Keith Thomas Jacobs Jr. (February 13, 1935 – July 9, 2022) was an American professional golfer and golf course owner/operator who played on the PGA Tour and the Champions Tour. He was the older brother of professional golfer John Jacobs.
Early life In 1935, Jacobs was born in Denver, Colorado. He was raised in southern California where he started in junior golf. In 1951, Jacobs won the U.S. Junior Amateur. At sixteen, he advanced to the semifinals of the U.S. Amateur, which earned him an invitation to the Masters Tournament at age 17. For 58 years, Jacobs had the distinction of being the youngest golfer to ever play in the Masters (in 1952). The record was broken by Matteo Manassero in 2010.
Professional career In 1956, Jacobs turned professional. Jacobs won four PGA Tour events. His first win came in 1958 at the newly revamped Denver Open, and his last was at the 1964 Palm Springs Golf Classic. During his career, Jacobs had sole 2nd-place finishes in two major championships. He lost the 1964 U.S. Open to Ken Venturi by four strokes, and was runner-up in a playoff at the Masters Tournament in 1966 that he (72) and Gay Brewer (78) lost to Jack Nicklaus (70). Jacobs was a member of the 1965 Ryder Cup team, and finished with a record of 3–1–1.
Jacobs joined the Senior PGA Tour in 1985 and continued to play in selected events into the 2000s; his last appearance was at the 2003 Senior PGA Championship.
Jacobs and his brother John teamed up with Roger Fredericks, to form Champions Corporate Golf Outings, which provides custom tailored golf events for small to medium size groups and corporations.
Personal life Jacobs died on July 9, 2022, at the age of 87.
Professional wins (7) PGA Tour wins (4) No.DateTournamentWinning scoreMargin ofvictoryRunner-up1Sep 14, 1958Denver Open−14 (65-67-67-67=266)1 stroke Ernie Vossler2Jan 14, 1962San Diego Open Invitational−7 (72-70-70-65=277)Playoff Johnny Pott3Sep 8, 1963Utah Open−12 (68-72-62-70=272)1 stroke Don January4Feb 2, 1964Palm Springs Golf Classic−7 (66-74-74-69-70=353)Playoff Jimmy Demaret
PGA Tour playoff record (2–2) No.YearTournamentOpponent(s)Result11962San Diego Open Invitational Johnny PottWon with birdie on first extra hole21964Palm Springs Golf Classic Jimmy DemaretWon with par on second extra hole31966Masters Tournament Gay Brewer, Jack NicklausNicklaus won 18-hole playoff;Nicklaus: −2 (70),Jacobs: E (72),Brewer: +6 (78)41969IVB-Philadelphia Golf Classic Gay Brewer, Dave Hill, R. H. SikesHill won with birdie on first extra hole
Source:
Other wins (3) 1971 Southern California PGA Championship 1972 Southern California PGA Championship 1976 Southern California PGA Championship
Results in major championships Amateur Tournament1952195319541955Masters Tournament60U.S. OpenBritish AmateurR64
Professional Tournament1956195719581959Masters TournamentCUTU.S. OpenCUTT10T59PGA ChampionshipT14 Tournament1960196119621963196419651966196719681969Masters TournamentT28CUTT152CUTCUTU.S. OpenCUTT6T322T28CUTCUTCUTPGA ChampionshipCUTT23T8CUTCUTCUTT67 Tournament1970197119721973197419751976Masters TournamentU.S. OpenPGA ChampionshipT61CUTCUTCUT
CUT = missed the half-way cut (3rd round cut in 1960 and 1964 PGA Championships) R64 = Round in which player lost in match play "T" indicates a tie for a place
Source for Masters,www.masters.com U.S. Open,USGA Championship Database Open Championship,www.opengolf.com British Amateur,The Glasgow Herald, June 2, 1955, pg. 4. PGA ChampionshipPGA Championship Media Guide
Note: Jacobs never played in The Open Championship
Summary Tournament Wins 2nd 3rd Top-5 Top-10 Top-25 Events Cuts madeMasters Tournament 0 1 0 1 1 2 8 4U.S. Open 0 1 0 1 3 3 11 6The Open Championship 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0PGA Championship 0 0 0 0 1 3 12 5Totals 0 2 0 2 5 8 31 15 Most consecutive cuts made – 5 (1962 U.S. Open – 1963 PGA) Longest streak of top-10s – 1 (five times)
Team appearances Ryder Cup: 1965 (winners) Diamondhead Cup: 1974 (winners)
References
External links