Phil Rodgers (April 3, 1938 – June 26, 2018) was an American professional golfer.
Early life and amateur career In 1938, 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. The team included many future pros including Al Geiberger and Bobby Nichols and Tommy Aaron.
Shortly thereafter, Rodgers entered the Marine Corps. He won virtually every service tournament he played in. Rodgers was even pulled out of Boot Camp to play in the All Services tournament.
Professional career In 1961, Rodgers turned pro. 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.
Personal life Rodgers died in San Diego on June 26, 2018, from leukemia at the age of 80.
Professional wins (6) PGA Tour wins (5) No.DateTournamentWinning scoreMargin ofvictoryRunner(s)-up1Jan 8, 1962Los Angeles Open−16 (67-71-68-62=268)9 strokes Bob Goalby, Fred Hawkins2Feb 18, 1962Tucson Open Invitational−17 (64-68-65-66=263)3 strokes Jim Ferrier3Apr 28, 1963Texas Open Invitational−16 (66-71-66-65=268)2 strokes Johnny Pott4Mar 13, 1966Doral Open Invitational−10 (69-69-70-70=278)1 stroke Jay Dolan, Kermit Zarley5Jun 12, 1966Buick Open Invitational−4 (70-73-71-70=284)2 strokes Johnny Pott, Kermit Zarley
PGA Tour playoff record (0–2) No.YearTournamentOpponentResult11963The Open Championship Bob CharlesLost 36-hole playoff;Charles: E (69-71=140),Rodgers: +8 (72-76=148)21965Azalea Open Invitational Dick HartLost to par on eighth extra hole
Source:
Other wins (1) this list may be incomplete 1961 Sahara Pro-Am
Results in major championships Tournament1956195719581959Masters Tournament22CUTU.S. OpenCUTCUTThe Open ChampionshipPGA Championship Tournament1960196119621963196419651966196719681969Masters TournamentCUTCUTT25T17T36U.S. OpenT3T32CUT6CUTT13The Open ChampionshipT32T19CUTT4T43PGA ChampionshipCUTCUTCUTT28T48 Tournament19701971197219731974197519761977Masters TournamentCUT23T7CUTU.S. OpenCUTCUTCUTCUTThe Open ChampionshipCUTPGA ChampionshipT48CUTT7T71
CUT = missed the half-way cut (3rd round cut in 1962 PGA Championship) "T" indicates a tie for a place
Summary Tournament Wins 2nd 3rd Top-5 Top-10 Top-25 Events Cuts madeMasters Tournament 0 0 0 0 1 5 11 6U.S. Open 0 0 1 1 2 3 12 4The Open Championship 0 1 1 3 3 3 7 5PGA Championship 0 0 0 0 1 1 9 5Totals 0 1 2 4 7 12 39 20 Most consecutive cuts made – 4 (twice) Longest streak of top-10s – 2 (twice)
References
External links