Carl Jerome Barber (April 25, 1916 – September 23, 1994) was an American professional golfer who played on the PGA Tour. He had seven wins on tour, including a major title, the PGA Championship in 1961.
Early life Born in Woodson, Illinois, Barber was one of nine children raised on an Illinois farm near Jacksonville,
Professional career In 1942, Barber turned professional. Small in stature, he was one of the top putters of his era.
Barber was a full-time member of the PGA Tour from 1948 to 1962. He played on two Ryder Cup teams, 1955 and 1961; and was also the team captain in 1961. Barber earned a living primarily as a club professional like most of the touring pros of his generation; he worked at Los Angeles' Wilshire Country Club. He was the Player of the Year on the PGA Tour in 1961, unseating Arnold Palmer for a year.
At the 1961 PGA Championship in Illinois near Chicago, heavy rains wiped out Friday's second round and it had to be replayed on Saturday, followed by the final two rounds on Sunday. Barber led after the second round but trailed Don January by four shots with three holes to play in the final round. In high heat and humidity, Barber made a birdie putt at the 16th hole, a par-saving putt at 17, and a birdie putt at 18 to tie January and force an 18-hole Monday playoff. Due to the double-rounds and a lengthy delay caused by another rainstorm in the morning, Barber and January did not complete their final rounds on Sunday until well past 8 pm. Barber won the playoff the next day by a single stroke when January bogeyed the 18th hole. At age 45, he was the oldest player at the time to win a major title, surpassed seven years later by Julius Boros in 1968 at age 48.
Barber holds the record for the oldest player to ever play on the PGA Tour in February 1994, when he played in the Buick Invitational at Torrey Pines at the age of 77 years, 10 months, and 9 days. He died later that year, in September.
Often referred to in the media as "little Jerry Barber," he stood .
Personal life Barber and his wife Lucile, who died as a result of cancer in 1968, had five children: Tom, Nancy, twins Sandra and Sally, and Roger.
Barber died in Glendale, California at the age of 78, after having mitral valve prolapse and suffering a stroke.
In popular culture In 1966, he portrayed himself in a guest appearance on episode #23 ("Watch the Birdie") of the television situation comedy I Dream of Jeannie.
Professional wins (13) PGA Tour wins (7) LegendMajor championships (1)Other PGA Tour (6) No.DateTournamentWinning scoreTo parMargin ofvictoryRunner(s)-up1 Apr 5, 1953 Azalea Open Invitational 71-65-72-68=276 −12 1 stroke Doug Ford, Ted Kroll, Johnny Palmer2 Aug 8, 1954 All American Open 68-70-70-69=277 −11 1 stroke Gene Littler3 Jan 18, 1960 Yorba Linda Open Invitational 67-70-69-72=278−10 1 stroke Billy Maxwell4 May 8, 1960 Tournament of Champions 69-66-66-67=268 −20 4 strokes Jay Hebert5 Apr 2, 1961 Azalea Open Invitational (2) 71-71-71=213−3 Playoff Chandler Harper6 Jul 31, 1961 PGA Championship 69-67-71-70=277 −3 Playoff Don January7 Mar 31, 1963 Azalea Open Invitational (3) 69-68-70-67=274 −14 5 strokes Larry Beck, Bruce Crampton, Doug Ford, Billy Maxwell, Jack Rule Jr.
PGA Tour playoff record (1–0) No.YearTournamentOpponentResult11961PGA Championship Don JanuaryWon 18-hole playoff;Barber: −3 (67),January: −2 (68)
Other wins (5) this list may be incomplete 1950 Pennsylvania Open Championship 1951 Waterloo Open Golf Classic 1952 Waterloo Open Golf Classic 1959 California State Open, Southern California PGA Championship
Other senior wins (2) 1987 Liberty Mutual Legends of Golf - Legendary Division (with Doug Ford) 1993 Liberty Mutual Legends of Golf - Demaret Division
Playoff record Senior PGA Tour playoff record (0–1) No.YearTournamentOpponentsResult11985Digital Seniors Classic Lee Elder, Don JanuaryElder won with birdie on first extra hole
Major championships Wins (1) YearChampionship54 holesWinning scoreMarginRunner-up 1961 PGA Championship 2 shot deficit −3 (69-67-71-70=277) Playoff1 Don January 1Defeated Don January in an 18-hole Monday playoff, 67 to 68
Results timeline Tournament1946194719481949Masters TournamentU.S. OpenCUTCUTPGA Championship
Tournament1950195119521953195419551956195719581959Masters TournamentT21T6T56T6T26U.S. OpenCUTWDT30CUTT9T35T19CUTPGA ChampionshipR64QFR64R32T2
Tournament1960196119621963196419651966196719681969Masters TournamentT3437T5CUT48CUTCUTCUTU.S. OpenT9T34CUTCUTCUTPGA ChampionshipT321CUTT40WDCUTWDCUTCUTCUT
Tournament1970197119721973197419751976197719781979Masters TournamentU.S. OpenCUTCUTCUTPGA ChampionshipCUTCUTCUTCUTCUTCUTCUTCUTCUT
Tournament1980198119821983Masters TournamentU.S. OpenPGA ChampionshipWDCUT Note: Barber never played in The Open Championship.
WD = Withdrew 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 0 0 0 1 3 4 13 9U.S. Open 0 0 0 0 2 3 18 6The Open Championship 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0PGA Championship 1 1 0 3 3 4 26 8Totals 1 1 0 4 8 11 57 23 Most consecutive cuts made – 8 (1959 PGA – 1962 Masters) Longest streak of top-10s – 2 (1956 Masters – 1956 U.S. Open)
U.S. national team appearances Ryder Cup: 1955 (winners), 1961 (winners, captain) Hopkins Trophy: 1954 (winners), 1955 (winners) Diamondhead Cup: 1974 (winners)
See also List of men's major championships winning golfers
References
External links
GolfCompendium.com: 1961 PGA Championship