John George Goodman (December 28, 1909 – August 8, 1970) was the last amateur golfer to win the U.S. Open, in 1933, and also won the U.S. Amateur in 1937.
Early life Born to Lithuanian immigrants in South Omaha, Nebraska, Goodman was orphaned at the age of 14. His mother died when he was 11, after giving birth to her 13th child, and his father later abandoned the family. Goodman became a caddie at the Field Club in Omaha, and while a student at Omaha South High School, he won the Omaha city championship in 1925.
Golf career In 1929, he won the first of five consecutive Nebraska Amateur titles. He won the Trans-Mississippi Amateur three times (1927, 1931, and 1935). He gained national notoriety at age 19 in 1929 when he defeated Bobby Jones in the first round of match play competition at the U.S. Amateur at Pebble Beach.
Goodman served in the U.S. Army during World War II, and did not turn professional until 1960; he supported himself throughout his career by selling insurance. A municipal golf course in Omaha is named for him.
Tournament wins (60) this list may be incomplete 1925 Omaha Caddie Championship, Omaha Metropolitan Golf Championship 1927 Trans-Mississippi Amateur 1929 Nebraska Amateur 1930 Nebraska Amateur 1931 Trans-Mississippi Amateur, Nebraska Amateur 1932 Nebraska Amateur 1933 U.S. Open, Nebraska Amateur 1935 Trans-Mississippi Amateur 1936 Mexican Amateur, Arcola Country Club Invitational 1937 U.S. Amateur, Mexican Amateur 1939 Arcola Country Club Invitational
Major championships wins are shown in bold.
Major championships Wins (1) YearChampionship54 holesWinning scoreMarginRunner-up 1933 U.S. Open 6 shot lead −1 (75-66-70-76=287) 1 stroke Ralph Guldahl
Amateur wins (1) YearChampionshipWinning scoreRunner-up 1937 U.S. Amateur 2 up Ray Billows
Results timeline Tournament192719281929U.S. OpenT45U.S. AmateurDNQR16British Amateur Tournament1930193119321933193419351936193719381939Masters TournamentNYFNYFNYFNYF43U.S. OpenT11T14 LA1 LAT43T36T228 LACUTU.S. AmateurR32R322R32R128SFSF1QFR32British AmateurR16R32 Tournament19401941194219431944194519461947Masters TournamentNTNTNTU.S. OpenCUTCUTNTNTNTNTCUTU.S. AmateurDNQR64NTNTNTNTDNQR32British AmateurNTNTNTNTNTNT Note: Goodman never played in The Open Championship or the PGA Championship.
LA = low amateur NYF = tournament not yet founded NT = no tournament CUT = missed the half-way cut DNQ = did not qualify for match play portion R128, R64, R32, R16, QF, SF = round in which player lost in match play "T" indicates a tie for a place
Source for U.S. Open and U.S. Amateur: USGA Championship Database
Source for 1934 British Amateur: Reading Eagle, May 24, 1934, pg. 17.
Source for 1936 Masters:
Source for 1938 British Amateur: Time Magazine, June 6, 1938
U.S. national team appearances Amateur Walker Cup: 1934 (winners), 1936 (winners), 1938
References
External links Washington Post review of The King of Swings: Johnny Goodman, the Last Amateur to Beat the Pros at Their Own Game Field Club of Omaha Golf and Country Club