Cary Middlecoff

Emmett Cary Middlecoff (January 6, 1921 – September 1, 1998) was an American professional golfer on the PGA Tour from 1947 to 1961. His 39 Tour wins place him tied for tenth all-time, and he won three major championships. Middlecoff graduated as a dentist, but gave up his practice at age 26 to become a full-time Tour golfer.

Early life and amateur career Middlecoff was born January 6, 1921, in Halls, Tennessee. He graduated from Christian Brothers High School. He played collegiate golf at the University of Mississippi, becoming that school's first golf All-American in 1939. First as an undergraduate and active member of Kappa Alpha Order, then as a dental student at the University of Tennessee, Middlecoff won the Tennessee State Amateur Championship for four straight years (1940–1943). After obtaining his Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS) degree in 1944, he entered the United States Army Dental Corps during World War II as a dental professional for the United States Army Dental Corps (USADC). He won a PGA Tour tournament as an amateur in 1945

Professional career In 1947, Middlecoff turned professional. He was selected for the 1947 Walker Cup team but immediately withdrew as he intended turning professional.

During his playing career, Middlecoff won 39 PGA Tour tournaments, including the 1955 Masters and U.S. Open titles in 1949 and 1956. He won the Vardon Trophy for lowest scoring average in 1956.

Middlecoff played on three Ryder Cup teams: 1953, 1955, and 1959 – the U.S. teams won all three times. He was ineligible for the 1957 Ryder Cup because he failed to play in the PGA Championship that year. Middlecoff was disappointed to lose a playoff in the 1957 U.S. Open to Dick Mayer, and played very few events following that event. The U.S. lost the Cup in 1957, for the first time since 1933.

Middlecoff's three best seasons were 1949, 1951 and 1956, as he won six tour titles in each of those years. He won at least one tour tournament in 13 of his 15 seasons, missing only in 1957 and 1960.

During the decade of the 1950s, Middlecoff won 28 tour titles, more than any other player during that span. He was known for often taking excessive time to play his shots.

Back problems and struggles with his nerves during competition ended his career in the early 1960s, when he was in his early 40s, although he continued to play occasionally, competing in the Masters until 1971, as a past champion.

Middlecoff became a top player despite having one leg slightly shorter than the other.

He appeared in two motion pictures as himself (Follow the Sun (1951, about the life and career of Ben Hogan) and The Bellboy (1960)). He wrote a newspaper column, "The Golf Doctor." He also appeared in a short biographical sports documentary Golf Doctor (1947).

Middlecoff later developed a reputation as one of the best of the early golf television commentators. After retiring from the tour, he spent 18 years as a golf analyst for television.

Death Middlecoff died of heart disease in 1998 in Memphis, Tennessee. He was survived by his wife of 51 years, Edith.

Awards and honors In 1956, Middlecoff earned the Vardon Trophy, the honor bestowed to the player with the lowest average score over the course of the season. In 1986, Middlecoff was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame.

Professional wins (41) PGA Tour wins (39) Legend Major championships (3) Other PGA Tour (36) No.DateTournamentWinning scoreMargin ofvictoryRunner(s)-up1Nov 8, 1945North and South Open(as an amateur)−8 (70-69-69-72=280)5 strokes Denny Shute2Mar 30, 1947Charlotte Open−11 (70-65-71-71=277)Playoff George Schoux3Mar 9, 1948Miami International Four-Ball(with Jim Ferrier)1 up Ed Furgol and Ellsworth Vines4Nov 7, 1948Hawaiian Open−10 (70-70-63-71=274)3 strokes Johnny Bulla5Feb 27, 1949Rio Grande Valley Open−17 (68-66-63-70=267)2 strokes Bob Hamilton6Mar 13, 1949Miami International Four-Ball (2)(with Jim Ferrier)9 and 8 Skip Alexander and Harry Cooper7Mar 21, 1949Jacksonville Open−14 (66-68-71-69=274)2 strokes Jerry Barber8Jun 11, 1949U.S. Open +2 (75-67-69-75=286)1 stroke Clayton Heafner, Sam Snead9Jun 19, 1949Motor City Open−11 (66-67-71-69=273)Shared title with Lloyd Mangrum10Jul 10, 1949Reading Open−14 (67-68-65-66=266)1 stroke Sam Snead11Feb 26, 1950Houston Open−11 (71-66-69-71=277)3 strokes Pete Cooper12Mar 20, 1950Jacksonville Open (2)−9 (70-73-67-69=279)2 strokes George Fazio13Sep 18, 1950St. Louis Open−10 (71-66-68-65=270)Playoff Ed Oliver14Jan 22, 1951Lakewood Park Open−13 (70-64-69-68=271)3 strokes Manuel de la Torre15May 27, 1951Colonial National Invitation +2 (69-71-69-73=282)1 stroke Jack Burke Jr.16Aug 5, 1951All American Open−14 (71-69-66-68=274)2 strokes Fred Hawkins17Sep 16, 1951Eastern Open−9 (71-68-69-71=279)1 stroke Jerry Barber18Sep 30, 1951St. Louis Open (2)−15 (65-65-69-70=269)2 strokes Lloyd Mangrum19Oct 7, 1951Kansas City Open−10 (69-66-72-71=278)Playoff Dave Douglas, Doug Ford20Feb 10, 1952El Paso Open−15 (65-66-69-69=269)3 strokes Al Besselink21Jul 6, 1952Motor City Open (2)−14 (69-67-67-71=274)Playoff Ted Kroll22Jul 13, 1952St. Paul Open−22 (65-68-67-66=266)5 strokes Sam Snead23Aug 17, 1952Kansas City Open (2)−12 (67-68-72-69=276)Playoff Jack Burke Jr.24Mar 1, 1953Houston Open (2)−5 (67-72-72-72=283)Playoff Jim Ferrier, Shelley Mayfield, Bill Nary, Earl Stewart25May 17, 1953Palm Beach Round Robin+42 points7 points Jimmy Demaret26Jun 28, 1953Carling Open−13 (68-71-67-69=275)Playoff Ted Kroll27Jul 4, 1954Motor City Open (3)−6 (72-68-70-68=278)2 strokes Tommy Bolt, Marty Furgol, Gene Littler28Jan 16, 1955Bing Crosby National Pro-Am Golf Championship−7 (69-69-71=209)4 strokes Julius Boros, Paul McGuire29Mar 20, 1955St. Petersburg Open−14 (68-66-73-67=274)2 strokes Jay Hebert30Apr 10, 1955Masters Tournament−9 (72-65-72-70=279)7 strokes Ben Hogan31Jun 26, 1955Western Open−16 (69-70-70-63=272)2 strokes Mike Souchak32Jul 17, 1955Miller High Life Open−15 (64-67-66-68=265)4 strokes Julius Boros, Ted Kroll, Mike Souchak33Sep 11, 1955Cavalcade of Golf−4 (71-70-70-65=276)2 strokes Sam Snead34Sep 11, 1956Bing Crosby National Pro-Am Golf Championship (2)−14 (66-68-68=202)5 strokes Mike Souchak35Feb 5, 1956Phoenix Open−8 (72-66-70-68=276)3 strokes Mike Souchak36Jun 16, 1956U.S. Open (2) +1 (71-70-70-70=281)1 stroke Julius Boros, Ben Hogan37Aug 11, 1958Miller Open Invitational (2)−16 (67-64-66-67=264)2 strokes Bob Rosburg38Mar 23, 1959St. Petersburg Open Invitational (2)−16 (70-69-67-69=275)3 strokes Pete Cooper39Jun 4, 1961Memphis Open Invitational−14 (67-68-64-67=266)5 strokes Gardner Dickinson, Mike Souchak *Mangrum and Middlecoff agreed to share the 1949 Motor City Open after failing light caused play to halt after eleven holes of a playoff.

PGA Tour playoff record (7–6–1) No.YearTournamentOpponent(s)Result11947Charlotte Open George SchouxWon 18-hole playoff;Middlecoff: −8 (64),Schoux: +1 (73)21948Tacoma Open Invitational Chuck Congdon, Vic Ghezzi, Fred Haas, Ed OliverOliver won with eagle on first extra hole after 18-hole playoff;Oliver: −2 (69),Middlecoff: −2 (69),Haas: +1 (72),Congdon: +2 (73),Ghezzi: +4 (75)31949Motor City Open Lloyd MangrumPlayoff abandoned after eleven holes due to darkness; tournament shared41950St. Louis Open Ed OliverWon with birdie on second extra hole after 18-hole playoff;Middlecoff: −3 (67),Oliver: −3 (67)51951Kansas City Open Dave Douglas, Doug FordWon 18-hole playoff;Middlecoff: −4 (68),Douglas: E (72),Ford: E (72)61952Motor City Open Ted KrollWon with birdie on first extra hole71952World Championship of Golf Julius BorosLost 18-hole playoff;Boros: −4 (68),Middlecoff: −2 (70)81952Kansas City Open Jack Burke Jr.Won 18-hole playoff;Middlecoff: −6 (66),Burke: E (72)91953Houston Open Jim Ferrier, Shelley Mayfield, Bill Nary, Earl StewartWon 18-hole playoff;Middlecoff: −3 (69),Ferrier: −1 (71),Mayfield: −1 (71),Stewart: E (72),Nary: +3 (75)101953Carling Open Ted KrollWon with par on second extra hole111953Fort Wayne Open Art Wall Jr.Lost 18-hole playoff;Wall: −2 (70),Middlecoff: E (72)121954Phoenix Open Ed FurgolLost to birdie on first extra hole131956Texas International Open Gene Littler, Peter ThomsonThomson won with birdie on second extra hole141957U.S. Open Dick MayerLost 18-hole playoff;Mayer: +2 (72),Middlecoff: +9 (79) Sources:

Other wins (1) this list may be incomplete 1949 Greenbrier Pro-Am

Major championships

Wins (3) YearChampionship54 holesWinning scoreMarginRunner(s)-up 1949 U.S. Open 1 shot lead +2 (75-67-69-75=286) 1 stroke Clayton Heafner, Sam Snead 1955 Masters Tournament 4 shot lead −9 (72-65-72-70=279) 7 strokes Ben Hogan 1956 U.S. Open (2) 1 shot lead +1 (71-70-70-70=281) 1 stroke Julius Boros, Ben Hogan

Results timeline Tournament1946194719481949Masters TournamentT12 LAT292T23U.S. OpenCUTT211The Open ChampionshipPGA Championship

Tournament1950195119521953195419551956195719581959Masters TournamentT7T1211T27T913CUTT62U.S. OpenT10T24T24WDT11T2112T27T19The Open Championship14PGA ChampionshipQFR32SF2T20T8

Tournament1960196119621963196419651966196719681969Masters TournamentCUTCUTT29CUTCUTCUTWDCUTCUTWDU.S. OpenT43CUTCUTCUTWDThe Open ChampionshipPGA ChampionshipT29T11T15

Tournament19701971Masters TournamentCUTWDU.S. OpenThe Open ChampionshipPGA Championship

LA = low amateur CUT = missed the half-way cut WD = withdrew R32, R16, QF, SF = Round in which player lost in PGA Championship match play "T" = tied

Summary Tournament Wins 2nd 3rd Top-5 Top-10 Top-25 Events Cuts madeMasters Tournament 1 2 1 4 7 11 26 14U.S. Open 2 1 0 3 4 10 18 12The Open Championship 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 1PGA Championship 0 1 1 3 4 8 9 9Totals 3 4 2 10 15 30 54 36 Most consecutive cuts made – 12 (1948 Masters – 1953 Masters) Longest streak of top-10s – 3 (twice)

U.S. national team appearances Professional Ryder Cup: 1953 (winners), 1955 (winners), 1959 (winners) Canada Cup: 1959 Hopkins Trophy: 1952 (winners), 1955 (winners), 1956 (winners)

See also

List of golfers with most PGA Tour wins

References

External links