Harold Henning (3 October 1934 – 1 January 2004) was a South African professional golfer. He played on the PGA Tour and the Senior PGA Tour. He won professional tournaments on the highest level in Africa, Australia, Asia, North America and Europe.
Early life Henning was born in Johannesburg, South Africa in 1934. His brothers Allan, Brian, and Graham all became professional golfers.
Professional career Nicknamed The Horse, he turned pro in 1953. From 1953 to 1965, Henning traveled the world playing on international circuits, winning the national championships of Switzerland. South Africa, Italy, and Germany. A win with Gary Player at the 1965 Canada Cup convinced him to play on the PGA Tour.
In 1966, Henning won the PGA Tour's Texas Open. However, he was not a PGA Tour member yet and was expected to earn membership at 1966 PGA Tour Qualifying School. However, shortly before the tournament, the PGA Tour gave him an exemption from the event.
In 1970, Henning won the Tallahassee Open Invitational on the PGA Tour. He then retired in 1972.
He returned to the game six years later and recorded a victory at the KLM Dutch Open in 1981. Henning won the title in dramatic fashion, going out on the last hole of the tournament in the last group with Nick Price, both of them on seven under par. Ray Floyd stood in the clubhouse, having finished on seven under par. Henning went in to a greenside bunker with his third shot, while Price was on the green in three. Then Henning holed his bunker shot for a birdie 4 and won the tournament with one-shot-margin.
Upon reaching age 50 in October 1984, Henning began play on the Senior PGA Tour. During his 18 seasons on this Tour, he won three official events and two Liberty Mutual Legends of Golf Championships.
Personal life Henning died after a long illness in 2004.Golfer Harold Henning dead at 69
Professional wins (43) PGA Tour wins (2) No.DateTournamentWinning scoreMargin ofvictoryRunner(s)-up1 1 May 1966 Texas Open Invitational −8 (72-67-65-68=272) 3 strokes Wes Ellis, Gene Littler, Ken Still2 26 Apr 1970 Tallahassee Open Invitational −11 (67-76-64-70=277) 1 stroke Rives McBee
PGA Tour playoff record (0–1) No.YearTournamentOpponentResult11969Los Angeles Open Charlie SiffordLost to birdie on first extra hole
European Tour wins (1) No.DateTournamentWinning scoreMargin ofvictoryRunners-up126 Jul 1981KLM Dutch Open−8 (71-68-70-71=280)1 stroke Raymond Floyd, Nick Price
Other European wins (12) 1957 Italian Open 1958 Daks Tournament (tie with Peter Thomson), Yorkshire Evening News Tournament (tie with Eric Brown) 1959 Spalding Tournament (tie with Eric Lester) 1960 Swiss Open, Sprite International 1964 Swiss Open, Pringle of Scotland Tournament, Lancia d'Oro 1965 Swiss Open, German Open 1966 Engadine Open
Far East Circuit wins (1) No.DateTournamentWinning scoreMargin ofvictoryRunner-up113 Mar 1966Malayan Open−10 (70-69-71-68=278)3 strokes Peter Thomson
Southern Africa Tour wins (3) No.DateTournamentWinning scoreMargin ofvictoryRunner(s)-up15 Feb 1972General Motors International Classic−16 (65-70-74-71=280)4 strokes Gary Player225 Nov 1972Luyt Lager PGA Championship−1 (69-68-71-71=279)1 stroke Hugh Baiocchi329 Nov 1980ICL International−7 (73-67-69-72=281)1 stroke John Bland, Ian Mosey, Denis Watson
Other South African wins (17) 1956 Natal Open, Cock of the North (Zambia) 1957 South African Open, Transvaal Open, 1.000 Guineas Anglo-African Tournament (Rhodesia) 1959 Cock of the North (Zambia), Western Province Open 1960 Northern Transvaal Open 1961 Natal Open 1962 South African Open 1965 South African PGA Championship 1966 South African PGA Championship, Kimberley Tournament (South Africa) (tie with Tony Jacklin), General Motors Open 1967 South African PGA Championship 1972 International Better-ball (with Graham Henning), Ellerines Team Tournament (with Graham Henning)
Other wins (2) No.DateTournamentWinning scoreMargin ofvictoryRunners-up14 Oct 1958Wiseman's Tournament−10 (278)5 strokes Peter Thomson Gary Player23 Oct 1965Canada Cup(with Gary Player)−5 (142-138-139-152=571)8 strokes − Ángel Miguel and Ramón Sota
Senior PGA Tour wins (3) No.DateTournamentWinning scoreMargin ofvictoryRunner(s)-up127 Oct 1985Seiko-Tucson Senior Match Play Championship4 & 3 Dan Sikes213 Mar 1988 GTE Classic−2 (68-73-73=214)3 strokes Bruce Crampton, Dale Douglass38 Sep 1991First of America Classic −11 (72-64-66=202)Playoff Gibby Gilbert
Senior PGA Tour playoff record (1–2) No.YearTournamentOpponent(s)Result11988Silver Pages Classic Gary PlayerLost to birdie on first extra hole21989GTE Suncoast Classic Bob Charles, Dave Hill, Jim FerreeCharles won with birdie on third extra holeFerree and Hill eliminated by birdie on first hole31991First of America Classic Gibby GilbertWon with birdie on first extra hole
Other senior wins (2) 1989 Liberty Mutual Legends of Golf (with Al Geiberger) 1993 Liberty Mutual Legends of Golf
Results in major championships Tournament195719581959Masters TournamentU.S. OpenThe Open Championship2913T23PGA Championship Tournament1960196119621963196419651966196719681969Masters TournamentCUTT11CUTCUTT22T36T22T13U.S. OpenCUTT37The Open ChampionshipT3T10T30T20T8T13T6T16PGA ChampionshipT45T44 Tournament1970197119721973197419751976197719781979Masters TournamentCUT41U.S. OpenThe Open ChampionshipT3T10PGA Championship Tournament19801981198219831984Masters TournamentU.S. OpenThe Open ChampionshipT51CUT41T6CUTPGA Championship
CUT = missed the half-way cut (3rd round cut in 1984 Open 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 0 4 10 6U.S. Open 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 1The Open Championship 0 0 2 2 6 12 18 16PGA Championship 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 2Totals 0 0 2 2 6 16 32 19 Most consecutive cuts made – 7 (1967 Open Championship – 1969 PGA) Longest streak of top-10s – 1 (six times)
Team appearances this list may be incomplete World Cup (representing South Africa): 1957, 1958, 1959, 1961, 1965 (winners), 1966, 1967, 1970, 1971
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