Don January
Don January | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Personal information | |||||||
Full name | Donald Ray January | ||||||
Nickname | Bones | ||||||
Born | Plainview, Texas,U.S. | November 20, 1929||||||
Died | May 7, 2023 Dallas, Texas, U.S. | (aged 93)||||||
Sporting nationality | United States | ||||||
Spouse | Patricia | ||||||
Children | 3 | ||||||
Career | |||||||
College | North Texas State College | ||||||
Turned professional | 1956 | ||||||
Former tour(s) | PGA Tour Senior PGA Tour | ||||||
Professional wins | 45 | ||||||
Number of wins by tour | |||||||
PGA Tour | 10 | ||||||
PGA Tour Champions | 22 (Tied-7th all-time) | ||||||
Other | 13 | ||||||
Best results in major championships (wins: 1) | |||||||
Masters Tournament | T4:1971 | ||||||
PGA Championship | Won:1967 | ||||||
U.S. Open | 3rd:1967 | ||||||
The Open Championship | DNP | ||||||
Achievements and awards | |||||||
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Donald Ray January(November 20, 1929 – May 7, 2023) was an Americanprofessional golfer,best known for winning the1967 PGA Championship.
Early life
[edit]Born inPlainview, Texas,January graduated fromSunset High Schoolin Dallas. He was a member of theNorth Texas Stategolf team that won four consecutiveNCAA Division Ititles from 1949 to 1952. January is a member of the Sunset High School Hall of Fame.
While in college as a sophomore, as part of his scholarship, January helped teach a beginning golf class, where he met his future wife, Patricia "Pat" Rushing. They both graduated in 1953 and eloped toArdmore, Oklahoma.They lived in San Antonio while Don was in theAir Force,and began their family—two boys and a girl.[1]
Professional career
[edit]January won 10PGA Tourtitles, though never more than one in a year, with his most notable at the1967 PGA Championship,an 18-hole playoff victory overDon Massengale.January had lost the1961 PGA Championshipin a playoff toJerry Barberwhen his 68, the lowest losing score ever in an 18-hole playoff for a major championship, was bested by Barber's 67. He won theVardon Trophyfor lowest scoring average in 1976 at the age of 47. He was a member of the U.S.Ryder Cupteam in both 1965 and 1977.
January was responsible for a change to therules of golf.During the 1963Phoenix Open,January had a putt roll up to the lip of the hole and stop. January claimed that the ball was still moving, and waited for seven minutes for the ball to drop (it never did).[2]Rule 16-2 was revised in 1964 to state that players had to tap the ball in within ten seconds or be penalized.[3]
In the period between his last PGA Tour win and the start of the Senior PGA Tour, January devoted most of his professional efforts to agolf course designbusiness, JanMart Enterprises, which he established with fellow Texan and PGA Tour golferBilly Martindale.
January is well known for his success on the Senior PGA Tour (now thePGA Tour Champions),[4]winning 22 events including twoPGA Seniors' Championships.In 1980, he won the first official event on the Senior PGA Tour—theAtlantic City Senior International.[5]
TheDon January Golf Classicis a golf tournament played annually in the spring that was established to honor him in 1990 by his alma mater, now known as theUniversity of North Texas.
January appeared as himself on the March 6, 1961 episode of the game showTo Tell the Truth.He received two votes.[6]
Death
[edit]January died at his home in Dallas on May 7, 2023, at the age of 93.[7][8]
Professional wins (45)
[edit]PGA Tour wins (10)
[edit]Legend |
---|
Major championships (1) |
Other PGA Tour (9) |
No. | Date | Tournament | Winning score | Margin of victory |
Runner(s)-up |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | May 27, 1956 | Dallas Centennial Open | −12 (64-67-70-67=268) | 1 stroke | Dow Finsterwald,Doug Ford |
2 | Feb 21,1960 | Tucson Open Invitational | −9 (67-67-68-69=271) | 3 strokes | Bob Harris |
3 | Jul 9,1961 | St. Paul Open Invitational | −19 (66-71-68-64=269) | 1 stroke | Buster Cupit |
4 | Feb 17,1963 | Tucson Open Invitational(2) | −22 (65-67-69-65=266) | 11 strokes | Gene Littler,Phil Rodgers |
5 | Aug 28,1966 | Philadelphia Golf Classic | −10 (69-69-69-71=278) | 1 stroke | Jack Nicklaus |
6 | Jul 24,1967 | PGA Championship | −7 (71-72-70-68=281) | Playoff | Don Massengale |
7 | Apr 21,1968 | Tournament of Champions | −8 (70-68-69-69=276) | 1 stroke | Julius Boros |
8 | Mar 23,1970 | Greater Jacksonville Open | −9 (68-75-70-66=279) | Playoff | Dale Douglass |
9 | Oct 19,1975 | San Antonio Texas Open | −13 (71-67-71-66=275) | Playoff | Larry Hinson |
10 | Apr 18,1976 | MONY Tournament of Champions(2) | −11 (71-68-69-69=277) | 5 strokes | Hubert Green |
PGA Tour playoff record (3–5)
No. | Year | Tournament | Opponent(s) | Result |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 1956 | Western Open | Mike Fetchick,Doug Ford, Jay Hebert |
Fetchick won 18-hole playoff; Fetchick: −6 (66), Hebert: −1 (71), Ford: E (72), January: +3 (75) |
2 | 1961 | PGA Championship | Jerry Barber | Lost 18-hole playoff; Barber: −3 (67), January: −2 (68) |
3 | 1964 | Lucky International Open | Chi-Chi Rodríguez | Lost 18-hole playoff; Rodríguez: −1 (70), January: E (71) |
4 | 1967 | PGA Championship | Don Massengale | Won 18-hole playoff; January: −3 (69), Massengale: −1 (71) |
5 | 1969 | Kaiser International Open Invitational | George Archer,Billy Casper, Jack Nicklaus |
Nicklaus won with birdie on second extra hole January eliminated by birdie on first hole |
6 | 1970 | Greater Jacksonville Open | Dale Douglass | Won 18-hole playoff; January: −3 (69), Douglass: E (72) |
7 | 1971 | Houston Champions International | Hubert Green | Lost to birdie on first extra hole |
8 | 1975 | San Antonio Texas Open | Larry Hinson | Won with birdie on second extra hole |
Other wins (2)
[edit]This list may be incomplete
- 1956 Apple Valley Clambake[9]
- 1959Valencia Open Invitational[9]
Senior PGA Tour wins (22)
[edit]Legend |
---|
Senior major championships (1) |
Other Senior PGA Tour (21) |
No. | Date | Tournament | Winning score | Margin of victory |
Runner(s)-up |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Jun 22,1980 | Atlantic City Senior International | −5 (68-71-69=208) | 2 strokes | Mike Souchak |
2 | Apr 5,1981 | Michelob-Egypt Temple Senior Classic | −8 (71-70-72-67=280) | Playoff | Doug Ford |
3 | Jun 7, 1981 | Eureka Federal Savings Classic | −5 (71-69-68=208) | 2 strokes | Bob Goalby |
4 | Apr 4,1982 | Michelob Senior Classic(2) | −10 (73-69-67-69=278) | 3 strokes | Dow Finsterwald |
5 | Dec 5, 1982 | PGA Seniors' Championship | E (74-75-69-70=288) | 1 stroke | Julius Boros |
6 | Jun 5,1983 | Gatlin Brothers Seniors Golf Classic | −8 (71-67-68=208) | Playoff | Billy Casper |
7 | Jun 26, 1983 | Peter Jackson Champions | −10 (68-67-71-68=274) | 2 strokes | Miller Barber |
8 | Jul 3, 1983 | Marlboro Classic | −11 (69-72-68-64=273) | 3 strokes | Miller Barber,Gay Brewer |
9 | Aug 21, 1983 | Denver Post Champions of Golf | −17 (70-65-67-69=271) | 4 strokes | Billy Casper,Doug Sanders |
10 | Sep 4, 1983 | Citizens Union Senior Golf Classic | −19 (67-67-65-70=269) | 3 strokes | Bob Stone |
11 | Oct 16, 1983 | Suntree Classic | −14 (69-66-68-71=274) | 3 strokes | Arnold Palmer |
12 | Mar 25,1984 | Vintage Invitational | −8 (70-72-72-66=280) | 4 strokes | Miller Barber |
13 | Aug 12, 1984 | du Maurier Champions(2) | −19 (65-63-66=194) | 5 strokes | Miller Barber,Lee Elder |
14 | Sep 23, 1984 | Digital Middlesex Classic(2) | −7 (70-70-69=209) | 4 strokes | Orville Moody |
15 | Mar 24,1985 | Senior PGA Tour Roundup | −18 (65-69-64=198) | 3 strokes | Gene Littler |
16 | May 12, 1985 | Dominion Seniors | −10 (69-70-67=206) | 2 strokes | Gay Brewer |
17 | May 19, 1985 | United Hospitals Senior Golf Championship | −5 (69-66=135)* | 5 strokes | Al Balding |
18 | Jul 7, 1985 | The Greenbrier American Express Championship | −16 (70-64-66=200) | 2 strokes | Lee Elder |
19 | Jun 8,1986 | Senior Players Reunion Pro-Am | −13 (66-68-69=203) | 2 strokes | Chi-Chi Rodríguez |
20 | Jul 13, 1986 | The Greenbrier American Express Championship(2) | −9 (70-66-71-207) | Playoff | Jim Ferree |
21 | Nov 2, 1986 | Seiko-Tucson Senior Match Play Championship | E (70) | 1 stroke | Bob Charles |
22 | Jan 10,1987 | MONY Senior Tournament of Champions | −1 (67-72-73-75=287) | Playoff | Butch Baird |
*Note: The 1985 United Hospitals Senior Golf Championship was shortened to 36 holes due to rain.
Senior PGA Tour playoff record (4–1)
No. | Year | Tournament | Opponent(s) | Result |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 1981 | Michelob-Egypt Temple Senior Classic | Doug Ford | Won with birdie on first extra hole |
2 | 1983 | Gatlin Brothers Seniors Golf Classic | Billy Casper | Won with par on fifth extra hole |
3 | 1985 | Digital Seniors Classic | Jerry Barber,Lee Elder | Elder won with birdie on first extra hole |
4 | 1986 | The Greenbrier American Express Championship | Jim Ferree | Won with par on first extra hole |
5 | 1987 | MONY Senior Tournament of Champions | Butch Baird | Won with birdie on fourth extra hole |
Other senior wins (12)
[edit]- 1979PGA Seniors' Championship
- 1980 Australian Seniors Championship[10]
- 1982Liberty Mutual Legends of Golf(withSam Snead)
- 1984Shootout at Jeremy Ranch(withMike Sullivan)
- 1985Liberty Mutual Legends of Golf(withGene Littler), Mazda Champions (withAlice Miller)
- 1986Liberty Mutual Legends of Golf(withGene Littler)
- 1993Liberty Mutual Legends of Golf– Legendary Division
- 1994Liberty Mutual Legends of Golf– Legendary Division (withGene Littler)
- 1997Liberty Mutual Legends of Golf– Legendary Division (withGene Littler)
- 2001Liberty Mutual Legends of Golf– Demaret Division (withGene Littler)
- 2004Liberty Mutual Legends of Golf– Demaret Division (withGene Littler)
Major championships
[edit]Wins (1)
[edit]Year | Championship | 54 holes | Winning score | Margin | Runner-up |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1967 | PGA Championship | 4 shot deficit | −7 (71-72-70-68=281) | Playoff1 | Don Massengale |
1Defeated Massengale in an 18-hole playoff, 69 to 71.
Results timeline
[edit]Tournament | 1952 | 1953 | 1954 | 1955 | 1956 | 1957 | 1958 | 1959 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Masters Tournament | 36 | |||||||
U.S. Open | CUT | CUT | T7 | T19 | ||||
PGA Championship | T49 |
Tournament | 1960 | 1961 | 1962 | 1963 | 1964 | 1965 | 1966 | 1967 | 1968 | 1969 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Masters Tournament | T20 | T4 | T20 | T9 | T18 | CUT | T6 | T26 | T14 | T5 |
U.S. Open | CUT | CUT | 11 | T11 | CUT | T17 | 3 | T24 | WD | |
PGA Championship | 5 | 2 | T27 | T40 | CUT | T12 | 1 | T51 | T15 |
Tournament | 1970 | 1971 | 1972 | 1973 | 1974 | 1975 | 1976 | 1977 | 1978 | 1979 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Masters Tournament | T12 | T4 | CUT | T10 | T33 | T8 | T11 | CUT | ||
U.S. Open | T27 | T11 | T29 | T14 | ||||||
PGA Championship | T12 | CUT | CUT | T10 | T2 | T6 | T19 | T7 |
Tournament | 1980 | 1981 | 1982 |
---|---|---|---|
Masters Tournament | CUT | ||
U.S. Open | |||
PGA Championship | CUT | T19 | CUT |
Note: January never played inThe Open Championship.
CUT = missed the halfway cut (3rd round cut in 1964 PGA Championship)
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 | 3 | 7 | 13 | 20 | 16 |
U.S. Open | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 9 | 17 | 11 |
The Open Championship | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
PGA Championship | 1 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 7 | 12 | 21 | 16 |
Totals | 1 | 2 | 1 | 8 | 16 | 34 | 58 | 43 |
- Most consecutive cuts made – 10 (twice)
- Longest streak of top-10s – 3 (1976 PGA – 1977 PGA)
Champions Tour major championships
[edit]Wins (1)
[edit]Year | Championship | Winning score | Margin | Runner-up |
---|---|---|---|---|
1982 | Senior PGA Championship | E (74-75-69-70=288) | 1 stroke | Julius Boros |
U.S. national team appearances
[edit]Professional
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^Hulstrand, Randena."On par for success".North Texas Mean Green.RetrievedMay 8,2023.
- ^"Player cools heels 7 minutes; Misses putt, miffed at January".Milwaukee Sentinel.Associated Press. February 15, 1963. p. 4, part 2.
- ^Zullo, Allan (2001).Astonishing but True Golf Facts.Forest Fairview, North Carolina: Andrew McMeels Publishing.ISBN0-7407-1426-0.
- ^"Golfer profile: Don January".Las Vegas Review-Journal.April 21, 1998. Archived fromthe originalon June 25, 2003.
- ^Bingham, Walter (February 16, 1998)."Built To Last".Sports Illustrated.Archived fromthe originalon November 3, 2012.RetrievedFebruary 5,2011.
- ^"To Tell The Truth".You Tube.CBS Television.Archivedfrom the original on December 21, 2021.RetrievedAugust 19,2019.
- ^"Don January, Who Won the 1967 P.G.A. Title, Is Dead at 93".The New York Times.May 7, 2023.RetrievedMay 8,2023.
- ^"Major champion Don January dies at 93".PGA Tour. May 7, 2023.RetrievedMay 7,2023.
- ^ab"Don January".Chicago Tribune.August 4, 1988.RetrievedMay 7,2020.
- ^"Golf: Champions warn opponents".The Canberra Times.June 18, 1981. p. 27.RetrievedMarch 3,2020.
External links
[edit]- Don Januaryat thePGA Tourofficial site
- 1929 births
- 2023 deaths
- American male golfers
- North Texas Mean Green men's golfers
- PGA Tour golfers
- PGA Tour Champions golfers
- Ryder Cup competitors for the United States
- Winners of men's major golf championships
- Winners of senior major golf championships
- Golf course architects
- Golfers from Texas
- People from Plainview, Texas