Douglas Michael Ford Sr. (born Douglas Michael Fortunato; August 6, 1922 – May 14, 2018) was an American professional golfer and two-time major golf champion. Ford turned professional in 1949, later going on to win the 1955 PGA Championship and the 1957 Masters Tournament. He was also a member of four Ryder Cup teams (1955, 1957, 1959, and 1961) and was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 2011.
Early life Ford was born in West Haven, Connecticut, on August 6, 1922. During World War II, he served in the Coast Guard Air Division.
Ford recalled later in life that he showed enough promise as a baseball player that he received a contract offer from the New York Yankees. While he was considering the offer, his father asked how long he might expect to play baseball. When Doug said that he might expect to play professional baseball for about 10 years, his father responded, "Why don't you stay with the golf. You'll last forever."
Professional career Ford turned professional in 1949 and won for the first time in 1952 at the Jacksonville Open.
The win in Jacksonville was an unusual one. At the end of regulation play, Ford and Sam Snead were tied for the lead. An 18-hole playoff was scheduled for the next day but rather than play, Snead forfeited. The forfeit stemmed from a ruling Snead received during the tournament's second round of play. On the 10th hole, Snead's drive landed behind an out-of-bounds stake. While Chick Harbert, who was playing with Snead, thought the ball was out-of-bounds, a rules official ruled differently due to the starter not telling players the stakes had been moved since the previous day's play had ended. Afterwards, Snead explained why he forfeited even though Ford suggested they play sudden-death for the title. "I want to be fair about it. I don't want anyone to think I took advantage of the ruling."
Ford's first major title was the PGA Championship in 1955, which was contested at match play. He defeated Cary Middlecoff in the 36-hole final, 4 and 3. Ford was that season's PGA Player of the Year. In 1957, he holed out from a plugged lie in the bunker, on the final hole, to come from behind and beat Sam Snead by three strokes at the Masters Tournament. The last of his 19 PGA Tour wins came in 1963. Ford played on four Ryder Cup teams: 1955, 1957, 1959, and 1961.
Ford played in 49 Masters Tournaments, a record that stood until Arnold Palmer played in his 50th tournament three years later. His final Masters was in 2001 at age 78; he withdrew after an opening-hole double-bogey and was asked not to participate in future tournaments.
At the age of 88, Ford still regularly played casual golf.
Personal life Ford died in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, on May 14, 2018, at the age of 95.
Honors and awards In 1972, Ford was inducted into the Connecticut Golf Hall of Fame In 1992, Ford was inducted into the National Italian American Sports Hall of Fame In 2011, Ford was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame
Professional wins (34) PGA Tour wins (19) Legend Major championships (2) Other PGA Tour (17) No.DateTournamentWinning scoreMargin ofvictoryRunner(s)-up1Mar 24, 1952Jacksonville Open−8 (69-68-70-73=280)Playoff Sam Snead2Apr 19, 1953Virginia Beach Open−14 (63-65-67-67=262)2 strokes Ansel Snow3Aug 23, 1953Labatt Open−15 (67-69-64-65=265)5 strokes Walter Burkemo4Dec 13, 1953Miami Open−8 (68-67-70-67=272)4 strokes Sam Snead5Apr 5, 1954Greater Greensboro Open−1 (71-69-73-70=283)Playoff Marty Furgol6Aug 22, 1954Fort Wayne Open−18 (70-69-66-65=270)3 strokes Mike Souchak7Jul 26, 1955PGA Championship4 and 3 Cary Middlecoff8Aug 7, 1955All American Open−11 (69-69-69-70=277)3 strokes Leo Biagetti9Sep 26, 1955Carling Golf Classic−12 (70-69-68-69=276)1 stroke Art Wall Jr.10Jan 7, 1957Los Angeles Open−4 (69-71-71-69=280)1 stroke Jay Hebert11Apr 7, 1957Masters Tournament−5 (72-73-72-66=283)3 strokes Sam Snead12Jun 30, 1957Western Open−5 (69-71-67-72=279)Playoff George Bayer, Gene Littler, Billy Maxwell13Mar 16, 1958Pensacola Open Invitational−10 (70-65-70-73=278)2 strokes Ken Venturi, Art Wall Jr.14Jun 20, 1959Canadian Open−12 (68-69-69-70=276)2 strokes Dow Finsterwald, Art Wall Jr., Bo Wininger15May 29, 1960500 Festival Open Invitation−14 (66-68-68-68=270)2 strokes Jerry Barber16May 28, 1961500 Festival Open Invitation (2)−11 (69-69-67-68=273)Playoff Arnold Palmer17Jan 22, 1962Bing Crosby National Pro-Am−2 (70-73-69-74=286)Playoff Joe Campbell18Jun 24, 1962Eastern Open Invitational−9 (69-65-73-72=279)1 stroke Bob Goalby19Jul 6, 1963Canadian Open (2)−4 (69-67-74-70=280)1 stroke Al Geiberger
PGA Tour playoff record (5–7) No.YearTournamentOpponent(s)Result11951Texas Open Dutch HarrisonLost 18-hole playoff;Harrison: −4 (67),Ford: −3 (68)21951Kansas City Open Dave Douglas, Cary MiddlecoffMiddlecoff won 18-hole playoff;Middlecoff: −4 (68),Douglas: E (72),Ford: E (72)31952Jacksonville Open Sam SneadWon after concession before playoff41953Greater Greensboro Open Sam Snead, Earl Stewart, Art Wall Jr.Stewart won with par on first extra hole after 18-hole playoff;Stewart: −2 (68),Snead: −2 (68),Ford: E (70),Wall: +2 (72)51954Greater Greensboro Open Marty FurgolWon 18-hole playoff;Ford: +1 (72),Furgol: +4 (75)61955Rubber City Open Jackson Bradley, Jack Burke Jr., Henry RansomRansom won with birdie on first extra hole71955Philadelphia Daily News Open Ted KrollLost to birdie on first extra hole81956Western Open Mike Fetchick, Jay Hebert, Don JanuaryFetchick won 18-hole playoff;Fetchick: −6 (66),Hebert: −1 (71),Ford: E (72),January: +3 (75)91957Rubber City Open Invitational Arnold PalmerLost to birdie on sixth extra hole101957Western Open George Bayer, Gene Littler, Billy MaxwellWon with par on third extra holeLittler and Maxwell eliminated by par on first hole111961500 Festival Open Invitation Arnold PalmerWon with birdie on second extra hole121962Bing Crosby National Pro-Am Joe CampbellWon with par on first extra hole
Source:
Other wins (12) 1956 Metropolitan Open 1957 Panama Open, Metropolitan PGA Championship, Westchester PGA Championship 1958 Metropolitan PGA Championship 1959 Eldorado Professional (tied with Sam Snead) 1960 Metropolitan PGA Championship 1961 Westchester Open, Westchester PGA Championship 1963 Westchester Open, Metropolitan PGA Championship, Westchester PGA Championship
Other senior wins (3) 1981 Merrill Lynch/Golf Digest Commemorative Pro-Am 1987 Liberty Mutual Legends of Golf - Legendary Division (with Jerry Barber) 1996 Liberty Mutual Legends of Golf - Demaret Division (with Art Wall Jr.)
Sources:
Playoff record Senior PGA Tour playoff record (0–1) No.YearTournamentOpponentResult11981Michelob-Egypt Temple Senior Classic Don JanuaryLost to birdie on first extra hole
Major championships Wins (2) YearChampionship54 holesWinning scoreMarginRunner-up 1955 PGA Championship n/a 4 & 3 Cary Middlecoff 1957 Masters Tournament 3 shot deficit −5 (72-73-72-66=283) 3 strokes Sam Snead
Results timeline Tournament19491950195119521953195419551956195719581959Masters TournamentT21T21T33T61T2T25U.S. OpenCUTCUT41T19T21T35T7T9T1734T5The Open ChampionshipPGA Championship1R32R16T11T11 Tournament1960196119621963196419651966196719681969Masters TournamentT25T32T44T11T46T31T17T31T48CUTU.S. OpenT33T6T8CUTCUTCUTThe Open ChampionshipT24PGA ChampionshipT7T55T27CUTT20CUTCUTCUTCUT Tournament1970197119721973197419751976197719781979Masters TournamentCUTT46CUTCUTCUTCUTCUTCUTCUTWDU.S. OpenCUTCUTThe Open ChampionshipPGA ChampionshipCUTCUTCUTT56CUTCUTCUTCUTCUTCUT Tournament1980198119821983198419851986198719881989Masters TournamentCUTCUTCUTWDCUTWDCUTCUTCUTCUTU.S. OpenThe Open ChampionshipPGA ChampionshipCUTWD Tournament1990199119921993199419951996199719981999Masters TournamentCUTWDCUTCUTWDWDCUTCUTWDWDU.S. OpenThe Open ChampionshipPGA Championship Tournament20002001Masters TournamentWDWDU.S. OpenThe Open ChampionshipPGA Championship
CUT = missed the halfway cut WD = withdrew R64, R32, R16, QF, SF = Round in which player lost in PGA Championship match play "T" indicates a tie for a place.
Source:
Summary Tournament Wins 2nd 3rd Top-5 Top-10 Top-25 Events Cuts madeMasters Tournament 1 1 0 2 3 9 49 17U.S. Open 0 0 0 1 5 8 19 12The Open Championship 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 1PGA Championship 1 0 0 3 5 9 27 11Totals 2 1 0 6 13 27 96 41 Most consecutive cuts made – 31 (1951 U.S. Open – 1963 Masters) Longest streak of top-10s – 4 (1955 U.S. Open – 1956 U.S. Open)
U.S. national team appearances Ryder Cup: 1955 (winners), 1957, 1959 (winners), 1961 (winners) Hopkins Trophy: 1952 (winners), 1953 (winners), 1956 (winners)
See also List of golfers with most PGA Tour wins
References
External links