Phil Rodgers

For the English professional golfer (1891–1966), see Philip Rodgers.

Phil Rodgers
Personal information
Born(1938-04-03)April 3, 1938
San Diego, California, U.S.
DiedJune 26, 2018(2018-06-26) (aged 80)
San Diego, California, U.S.
Height5 ft 8 in (1.73 m)
Weight175 lb (79 kg; 12.5 st)
Sporting nationality United States
Career
CollegeUniversity of Houston
Turned professional1961
Former tour(s)PGA Tour
Senior PGA Tour
Professional wins6
Number of wins by tour
PGA Tour5
Other1
Best results in major championships
Masters TournamentT7: 1974
PGA ChampionshipT7: 1972
U.S. OpenT3: 1962
The Open Championship2nd: 1963

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

Life

[edit]

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.

He lost to Bob Charles in a 36-hole playoff in the 1963 Open Championship. Rodgers also 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 (6)

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PGA Tour wins (5)

[edit]
No. Date Tournament Winning score Margin of
victory		 Runner(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 Australia 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. Year Tournament Opponent Result
1 1963 The Open Championship New Zealand Bob Charles Lost 36-hole playoff;
Charles: E (69-71=140),
Rodgers: +8 (72-76=148)
2 1965 Azalea Open Invitational United States Dick Hart Lost to par on eighth extra hole

Other wins (1)

[edit]

this list may be incomplete

Results in major championships

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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

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Tournament Wins 2nd 3rd Top-5 Top-10 Top-25 Events Cuts made
Masters Tournament 0 0 0 0 1 5 11 6
U.S. Open 0 0 1 1 2 3 12 4
The Open Championship 0 1 1 3 3 3 7 5
PGA Championship 0 0 0 0 1 1 9 5
Totals 0 1 2 4 7 12 39 20
  • Most consecutive cuts made – 4 (twice)
  • Longest streak of top-10s – 2 (twice)

References

[edit]
  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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