Eugene Claude Harmon Sr. (July 14, 1916 – July 23, 1989) was an American professional golfer and golf instructor.
Early life and amateur career Harmon was born in Savannah, Georgia. He spent much of his boyhood in Florida, in the Orlando area. A youthful prodigy, he qualified for the U.S. Amateur at age 15 in 1931.
Professional career Harmon was a club professional when he won the 1948 Masters Tournament by five shots to earn $2,500. He was a semi-finalist three times in the PGA Championship competing as a club pro against full-time tour players. Claude Harmon also finished in third place at the 1959 U.S. Open, which was held at his home course at Winged Foot.
From 1945 to 1978, Harmon was the head professional at Winged Foot Golf Club in Mamaroneck, New York, and also served as the winter professional for many years at the Seminole Golf Club in Juno Beach, Florida. In 1959, Harmon played in the U.S. Open at Winged Foot and placed third. In 1959, he was hired as the head professional at Thunderbird Country Club in Rancho Mirage, California, where he served for over a decade. Lastly, he took a club job in Texas in the Houston area.
Personal life Harmon had four sons and two daughters. All of his sons became golf professionals and instructors. His son, Butch Harmon, has served as the golf coach for Greg Norman and Tiger Woods, among others. In addition, his sons Craig and Bill have been noted in Golf Digests "top 50 teachers" list. His third eldest son, Dick (1947–2006), was also a golf instructor, as is grandson Claude Harmon III.
Harmon was one of the few close friends of legendary star Ben Hogan, and the two played together frequently and worked together on their games.The Pro, by Butch Harmon, 2006.
Harmon died of heart failure following surgery in Houston, aged 73.
Awards and honors Harmon is a member of the World Golf Teachers' Hall of Fame Harmon is a member of the PGA of America Hall of Fame.
Professional wins (15) PGA Tour wins (1) 1948 Masters Tournament Source:
Major championship is shown in bold.
Other wins (14) this list may be incomplete 1946 Westchester Open, Metropolitan PGA Championship 1947 Westchester Open 1948 Westchester PGA Championship 1949 Westchester PGA Championship, Havana Invitational 1950 Miami International Four-Ball (with Pete Cooper), Westchester Open 1951 Westchester Open, Metropolitan PGA Championship, Metropolitan Open 1953 Westchester Open 1958 Westchester PGA Championship 1960 Westchester Open
Major championships Wins (1) YearChampionship54 holesWinning scoreMarginRunner-up 1948 Masters Tournament 2 shot lead −9 (70-70-69-70=279) 5 strokes Cary Middlecoff
Results timeline Tournament1940194119421943194419451946194719481949Masters TournamentNTNTNT18T261T11U.S. OpenDQNTNTNTNTT15T19CUTT8The Open ChampionshipNTNTNTNTNTNT27PGA ChampionshipNTSFR64R16SFR32
Tournament1950195119521953195419551956195719581959Masters TournamentT32T35T14T34T53T28T46T38T9CUTU.S. OpenT38T54CUTT15CUTCUTT3The Open ChampionshipPGA ChampionshipR16R64SFR32R16R326T56T38
Tournament1960196119621963196419651966196719681969Masters TournamentT16CUTCUTWDCUTCUTWDWDWDWDU.S. OpenT27CUTCUTThe Open ChampionshipPGA ChampionshipCUTT44
Tournament19701971Masters TournamentWDU.S. OpenThe Open ChampionshipPGA Championship
NT = no tournament WD = withdrew DQ = disqualified CUT = missed the half-way cut R64, R32, R16, QF, SF = Round in which player lost in PGA Championship match play "T" indicates a tie for a place
Summary Tournament Wins 2nd 3rd Top-5 Top-10 Top-25 Events Cuts madeMasters Tournament 1 0 0 1 2 6 25 14U.S. Open 0 0 1 1 2 5 15 9The Open Championship 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1PGA Championship 0 0 3 3 7 10 16 15Totals 1 0 4 5 11 21 57 39 Most consecutive cuts made – 12 (1948 Open Championship – 1953 Masters) Longest streak of top-10s – 2 (twice)
References
"Claude Harmon", Almanac of Famous People, 8th ed. Gale Group, 2003.
External links
PGA of America Hall of Fame