Manuel Piñero Sánchez (born 1 September 1952) is a Spanish professional golfer.
Early life Piñero was born in Badajoz in the Extremadura region of Spain.
His interest in golf started by co-incidence. Living in Madrid in his youth, on his way to a tennis club, looking for work as a ballboy, his grandfather instead left him at the Club de Campo golf course where they were looking for new caddies.
He turned professional in 1968, 16 years old.
Professional career Piñero established himself on the European Tour in the early 1970s. He won nine titles on tour, the most prestigious of them the 1977 British PGA Championship, beating a field that included some of the superstars of the game, Tom Watson in the hight of his career as well as Gary Player and Arnold Palmer. Piñero featured in the top ten on the European Tour Order of Merit five times, including back to back fourth places in 1976 and 1977.
Piñero played for Europe in two Ryder Cups. In 1981 he defeated Jerry Pate 2 & 1 in his singles match. In 1985 he claimed four points out of five for the team which captured the trophy from the United States for the first time since 1957, defeating Lanny Wadkins 3 & 1 in singles. He was also a member of Spain's two man team at the World Cup of Golf nine times, collecting the team title in 1976 and 1982. On the latter occasion he also won the individual title.
After turning fifty in 2002 Piñero played on the European Seniors Tour, but he had had little success at that level.
Personal life Piñero was with Bing Crosby when Crosby died. On 14 October 1977, Piñero teamed up with Crosby, at the La Moraleja Golf course near Madrid, in a recreational match against fellow Spanish pro Valentín Barrios and his amateur partner Cesar de Zulueta, owner of the course. Shortly after the match ended Crosby had a heart attack at the edge of the clubhouse and died instantaneously.
Professional wins (18) European Tour wins (9) No.DateTournamentWinning scoreMargin ofvictoryRunner(s)-up127 Apr 1974Madrid Open−5 (73-71-69-70=283)Playoff Valentín Barrios225 Jul 1976Swiss Open−6 (69-70-67-68=274)3 strokes Dave Hill328 May 1977Penfold PGA Championship +3 (73-70-74-66=283)3 strokes Peter Oosterhuis412 Jul 1980Mazda Cars English Classic−2 (69-69-72-76=286)1 stroke Sandy Lyle526 Apr 1981Madrid Open (2)−9 (70-68-69-72=279)5 strokes Des Smyth630 Aug 1981Swiss Open (2)−11 (69-73-69-66=277)Playoff Antonio Garrido, Tony Johnstone75 Sep 1982European Open Championship−14 (68-68-67-63=266)2 strokes Sam Torrance828 Apr 1985Cepsa Madrid Open (3)−10 (67-71-67-73=278)Playoff José María Cañizares95 May 1985 Italian Open−21 (69-66-66-66=267)1 stroke Sam Torrance
European Tour playoff record (3–0) No.YearTournamentOpponent(s)Result11974Madrid Open Valentín BarriosWon with birdie on first extra hole21981Swiss Open Antonio Garrido, Tony JohnstoneWon with birdie on first extra hole31985Cepsa Madrid Open José María CañizaresWon with birdie on fourth extra hole
Other wins (8) 1973 Spanish Professional Closed Championship 1974 Spanish Professional Closed Championship 1976 World Cup (with Seve Ballesteros) 1982 World Cup (with José María Cañizares) 1982 World Cup Individual Trophy 1983 Spanish Professional Closed Championship 1984 Spanish Professional Closed Championship 1989 Spanish Professional Closed Championship
Other senior wins (1) 2003 Spanish Seniors Professional Closed Championship
Results in major championships Tournament19771978197919801981198219831984198519861987198819891990199119921993Masters TournamentCUTThe Open ChampionshipT36CUTCUTT58T6T51T45T36T25T19CUT65CUTT51PGA ChampionshipCUT Note: Piñero never played in the U.S. Open.
CUT = missed the half-way cut (3rd round cut in 1978 Open Championship) "T" indicates a tie for a place
Team appearances Professional Double Diamond International (representing Continental Europe): 1974, 1976 (captain) World Cup (representing Spain): 1974, 1976 (winners), 1978, 1979, 1980, 1982 (winners, individual winner), 1983, 1985, 1988 Philip Morris International (representing Spain): 1975 Hennessy Cognac Cup (representing the Continent of Europe): 1976, 1978, 1980, 1982 Ryder Cup (representing Europe): 1981, 1985 (winners) Dunhill Cup (representing Spain): 1985
See also List of golfers with most European Tour wins
References
External links