Orville James Moody (December 9, 1933 – August 8, 2008) was an American professional golfer who won numerous tournaments in his career. He won the U.S. Open in 1969, the last champion in the 20th century to win through local and sectional qualifying.
Early life In 1933, Moody was born in Chickasha, Oklahoma. He was the youngest of ten children. The son of a golf course superintendent, he began his career at Capitol Hill High School in Oklahoma City, winning the 1952 state high school golf championship.
After attempting college for a few weeks at the University of Oklahoma he joined the U.S. Army. He was able to continue playing golf while in uniform, winning the All-Service championship and the Korea Open three times. He spent fourteen years in the Army heading up maintenance supervision and instruction at all Army golf courses.
Professional career In 1967, Moody gave up his military career in favor of a trial run at the PGA Tour. His nickname on tour was "Sarge" because he rose to the rank of sergeant in the Army. Moody had limited success on the PGA Tour prior to 1969. In April of that year, he took part in a four-way playoff at the Greater Greensboro Open won by Gene Littler.
The 1969 U.S. Open was played in June at the Cypress Creek Course of the Champions Golf Club in Houston, Texas. Defending champion Lee Trevino picked Moody to win, saying, "He's one helluva player." Moody won by one stroke over Deane Beman, Al Geiberger, and Bob Rosburg with a 72-hole score of 281. He tied for sixteenth at the British Open, tied for seventh at the PGA Championship, and was named PGA Player of the Year for 1969.
The U.S. Open win was Moody's sole tour victory in 266 career events, although he was runner-up five times. He toured Japan, played in a few tournaments and eventually took a club pro job in Sulphur Springs, Texas. Moody was troubled by poor putting during his early pro years.
His career on the Senior PGA Tour was dramatically different. After turning fifty in late 1983, he won two of his first five tournaments in 1984 and finished fifth on the money list. In 1989, he became only the fourth man to win both the U.S. Open and the U.S. Senior Open. Moody went to a long putter after becoming a senior golfer, and this method improved his putting significantly. He had eleven wins on the senior tour, with the last in 1992.
Moody had triple bypass heart surgery prior to the 1995 season but still managed to play in 29 events.
Moody continued to play in charity and other golf events up until 2007.
Personal life In 2008, he died at the age of 74 in Allen, Texas, from complications of a stroke he had earlier suffered and/or complications from multiple myeloma. He was survived by his wife, Beverly, their son and three daughters, and eight grandchildren.
Awards and honors In 1969, Moody earned PGA Player of the Year honors
Professional wins (31) PGA Tour wins (1) LegendMajor championships (1)Other PGA Tour (0) No.DateTournamentWinning scoreTo parMargin ofvictoryRunners-up1Jun 15, 1969U.S. Open71-70-68-72=281+1 1 stroke Deane Beman, Al Geiberger, Bob Rosburg
PGA Tour playoff record (0–2) No.YearTournamentOpponentsResult11969Greater Greensboro Open Julius Boros, Gene Littler, Tom WeiskopfLittler won with birdie on fifth extra holeWeiskopf eliminated by par on first hole21973Bing Crosby National Pro-Am Raymond Floyd, Jack NicklausNicklaus won with birdie on first extra hole
Source:
Asia Golf Circuit wins (1) No.DateTournamentWinning scoreTo parMargin ofvictoryRunner-up1Apr 4, 1971Hong Kong Open66-66-66-68=266−142 strokes Haruo Yasuda
Korean wins (5) 1958 Korea Open 1959 KPGA Championship, Korea Open 1960 Korea Open 1966 KPGA Championship
Other wins (3) This list is incomplete 1969 World Series of Golf, World Cup (team with Lee Trevino) 1971 Hassan II Golf Trophy
Senior PGA Tour wins (11) LegendSenior PGA Tour major championships (2)Other Senior PGA Tour (9) No.DateTournamentWinning scoreTo parMargin ofvictoryRunner(s)-up1Apr 8, 1984Daytona Beach Seniors Golf Classic70-74-69=213−3Playoff Arnold Palmer, Dan Sikes2May 6, 1984MONY Senior Tournament of Champions 71-75-70-72=288E7 strokes Dan Sikes3Aug 16, 1987Rancho Murieta Senior Gold Rush69-67-69=205−112 strokes Butch Baird4Dec 13, 1987GTE Kaanapali Classic65-67=132*−123 strokes John Brodie5Mar 6, 1988Vintage Chrysler Invitational 66-64-70-63=263−2511 strokes Al Geiberger, Harold Henning6Jun 5 1988Senior Players Reunion Pro-Am70-70-66=206−10Playoff Bob Charles, Don Massengale, Bobby Nichols7Aug 21, 1988Greater Grand Rapids Open68-65-70=203−71 stroke Chick Evans, Gary Player, Chi-Chi Rodríguez8Jun 11, 1989Mazda Senior Tournament Players Championship67-69-64-71=271−172 strokes Charles Coody9Jul 2, 1989U.S. Senior Open72-73-64-70=279−92 strokes Frank Beard10Jun 23, 1991PaineWebber Invitational69-68-70=207−91 stroke Dick Hendrickson11Aug 30, 1992Franklin Showdown Classic70-67=137*−7Playoff Bob Betley *Note: Tournament shortened to 36 holes due to weather.
Senior PGA Tour playoff record (3–4) No.YearTournamentOpponent(s)Result11984Daytona Beach Seniors Golf Classic Arnold Palmer, Dan SikesWon with birdie on second extra hole21985Citizens Union Senior Golf Classic Lee Elder, Dan Sikes, Walt ZembriskiElder won with birdie on third extra holeMoody eliminated by birdie on second hole31988Senior Players Reunion Pro-Am Bob Charles, Don Massengale, Bobby NicholsWon with birdie on first extra hole41989Southwestern Bell Classic Bobby NicholsLost to birdie on third extra hole51989Northville Long Island Classic Butch Baird, Frank Beard, Don BiesBaird won with birdie on first extra hole61989Gatlin Brothers Southwest Senior Classic George Archer, Jimmy PowellArcher won with par on second extra hole71992Franklin Showdown Classic Bob BetleyWon with birdie on eighth extra hole
Other senior wins (10) 1984 Viceroy Panama Open 1986 Australian PGA Seniors Championship 1987 Liberty Mutual Legends of Golf (with Bruce Crampton) 1987 Australian PGA Seniors Championship 1988 Liberty Mutual Legends of Golf (with Bruce Crampton) 1995 Liberty Mutual Legends of Golf - Legendary Division (with Jimmy Powell) 1996 Liberty Mutual Legends of Golf - Legendary Division (with Jimmy Powell) 1999 Liberty Mutual Legends of Golf - Legendary Division (with Jimmy Powell) 2005 Liberty Mutual Legends of Golf - Demaret Division (with Jimmy Powell) 2006 Liberty Mutual Legends of Golf - Demaret Division (with Jimmy Powell)
Major championships
Wins (1) YearChampionship54 holesWinning scoreMarginRunners-up 1969 U.S. Open 3 shot deficit +1 (71-70-68-72=281) 1 stroke Deane Beman, Al Geiberger, Bob Rosburg
Results timeline Tournament19621963196419651966196719681969Masters TournamentU.S. OpenCUT1The Open ChampionshipT16PGA ChampionshipT7
Tournament19701971197219731974197519761977197819791980Masters TournamentT18T20CUTCUT44U.S. OpenCUTT27T15CUTCUTThe Open ChampionshipCUTT11T19CUTPGA ChampionshipT41CUTWDT30CUT
CUT = missed the half-way cut (3rd round cut in 1970 and 1980 Open Championships) WD = withdrew "T" = tied
Summary Tournament Wins 2nd 3rd Top-5 Top-10 Top-25 Events Cuts madeMasters Tournament 0 0 0 0 0 2 5 3U.S. Open 1 0 0 1 1 2 7 3The Open Championship 0 0 0 0 0 3 5 3PGA Championship 0 0 0 0 1 1 6 3Totals 1 0 0 1 2 8 23 12 Most consecutive cuts made – 4 (1969 U.S. Open – 1970 Masters) Longest streak of top-10s – 1 (twice)
Champions Tour major championships
Wins (2) YearChampionshipWinning scoreMarginRunner-up 1989 Mazda Senior Tournament Players Championship −17 (67−69−64−71=271) 2 strokes Charles Coody 1989 U.S. Senior Open −9 (72−73−64−70=279) 2 strokes Frank Beard
U.S. national team appearances Professional World Cup: 1969 (winners)
See also 1967 PGA Tour Qualifying School graduates List of golfers with most Champions Tour wins
References
External links