Phil Rodgers Explained

Phil Rodgers (April 3, 1938 – June 26, 2018) was an American professional golfer.

Life

Rodgers was born in San Diego, California. He won the 1958 NCAA Division I Championship while playing at the University of Houston. Immediately after, he was placed in the first position on the first team of the 1958 All-American golf team, which included many well known professionals including future winners of the PGA Championship, Al Geiberger and Bobby Nichols and Masters Tournament winner, Tommy Aaron.

While in the Marine Corps, Rodgers won virtually every service tournament (he was even pulled out of Boot Camp to play in the All Services tournament), then turned professional in 1961. He won five times on the PGA Tour in the 1960s. Playing sparingly in 1961, but winning the "unofficial" 54-hole Sahara Pro-Am in Las Vegas, Nevada, Rodgers started his first full year on the PGA Tour in 1962, which began with the Los Angeles Open. Tied for the lead after 54 holes with Fred Hawkins at 206, Rodgers ran away from the field shooting a 9-under-par 62 making 9 birdies and 9 pars to win his first championship by 9 strokes.

He lost to Bob Charles in a 36-hole playoff in the 1963 Open Championship. Rodgers also lost the 1962 U.S. Open by two strokes despite going 6-over-par on two holes. In the first round, he took a quadruple bogey 8 on the 17th hole, and 4-putted the 12th hole in the third round. Still, after chipping in for a birdie on the 12th hole in the final round, he stood at 2-under-par with six holes left, needing 6 pars to win. Instead he made 3 bogeys enabling Arnold Palmer and Jack Nicklaus to finish regulation play tied for first at 1-under-par. Nicklaus went on to win the playoff and scored his first victory as a professional.

After a stint on the Senior PGA Tour, Rodgers became a much sought-after teacher, specializing in the short game. One of his first pupils was Jack Nicklaus, who publicly credited Rodgers with teaching him more precise wedge play which helped him win his fourth U.S. Open championship in 1980 at age 40. For several years, Golf Magazine ranked Rodgers in their top 100 teachers.

Rodgers died in San Diego on June 26, 2018, from leukemia at the age of 80.^{[1] [2]}

Professional wins (6)

PGA Tour wins (5)

No.	Date	Tournament	Winning score	Margin of victory	Runner(s)-up
1	Jan 8, 1962	Los Angeles Open	−16 (67-71-68-62=268)	9 strokes	Bob Goalby, Fred Hawkins
2	Feb 18, 1962	Tucson Open Invitational	−17 (64-68-65-66=263)	3 strokes	Jim Ferrier
3	Apr 28, 1963	Texas Open Invitational	−16 (66-71-66-65=268)	2 strokes	Johnny Pott
4	Mar 13, 1966	Doral Open Invitational	−10 (69-69-70-70=278)	1 stroke	Jay Dolan, Kermit Zarley
5	Jun 12, 1966	Buick Open Invitational	−4 (70-73-71-70=284)	2 strokes	Johnny Pott, Kermit Zarley

PGA Tour playoff record (0–2)

No.	Year	Tournament	Opponent	Result
1	1963	The Open Championship	Bob Charles	Lost 36-hole playoff; Charles: E (69-71=140), Rodgers: +8 (72-76=148)
2	1965	Azalea Open Invitational	Dick Hart	Lost to par on eighth extra hole

Other wins (1)

this list may be incomplete

• 1961 Sahara Pro-Am

Results in major championships

Tournament	1956	1957	1958	1959
Masters Tournament			22	CUT
U.S. Open	CUT			CUT
The Open Championship
PGA Championship

Tournament	1960	1961	1962	1963	1964	1965	1966	1967	1968	1969
Masters Tournament			CUT	CUT	T25		T17	T36
U.S. Open			T3	T32		CUT	6	CUT		T13
The Open Championship			T3	2	T19	CUT	T4	T43
PGA Championship			CUT	CUT			CUT	T28		T48

Tournament	1970	1971	1972	1973	1974	1975	1976	1977
Masters Tournament	CUT			23	T7	CUT
U.S. Open	CUT					CUT	CUT	CUT
The Open Championship					CUT
PGA Championship	T48	CUT	T7	T71

CUT = missed the half-way cut (3rd round cut in 1962 PGA Championship)
"T" indicates a tie for a place

Summary

Tournament	Wins	2nd	3rd	Top-5	Top-10	Top-25	Events	Cuts made
	0	0	0	0	1	5	11	6
	0	0	1	1	2	3	12	4
	0	1	1	3	3	3	7	5
PGA Championship	0	0	0	0	1	1	9	5
Totals	0	1	2	4	7	12	39	20

• Most consecutive cuts made – 4 (twice)
• Longest streak of top-10s – 2 (twice)

Notes and References

1. Phil Rodgers, gifted player and instructor, dies at 80 . Golfweek . Brentley . Romine . June 27, 2018 . June 27, 2018.
2. News: Phil Rodgers, 'The Brashest Man' in Golf, Dies at 80 . The New York Times . Reuters . June 27, 2018.