Chi-Chi Rodríguez
Chi-Chi Rodríguez | |||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
![]() Rodríguez in 2010 | |||||||||||
Personal information | |||||||||||
Full name | Juan Antonio Rodríguez | ||||||||||
Nickname | Chi-Chi | ||||||||||
Born | Rio Piedras, Puerto Rico | October 23, 1935||||||||||
Height | 5 ft 7 in (170 cm) | ||||||||||
Weight | 150 lb (68 kg; 11 st) | ||||||||||
Sporting nationality | ![]() ![]() | ||||||||||
Spouse | Iwalani Rodríguez | ||||||||||
Career | |||||||||||
Turned professional | 1960 | ||||||||||
Current tour(s) | Champions Tour | ||||||||||
Former tour(s) | PGA Tour | ||||||||||
Professional wins | 37 | ||||||||||
Number of wins by tour | |||||||||||
PGA Tour | 8 | ||||||||||
PGA Tour Champions | 22 (Tied-7th all-time) | ||||||||||
Other | 7 | ||||||||||
Best results in major championships | |||||||||||
Masters Tournament | T10:1970,1973 | ||||||||||
PGA Championship | T15: 1969 | ||||||||||
U.S. Open | T6:1981 | ||||||||||
The Open Championship | T28: 1973 | ||||||||||
Achievements and awards | |||||||||||
|
Juan Antonio"Chi-Chi"Rodríguez(born October 23, 1935) is a Puerto Ricanprofessional golfer.The winner of eightPGA Tourevents, he was the first Puerto Rican to be inducted into theWorld Golf Hall of Fame.
Early life[edit]
Rodríguez was born into a poor family inRio Piedras,Puerto Rico.He was one of six siblings. His father used to earn $18 a week as a laborer and cattle handler. When Rodríguez was seven years old, he helped the family by earning money as a water carrier on a sugar plantation. One day Juan wandered off into agolf course.When he saw that thecaddieswere earning more money than he was, he decided to become a caddie himself.[1][2]
Rodríguez would take a branch from aguavatree and turn it into agolf club.Using a metal can as a "golf ball," he would practice what he had seen the "real" golfers do, teaching himself how to playgolf.By the time he was nine years old, he was proficient at golf, and in 1947, at the age of 12, he scored a 67.[1][2]
In 1954, when Rodríguez was 19, he joined theUnited States Army.During his breaks, he would visit whichever golf course was nearby, where he continued to perfect his game.[2]
Rodríguez, with characteristic charisma, would often make jokes about his past hardships on the golf course, such as, "How long does John Daly drive a golf ball? When I was a kid, I didn't go that far on vacation." And, "Playing golf is not hot work. Cutting sugar cane for a dollar a day — that's hot work. Hotter than my first wristwatch."[2][3]
PGA Tour[edit]
Rodríguez turned professional in 1960. In 1963, at age 28, Rodríguez won theDenver Open,which he considers his favorite win. He won eight titles on thePGA Tourbetween 1963 and 1979.[1]
At first Rodríguez used to put his hat over the hole whenever he made abirdieoreagle.After he heard that other golfers were complaining about his little act, he decided to try something new. Juan developed his signature "toreadordance, "where he would make believe that the ball was a" bull "and that hisputterwas a "sword," and he would terminate the "bull." Even though he was a very small man, he had a special stance and swing with the driver that enabled him to hit the ball as far as the longest drivers on the tour. Rodríguez represented Puerto Rico on 12World Cupteams.[1]
Senior PGA Tour[edit]
Rodríguez became eligible to play on the Senior PGA Tour (now known as theChampions Tour) in 1985 and did so for many years with great success, earning 22 tournament victories between 1986 and 1993. He was the first player on the Senior PGA Tour to win the same event in three consecutive years. He set a tour record with eight consecutive birdies en route to a win at the 1987Silver Pages Classic.In 1991, he lost an 18-hole playoff toJack Nicklausin theU.S. Senior Open.[1][2]
Awards and honors[edit]
In 1986, Rodríguez won theHispanicRecognition Award. In 1988, he was named Replica'sHispanic Man of the Year.In 1989, Rodríguez was voted theBob Jones Award,the highest honor given by theUnited States Golf Associationin recognition of distinguished sportsmanship in golf. He received the 1989Old Tom Morris Awardfrom theGolf Course Superintendents Association of America,GCSAA's highest honor. In 1992, Juan "Chi-Chi" Rodríguez was inducted into theWorld Golf Hall of Fame,the first Puerto Rican so honored.[1][2]
Rodriguez was the 1995Rose Parade Grand Marshal.
Later years and personal life[edit]
Rodríguez is married and has a daughter.[2]
On one occasion, Rodríguez had a brief encounter withMother Teresa,a moment he considers to be the greatest of his life and which inspired him to help others. Together with former professional golfer Bill Hayes and Bob James, Rodríguez established the Chi-Chi Rodríguez Youth Foundation, anafterschool programat the Glen Oaks Golf Course inClearwater, Florida.[1]The principal idea behind the foundation was to instillself-esteemin young people who are victims of abuse, have experienced minor brushes with the law, or have suffered any other hardships. Rodríguez also bought his mother a house and provided financial aid to his brothers and sisters.[1]
In October 1998, Rodríguez suffered aheart attack.He underwent anangioplastyto clear a blocked artery and made a full recovery.
Rodríguez made a cameo in the movieWelcome to Mooseport(2004), in which he is seen golfing with theUnited States President,as portrayed byGene Hackman.[2]
In May 2010, Rodríguez was robbed at his house inGuayama, Puerto Rico,by three men who stole $500,000 worth of money and jewelry. Rodríguez and his wife were awakened at 1:45 in the morning by the masked men, who tied them up and proceeded to rob them.[2][4]
On March 11, 2012, at the age of 76, Rodríguez participated, as an honorary player, in thePuerto Rico Open.He played 18 holes as his final official round as a professional in the PGA. There were several events honoring Rodríguez associated with the tournament, and the tribute received extensive media coverage.[5]
Professional wins (37)[edit]
PGA Tour wins (8)[edit]
No. | Date | Tournament | Winning score | Margin of victory |
Runner(s)-up |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Sep 1,1963 | Denver Open Invitational | −4 (68-74-65-69=276) | 2 strokes | ![]() |
2 | Jan 27,1964 | Lucky International Open | −12 (72-69-65-66=272) | Playoff | ![]() |
3 | Aug 9, 1964 | Western Open | −16 (64-69-68-67=268) | 1 stroke | ![]() |
4 | Apr 30,1967 | Texas Open Invitational | −7 (68-73-70-66=277) | 1 stroke | ![]() ![]() |
5 | Oct 20,1968 | Sahara Invitational | −10 (70-71-69-64=274) | Playoff | ![]() |
6 | May 1,1972 | Byron Nelson Golf Classic | −7 (66-68-69-70=273) | Playoff | ![]() |
7 | Apr 2,1973 | Greater Greensboro Open | −17 (68-66-67-66=267) | 1 stroke | ![]() ![]() |
8 | Apr 22,1979 | Tallahassee Open | −19 (66-69-67-67=269) | 3 strokes | ![]() |
PGA Tour playoff record (3–1)
No. | Year | Tournament | Opponent | Result |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 1964 | Lucky International Open | ![]() |
Won 18-hole playoff; Rodríguez: −1 (70), January: E (71) |
2 | 1966 | Cajun Classic Open Invitational | ![]() |
Lost to par on second extra hole |
3 | 1968 | Sahara Invitational | ![]() |
Won with par on first extra hole |
4 | 1972 | Byron Nelson Golf Classic | ![]() |
Won with birdie on first extra hole |
Other wins (4)[edit]
- 1963Colombian Open
- 1976Pepsi-Cola Mixed Team Championship(withJo Ann Washam)
- 1979 Bahamas Open,Panama Open(tie withButch Baird)
Senior PGA Tour wins (22)[edit]
Legend |
---|
Senior PGA Tour major championships (2) |
Other Senior PGA Tour (20) |
No. | Date | Tournament | Winning score | Margin of victory |
Runner(s)-up |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Jun 22,1986 | Senior Tournament Players Championship | −10 (69-67-70=206)* | 2 strokes | ![]() |
2 | Aug 10, 1986 | Digital Seniors Classic | −13 (70-67-66=203) | 1 stroke | ![]() |
3 | Sep 14, 1986 | United Virginia Bank Seniors | −14 (69-67-66=202) | 3 strokes | ![]() |
4 | Feb 15,1987 | General Foods PGA Seniors' Championship | −6 (70-69-76-67=282) | 1 stroke | ![]() |
5 | May 10, 1987 | Vantage at The Dominion | −13 (67-67-69=203) | 3 strokes | ![]() |
6 | May 17, 1987 | United Hospitals Senior Golf Championship | −8 (70-69-63=202) | 1 stroke | ![]() |
7 | May 24, 1987 | Silver Pages Classic | −16 (66-65-69=200) | 3 strokes | ![]() |
8 | Jun 7, 1987 | Senior Players Reunion Pro-Am | −15 (67-69-65=201) | 1 stroke | ![]() |
9 | Aug 9, 1987 | Digital Seniors Classic(2) | −18 (65-66-67=198) | 8 strokes | ![]() |
10 | Aug 23, 1987 | GTE Northwest Classic | −10 (70-68-68=206) | 1 stroke | ![]() |
11 | Apr 17,1988 | Doug Sanders Kingwood Celebrity Classic | −8 (70-69-69=208) | 2 strokes | ![]() ![]() |
12 | Jul 31, 1988 | Digital Seniors Classic(3) | −14 (68-65-69=202) | 1 stroke | ![]() |
13 | Sep 17,1989 | Crestar Classic(2) | −13 (66-69-68=203) | 1 stroke | ![]() ![]() |
14 | May 6,1990 | Las Vegas Senior Classic | −12 (68-67-69=204) | 1 stroke | ![]() ![]() |
15 | Jul 22, 1990 | Ameritech Senior Open | −13 (67-70-66=203) | 7 strokes | ![]() ![]() |
16 | Aug 12, 1990 | Sunwest Bank Charley Pride Senior Golf Classic | −11 (66-71-68=205) | 2 strokes | ![]() ![]() ![]() |
17 | Mar 3,1991 | GTE West Classic | −8 (66-66=132)* | 1 stroke | ![]() ![]() |
18 | Mar 24, 1991 | Vintage ARCO Invitational | −10 (70-67-69=206) | 1 stroke | ![]() ![]() |
19 | May 5, 1991 | Las Vegas Senior Classic(2) | −12 (70-68-66=204) | 3 strokes | ![]() |
20 | May 12, 1991 | Murata Reunion Pro-Am(2) | −8 (71-70-67=208) | Playoff | ![]() |
21 | Nov 8,1992 | Ko Olina Senior Invitational | −10 (69-68-69=206) | 6 strokes | ![]() |
22 | Jun 20,1993 | Burnet Senior Classic | −15 (69-67-65=201) | 2 strokes | ![]() ![]() |
*Note: Tournament shortened to 36/54 holes due to rain.
Senior PGA Tour playoff record (1–7)
No. | Year | Tournament | Opponent(s) | Result |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 1986 | Greater Grand Rapids Open | ![]() ![]() |
Ferree won with birdie on first extra hole |
2 | 1989 | Bell Atlantic/St. Christopher's Classic | ![]() |
Lost to par on third extra hole |
3 | 1989 | General Tire Las Vegas Classic | ![]() ![]() |
Coody won with birdie on second extra hole |
4 | 1990 | NYNEX Commemorative | ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Trevino won with birdie on fifth extra hole Powell and Rodríguez eliminated by birdie on first hole |
5 | 1991 | Murata Reunion Pro-Am | ![]() |
Won with par on fourth extra hole |
6 | 1991 | U.S. Senior Open | ![]() |
Lost 18-hole playoff; Nicklaus: −5 (65), Rodríguez: −1 (69) |
7 | 1991 | Security Pacific Senior Classic | ![]() ![]() |
Brodie won with birdie on first extra hole |
8 | 1993 | First of America Classic | ![]() ![]() |
Archer won with par on third extra hole Rodríguez eliminated by par on first hole |
Other senior wins (3)[edit]
Results in major championships[edit]
Tournament | 1961 | 1962 | 1963 | 1964 | 1965 | 1966 | 1967 | 1968 | 1969 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Masters Tournament | CUT | T33 | CUT | T21 | CUT | T26 | |||
U.S. Open | WD | T40 | T44 | T42 | |||||
The Open Championship | |||||||||
PGA Championship | T44 | T71 | T15 |
Tournament | 1970 | 1971 | 1972 | 1973 | 1974 | 1975 | 1976 | 1977 | 1978 | 1979 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Masters Tournament | T10 | T30 | CUT | T10 | T20 | CUT | ||||
U.S. Open | T27 | T13 | T9 | T29 | T26 | CUT | 60 | T46 | T32 | |
The Open Championship | T28 | |||||||||
PGA Championship | CUT | T66 | T24 | T24 | T39 | T22 | CUT | T46 |
Tournament | 1980 | 1981 | 1982 |
---|---|---|---|
Masters Tournament | T44 | T38 | |
U.S. Open | CUT | T6 | CUT |
The Open Championship | |||
PGA Championship | WD |
CUT = missed the half-way cut
WD = withdrew
"T" indicates a tie for a place
Summary[edit]
Tournament | Wins | 2nd | 3rd | Top-5 | Top-10 | Top-25 | Events | Cuts made |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Masters Tournament | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 14 | 9 |
U.S. Open | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 16 | 12 |
The Open Championship | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
PGA Championship | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 12 | 9 |
Totals | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 11 | 43 | 31 |
- Most consecutive cuts made – 9 (1972 U.S. Open – 1974 PGA)
- Longest streak of top-10s – 1 (four times)
Senior major championships[edit]
Wins (2)[edit]
Year | Championship | Winning score | Margin | Runner-up |
---|---|---|---|---|
1986 | Senior Tournament Players Championship | −10 (69-67-70=206) | 2 strokes | ![]() |
1987 | General Foods PGA Seniors' Championship | −6 (70-69-76-67=282) | 1 stroke | ![]() |
Results timeline[edit]
Tournament | 1986 | 1987 | 1988 | 1989 | 1990 | 1991 | 1992 | 1993 | 1994 | 1995 | 1996 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
The Tradition | NYF | NYF | NYF | T7 | T48 | T6 | 3 | T30 | T37 | WD | T12 |
Senior PGA Championship | T5 | 1 | 2 | T19 | 2 | T12 | 3 | T32 | T5 | T26 | T4 |
Senior Players Championship | 1 | T2 | T26 | T10 | T5 | T25 | 4 | T20 | T32 | T13 | |
U.S. Senior Open | T10 | 3 | T6 | T18 | T3 | 2 | 7 | T4 | T32 | T29 | T17 |
Tournament | 1997 | 1998 | 1999 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
The Tradition | T43 | 70 | T65 | WD | T67 | 78 | ||||
Senior PGA Championship | T27 | CUT | CUT | |||||||
Senior Players Championship | T34 | T50 | T33 | T60 | 73 | 77 | ||||
U.S. Senior Open | T21 | CUT | CUT | T37 | CUT |
NYF = Tournament not yet founded
CUT = missed the half-way cut
WD = withdrew
"T" indicates a tie for a place.
Note: Rodríguez never played in theSenior Open Championship.
Team appearances[edit]
- World Cup(representing Puerto Rico):1961,1962,1963,1964,1965,1966,1967,1968,1971,1974,1976,1993
- Ryder Cup(representing the United States):1973(winners)
- Wendy's 3-Tour Challenge(representing Senior PGA Tour): 1992, 1993 (winners)
Cultural references[edit]
A painted image of Rodriguez was used to sell golf merchandise in the 1970s. The members of thenew wavebandDevosaw one of these promotional images and decided that it represented the artificiality of popular culture. They used the image in their satirical manifesto (on the de-evolution of humanity) and also featured it on the artwork of their single "Be Stiff",which was released in early 1978, before they had signed to a major label. Four months later, they signed toWarner Bros. Records.For their debut album,Q: Are We Not Men? A: We Are Devo!,they wanted to use Rodriguez's image for the album cover art, but Warner rejected it, due to not having Rodriguez's permission. As the band sought permission, they suggested that the image could be altered to not resemble Rodriguez so closely. Warner's art department slightly changed the ears, eyes, nose and other features and began album production. By the time the band secured Rodriguez's permission, it was too late to use the original one. Warner sent Rodriguez $2,500 and 50 copies of the album, but he only listened to it once, preferring music by vocalists such asDean Martin.[6]
In 1993, Rodriguez lent his name to the video gameChi Chi's Pro Challenge Golf,published byVirgin Gamesfor theSega Genesisconsole.[7]
The 1995 motion picture,To Wong Foofeatures a character by the name of Chi-Chi Rodriguez. Much to Rodriguez’s dismay (the characters were drag queens), the golfer sued the production. The suit was settled out of court for undisclosed amounts. Chi-Chi was portrayed byJohn Leguizamoin the film.[8]
In an episode of the American sitcomWKRP in Cincinnati(season 1, episode 3, "Les on a Ledge" ), newscaster Les Nessman, reporting on a golf tournament, mispronounces Rodriguez's name as "Chy Chy Rodrigweez," despite efforts to correct him.[9]
See also[edit]
References[edit]
- ^abcdefgh"Chi-Chi Rodriguez Academy".Chichi.org. Archived fromthe originalon April 25, 2012.RetrievedMarch 12,2012.
- ^abcdefghiMade Up Media: R.Sellers, M.Walker, I.George, D.Crouch, G.Newsham."Hall of Fame".Ingolfwetrust.com. Archived fromthe originalon April 25, 2012.RetrievedMarch 12,2012.
{{cite web}}
:CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^The Gigantic Book of Golf Quotations,ed. Jim Apfelbaum. 2007.
- ^"Chi Chi Rodriguez robbed at home in Puerto Rico".Stats.cbc.ca. Archived fromthe originalon July 21, 2011.RetrievedMarch 12,2012.
- ^"Fifth Annual Puerto Rico Open Tees Off at The Trump International: Golf Legend Chi Chi Rodríguez to Play His Final Official Round".Prweb.com. January 19, 2012.RetrievedMarch 12,2012.
- ^"The Devo De-Evolution of Golfer Chi Chi Rodriguez".August 25, 2017.
- ^Chi Chi's Pro ChallengeatMobyGames
- ^"Rodriguez Settles Suit".The Spokesman-Review.September 29, 1995.RetrievedApril 9,2023.
- ^Archived atGhostarchiveand theWayback Machine:"Less Nessman talks about Chi Chi Rodriguez".YouTube.April 23, 2018.
External links[edit]
- Chi Chi Rodriguezat thePGA Tourofficial site
- Chi Chi Rodriguezat theWorld Golf Hall of Fame
- Puerto Rican male golfers
- PGA Tour golfers
- PGA Tour Champions golfers
- Ryder Cup competitors for the United States
- Winners of senior major golf championships
- World Golf Hall of Fame inductees
- Puerto Rican Army personnel
- Sportspeople from Río Piedras, Puerto Rico
- United States Army soldiers
- 1935 births
- Living people