished tied with Faldo, Jim Gallagher Jr. and Gene Sauers for second three shots behind Nick Price.
Cook was a top flight amateur. In 1978, he crushed Scott Hoch 5&4 at Plainfield Country Club in Edison, New Jersey. In 1979, he worked his way back to the finals at Canterbury Golf Club in Beachwood, Ohio. Cook was hoping to become the first repeat winner of the U.S. Amateur since Harvie Ward in 1956. Unfortunately, he ran into a hot Mark O'Meara and was routed 8&7.
He was coached personally by Ken Venturi and played golf at Ohio State where he was a member of the 1979 NCAA Championship team.
With such a solid amateur resume, the fact Cook never won a professional major was a disappointment. He had his chances, finishing in the top 10 seven times, including taking two second place finishes.
Both of his runner-up results came in 1992 when he was voted Comeback Player of the Year. At that year's British Open, Cook trailed Nick Faldo by four shots going into the final round at Muirfield in Gullane, Scotland.
Cook shot a solid 1-under par 70, his fourth straight round under par, and held the lead on the back nine. Faldo, who lurched to the finish with a 2-over par 73, rallied in the final holes to win by one.
In the following PGA championship at Bellerive Country Club in Missouri, Cook finished tied with Faldo, Jim Gallagher Jr. and Gene Sauers for second three shots behind Nick Price.
Tuesday, August 23, 2011
Jay Haas
Jay Haas was a nine-time winner on the PGA Tour who finished in the top 10 of a major 16 times without winning.
Haas, from St. Louis, Missouri, is the first golfer to make our ranking without having won a Masters, U.S. Open, British Open or PGA title.
His best showings were tied for third place finishes in the 1995 Masters and 1999 PGA and a tie for fourth in the 1995 U.S. Open. He never recorded a top 10 in a British Open.
In the 1995 Masters, Haas held the lead after 36 holes because of a second-round 64. But he shot 72-70 over the final 36 to lose to Ben Crenshaw by three shots.
In the 1999 PGA, Haas again held the lead after the second round. But a third-round 75 put him five shots behind Tiger Woods. Haas ended up losing to Woods by three shots with Sergio Garcia finishing second.
Haas, from St. Louis, Missouri, is the first golfer to make our ranking without having won a Masters, U.S. Open, British Open or PGA title.
His best showings were tied for third place finishes in the 1995 Masters and 1999 PGA and a tie for fourth in the 1995 U.S. Open. He never recorded a top 10 in a British Open.
In the 1995 Masters, Haas held the lead after 36 holes because of a second-round 64. But he shot 72-70 over the final 36 to lose to Ben Crenshaw by three shots.
In the 1999 PGA, Haas again held the lead after the second round. But a third-round 75 put him five shots behind Tiger Woods. Haas ended up losing to Woods by three shots with Sergio Garcia finishing second.
Thursday, August 18, 2011
Ed Furgol
Ed Furgol was born in New York and was a six-time winner on the PGA Tour, including one major title.
Furgol turned professional in 1945 and won his first tournament in 1947. His best year was 1954 when he was named PGA Player of the Year after winning the Phoenix Open and the U.S. Open.
The Open that year was played at Baltusrol Golf Club in New Jersey. Furgol trailed Gene Littler by two shots after two rounds but took a three-shot lead into the final round after Littler blew up to a 76. Furgol was shaky over the final 18 holes, shooting a 2-over par 72, but it was enough to top Littler by one stroke.
Furgol finished in the top 10 in eight majors. His only other good chance at victory came in the 1956 PGA Championship. Furgol defeated Jimmy Johnson to reach the semifinals. There he tied Jack Burke Jr. over 36 holes before falling on the first playoff hole. Burke went on to beat Ted Kroll for the title.
Furgol turned professional in 1945 and won his first tournament in 1947. His best year was 1954 when he was named PGA Player of the Year after winning the Phoenix Open and the U.S. Open.
The Open that year was played at Baltusrol Golf Club in New Jersey. Furgol trailed Gene Littler by two shots after two rounds but took a three-shot lead into the final round after Littler blew up to a 76. Furgol was shaky over the final 18 holes, shooting a 2-over par 72, but it was enough to top Littler by one stroke.
Furgol finished in the top 10 in eight majors. His only other good chance at victory came in the 1956 PGA Championship. Furgol defeated Jimmy Johnson to reach the semifinals. There he tied Jack Burke Jr. over 36 holes before falling on the first playoff hole. Burke went on to beat Ted Kroll for the title.
Wednesday, August 17, 2011
Sandy Lyle
Alexander Walter Barr "Sandy" Lyle was from Scotland and, along with Nick Faldo and Ian Woosnam, he helped lifted British golf in the 1980s out of a couple decades of mediocrity.
Lyle was a 29-time winner around the world, including claiming six titles on the PGA Tour and 18 on the European Tour.
Known for his cool temperament, Lyle was a big hitter who only threatened in four major championships, but he won two.
In 1985, Lyle defeated Payne Stewart by one shot at Royal St. George's Golf Club in Sandwich, England. A third-round 73 placed him three shots behind David Graham and Bernhard Langer. An even-par 70 in the final round was enough for him to hold off Stewart, who shot a 68. Lyle was the first British winner of the Open championship since Tony Jacklin in 1969.
In 1988, won a duel with Mark Calcavecchia to claim the Masters. Tied for the lead on the 18th tee, Lyle drove into a fairway bunker. He hit a 7-iron though to 6-feet and he made the birdie put.
Lyle's Masters victory was the first ever by a British golfer and started a string of four straight. Nick Faldo won the next two, followed by Ian Woosnam's only major title.
Lyle was a 29-time winner around the world, including claiming six titles on the PGA Tour and 18 on the European Tour.
Known for his cool temperament, Lyle was a big hitter who only threatened in four major championships, but he won two.
In 1985, Lyle defeated Payne Stewart by one shot at Royal St. George's Golf Club in Sandwich, England. A third-round 73 placed him three shots behind David Graham and Bernhard Langer. An even-par 70 in the final round was enough for him to hold off Stewart, who shot a 68. Lyle was the first British winner of the Open championship since Tony Jacklin in 1969.
In 1988, won a duel with Mark Calcavecchia to claim the Masters. Tied for the lead on the 18th tee, Lyle drove into a fairway bunker. He hit a 7-iron though to 6-feet and he made the birdie put.
Lyle's Masters victory was the first ever by a British golfer and started a string of four straight. Nick Faldo won the next two, followed by Ian Woosnam's only major title.
Tuesday, August 16, 2011
Mark Brooks
Mark Brooks, from Fort Worth, Texas, was a seven-time winner on the PGA Tour, including one major title, the 1996 PGA Championship.
A three-time All-American at the University of Texas, Brooks turned pro in 1983. As a pro, he was a consistent challenger despite being relatively small, 5-9, 150 pounds, in an era of increasingly big hitters.
He finished in the top 10 in the majors just five times. His best year was 1996 when he finished tied for fourth with Nick Faldo and Jeff Maggert in the British Open that was won by Tom Lehman. He followed that up with his PGA title at Valhalla Golf Club in Louisville, Kentucky.
In that tournament, Brooks was four down to Phil Mickelson after two rounds and two behind Russ Cochran after the third. He shot a 2-under-par 70 to finish in a tie with Kenny Perry and then beat Perry on the first playoff hole.
Brooks didn't threaten again until 2001 at Southern Hills Country Club in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Brooks shot a second-round 64 to vault into the lead. He slipped to a tie for third after the third.
In the final round, Brooks was tied for the lead when he three-putted the 18th green. South Africa's Retief Goosen though three-putted the 18th two groups later -- missing a putt of about two feet for the title. That put Brooks in an unlikely playoff, but he was unable to convert, shooting a 72 to Goosen's 70. Brooks never finished in the top 10 of a major again.
A three-time All-American at the University of Texas, Brooks turned pro in 1983. As a pro, he was a consistent challenger despite being relatively small, 5-9, 150 pounds, in an era of increasingly big hitters.
He finished in the top 10 in the majors just five times. His best year was 1996 when he finished tied for fourth with Nick Faldo and Jeff Maggert in the British Open that was won by Tom Lehman. He followed that up with his PGA title at Valhalla Golf Club in Louisville, Kentucky.
In that tournament, Brooks was four down to Phil Mickelson after two rounds and two behind Russ Cochran after the third. He shot a 2-under-par 70 to finish in a tie with Kenny Perry and then beat Perry on the first playoff hole.
Brooks didn't threaten again until 2001 at Southern Hills Country Club in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Brooks shot a second-round 64 to vault into the lead. He slipped to a tie for third after the third.
In the final round, Brooks was tied for the lead when he three-putted the 18th green. South Africa's Retief Goosen though three-putted the 18th two groups later -- missing a putt of about two feet for the title. That put Brooks in an unlikely playoff, but he was unable to convert, shooting a 72 to Goosen's 70. Brooks never finished in the top 10 of a major again.
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