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American professional golfer From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Lewis Elmer Worsham, Jr. (October 5, 1917 – October 19, 1990) was an American professional golfer, the U.S. Open champion in 1947.[1][2]
Lew Worsham | |||
---|---|---|---|
Personal information | |||
Full name | Lewis Elmer Worsham Jr. | ||
Born | Pittsylvania County, Virginia, U.S. | October 5, 1917||
Died | October 19, 1990 73) Poquoson, Virginia, U.S. | (aged||
Sporting nationality | United States | ||
Career | |||
Turned professional | 1935 | ||
Former tour(s) | PGA Tour | ||
Professional wins | 13 | ||
Number of wins by tour | |||
PGA Tour | 6 | ||
Other | 7 | ||
Best results in major championships (wins: 1) | |||
Masters Tournament | 6th: 1949 | ||
PGA Championship | T5: 1947, 1955 | ||
U.S. Open | Won: 1947 | ||
The Open Championship | DNP | ||
Achievements and awards | |||
|
Lew Worsham | |
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Allegiance | United States |
Service/ | United States Navy |
Years of service | 1943–1945 |
Unit | United States Naval Training Center Bainbridge, Maryland |
Battles/wars | World War II |
Worsham was born on October 5, 1917, in Pittsylvania County, Virginia.[citation needed] He grew up in Long Island, Virginia. Worsham attended Hampton High School and was a member of the golf team from 1933 to 1935. He served in the United States Navy during World War II.[3]
Worsham won the U.S. Open in 1947 by defeating Sam Snead by a stroke in an 18-hole playoff at the St. Louis Country Club in Clayton, Missouri.[4][5][6][7] This was the first U.S. Open to be televised locally and the winner's share was $2,000. In July 1947, Worsham appeared on the cover of Golfing magazine. In 1953, he led the PGA Tour money list with $34,002 in earnings. That same year he won the first golf tournament to be broadcast nationally in the United States and golf's first $100,000 tournament, the Tam O'Shanter World Championship of Golf, in spectacular fashion. He holed out a wedge from 104 yards for an eagle-2 to win over Chandler Harper by one shot.[4][8]
Worsham made his only Ryder Cup appearance in 1947 and won both of his matches. Like most tour players of his generation, he earned his living primarily as a club professional, and was the longtime pro at Oakmont Country Club, northeast of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.[9]
Worsham was honored as the "Sportsperson of the Year" for 1953 by Pittsburgh's Dapper Dan Charities. He was inducted into the PGA of America Hall of Fame in 2017.[10]
Worsham married Virginia. He had one daughter and two sons: Lynda, Richard L and Thomas E.[3]
Worsham died on October 19, 1990, at age, 73 in Poquoson, Virginia.[4] He is buried at Columbia Gardens Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia.[3]
Major championship is shown in bold.
1 Defeated Snead in an 18-hole playoff - Worsham 69 (−2), Snead 70 (−1).[5]
Tournament | 1938 | 1939 |
---|---|---|
Masters Tournament | ||
U.S. Open | WD | |
PGA Championship |
Tournament | 1940 | 1941 | 1942 | 1943 | 1944 | 1945 | 1946 | 1947 | 1948 | 1949 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Masters Tournament | NT | NT | NT | T33 | T30 | 6 | ||||
U.S. Open | CUT | CUT | NT | NT | NT | NT | T22 | 1 | 6 | T27 |
PGA Championship | NT | R32 | QF | R16 | R16 |
Tournament | 1950 | 1951 | 1952 | 1953 | 1954 | 1955 | 1956 | 1957 | 1958 | 1959 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Masters Tournament | T42 | T3 | T7 | 44 | T12 | T49 | T34 | CUT | CUT | CUT |
U.S. Open | CUT | T14 | T7 | CUT | T23 | CUT | CUT | T38 | T45 | |
PGA Championship | R32 | R32 | R32 | R64 | QF | R16 |
Tournament | 1960 | 1961 | 1962 | 1963 |
---|---|---|---|---|
Masters Tournament | 44 | T22 | T29 | |
U.S. Open | CUT | |||
PGA Championship | T37 | CUT | CUT |
Note: Worsham never played in The Open Championship.
NT = No tournament
CUT = missed the half-way cut
WD = Withdrew
R64, R32, R16, QF, SF = Round in which player lost in PGA Championship match play
"T" = tied
Tournament | Wins | 2nd | 3rd | Top-5 | Top-10 | Top-25 | Events | Cuts made |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Masters Tournament | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 5 | 16 | 13 |
U.S. Open | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 6 | 17 | 9 |
The Open Championship | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
PGA Championship | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 5 | 9 | 11 | 11 |
Totals | 1 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 11 | 20 | 44 | 33 |
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