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Wikipedia / Al Watrous

Albert Andrew Watrous (February 1, 1899 December 3, 1983) was an American professional golfer who played on the PGA Tour in the 1920s and 1930s.

Early life

Watrous was born in Yonkers, New York, of Polish descent. He moved to Michigan at an early age.

Professional career

Watrous played on the first two Ryder Cup teams in 1927 and 1929. Watrous was the club pro at Oakland Hills Country Club in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan, for 37 years. Watrous had tremendous success in Michigan events, winning the Michigan PGA Championship nine times and the Michigan Open six times.

Watrous never won a major championship, but came very close in the 1926 Open Championship at Royal Lytham & St Annes Golf Club. Playing with Bobby Jones in the final round, and tied with him, Watrous hit the green in two shots on the difficult par-4 17th hole, with Jones in trouble after his tee shot finished in sandy dunes and tall grass far left of the fairway. But from this very difficult position, Jones hit one of the greatest recovery shots in golf history from 175 yards, as his ball finished on the green nearer than Watrous', who three-putted, and finished second to Jones.

Watrous had much success as a senior. He won the PGA Seniors Championship three times after he turned 50.

Death

Watrous died on December 3, 1983, in Royal Oak, Michigan.

Awards and honors

  • On June 14, 1979, Watrous was inducted into the National Polish-American Sports Hall of Fame and Museum

  • In 1982, he was inducted with the charter class at the Michigan Golf Hall of Fame

  • A collegiate golf tournament named in his honor, the Al Watrous Memorial Intercollegiate Invitational, was first played in 2009.

Professional wins

PGA Tour wins (8)

Sources:

Other wins

  1. Note: This list is probably incomplete.

  2. 1922 Michigan PGA Championship

  3. 1924 Michigan PGA Championship

  4. 1926 Michigan Open

  5. 1930 Michigan Open

  6. 1932 Michigan PGA Championship

  7. 1936 Michigan PGA Championship

  8. 1938 Michigan PGA Championship

  9. 1939 Michigan PGA Championship

  10. 1941 Michigan PGA Championship

  11. 1943 Michigan Open

  12. 1949 Michigan Open

  13. 1952 Michigan PGA Championship

  14. 1954 Michigan PGA Championship

Senior wins

Results in major championships

NYF = tournament not yet founded NT = no tournament WD = withdrew CUT = missed the half-way cut R64, R32, R16, QF, SF = round in which player lost in PGA Championship match play "T" indicates a tie for a place

Summary

  • Most consecutive cuts made – 23 (1926 Open Championship – 1937 Masters)

  • Longest streak of top-10s – 2 (1929 Open Championship – 1929 PGA)

See also

References