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Cary Middlecoff

American professional golfer (1921–1998)

Field	Value
name	Cary Middlecoff
image	Cary Middlecoff 1950.jpg
imagesize	250px
caption	Middlecoff, circa 1950
fullname	Emmett Cary Middlecoff
nickname	Doc
birth_date
birth_place	Halls, Tennessee, U.S.
death_date
death_place	Memphis, Tennessee, U.S.
height
weight
nationality
spouse
college	University of Mississippi
University of Tennessee College of Dentistry
yearpro	1947
extour	PGA Tour
prowins	40
pgawins	39 (Tied 10th all time)
otherwins	1
majorwins	3
masters	Won: 1955
usopen	Won: 1949, 1956
open	14th: 1957
pga	2nd: 1955
wghofid	cary-middlecoff
wghofyear	1986
award1	Vardon Trophy
year1	1956
awardssection
module	{{Infobox person	embed=yes
signature	Cary_Middlecoff_signature.jpg

University of Tennessee College of Dentistry Emmett Cary Middlecoff (January 6, 1921 – September 1, 1998) was an American professional golfer on the PGA Tour from 1947 to 1961. His 39 Tour wins place him tied for tenth all-time, and he won three major championships. Middlecoff graduated as a dentist, but gave up his practice at age 26 to become a full-time Tour golfer.

Early life and amateur career

Middlecoff was born January 6, 1921, in Halls, Tennessee. He graduated from Christian Brothers High School. He played collegiate golf at the University of Mississippi, becoming that school's first golf All-American in 1939. First as an undergraduate and active member of Kappa Alpha Order, then as a dental student at the University of Tennessee, Middlecoff won the Tennessee State Amateur Championship for four straight years (1940–1943). After obtaining his Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS) degree in 1944, he entered the United States Army Dental Corps during World War II. He won a PGA Tour tournament as an amateur in 1945

Professional career

In 1947, Middlecoff turned professional. He was selected for the 1947 Walker Cup team but immediately withdrew as he intended turning professional.

During his playing career, Middlecoff won 39 PGA Tour tournaments, including the 1955 Masters and U.S. Open titles in 1949 and 1956. He won the Vardon Trophy for lowest scoring average in 1956.

Middlecoff played on three Ryder Cup teams: 1953, 1955, and 1959 – the U.S. teams won all three times. He was ineligible for the 1957 Ryder Cup because he failed to play in the PGA Championship that year. Middlecoff was disappointed to lose a playoff in the 1957 U.S. Open to Dick Mayer, and played very few events following that event. The U.S. lost the Cup in 1957, for the first time since 1933.

Middlecoff's three best seasons were 1949, 1951 and 1956, as he won six tour titles in each of those years. He won at least one tour tournament in 13 of his 15 seasons, missing only in 1957 and 1960.

During the decade of the 1950s, Middlecoff won 28 tour titles, more than any other player during that span. A tall player with plenty of power and very good accuracy, Middlecoff during his best years was also a superb putter. He was known for often taking excessive time to play his shots.

Back problems and struggles with his nerves during competition ended his career in the early 1960s, when he was in his early 40s, although he continued to play occasionally, competing in the Masters until 1971, as a past champion.

Middlecoff became a top player despite having one leg slightly shorter than the other.

He appeared in two motion pictures as himself (Follow the Sun (1951, about the life and career of Ben Hogan) and The Bellboy (1960)). He wrote a newspaper column, "The Golf Doctor." He also appeared in a short biographical sports documentary Golf Doctor (1947).

Middlecoff later developed a reputation as one of the best of the early golf television commentators. After retiring from the tour, he spent 18 years as a golf analyst for television.

Death

Middlecoff died of heart disease in 1998 in Memphis, Tennessee. He was survived by his wife of 51 years, Edith.

Awards and honors

In 1956, Middlecoff earned the Vardon Trophy, the honor bestowed to the player with the lowest average score over the course of the season.
In 1986, Middlecoff was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame.

Professional wins (41)

PGA Tour wins (39)

Legend
Major championships (3)
Other PGA Tour (36)

No.	Date	Tournament	Winning score	Margin of
victory	Runner(s)-up
1	Nov 8, 1945	North and South Open
(as an amateur)	−8 (70-69-69-72=280)	5 strokes	USA Denny Shute
2	Mar 30, 1947	Charlotte Open	−11 (70-65-71-71=277)	Playoff	USA George Schoux
3	Mar 9, 1948	Miami International Four-Ball
(with AUS Jim Ferrier)	1 up	USA Ed Furgol and USA Ellsworth Vines
4	Nov 7, 1948	Hawaiian Open	−10 (70-70-63-71=274)	3 strokes	USA Johnny Bulla
5	Feb 27, 1949	Rio Grande Valley Open	−17 (68-66-63-70=267)	2 strokes	USA Bob Hamilton
6	Mar 13, 1949	Miami International Four-Ball (2)
(with AUS Jim Ferrier)	9 and 8	USA Skip Alexander and ENG Harry Cooper
7	Mar 21, 1949	Jacksonville Open	−14 (66-68-71-69=274)	2 strokes	USA Jerry Barber
8	Jun 11, 1949	U.S. Open	+2 (75-67-69-75=286)	1 stroke	USA Clayton Heafner, USA Sam Snead
9	Jun 19, 1949	Motor City Open	−11 (66-67-71-69=273)	Shared title with USA Lloyd Mangrum
10	Jul 10, 1949	Reading Open	−14 (67-68-65-66=266)	1 stroke	USA Sam Snead
11	Feb 26, 1950	Houston Open	−11 (71-66-69-71=277)	3 strokes	USA Pete Cooper
12	Mar 20, 1950	Jacksonville Open (2)	−9 (70-73-67-69=279)	2 strokes	USA George Fazio
13	Sep 18, 1950	St. Louis Open	−10 (71-66-68-65=270)	Playoff	USA Ed Oliver
14	Jan 22, 1951	Lakewood Park Open	−13 (70-64-69-68=271)	3 strokes	USA Manuel de la Torre
15	May 27, 1951	Colonial National Invitation	+2 (69-71-69-73=282)	1 stroke	USA Jack Burke Jr.
16	Aug 5, 1951	All American Open	−14 (71-69-66-68=274)	2 strokes	USA Fred Hawkins
17	Sep 16, 1951	Eastern Open	−9 (71-68-69-71=279)	1 stroke	USA Jerry Barber
18	Sep 30, 1951	St. Louis Open (2)	−15 (65-65-69-70=269)	2 strokes	USA Lloyd Mangrum
19	Oct 7, 1951	Kansas City Open	−10 (69-66-72-71=278)	Playoff	USA Dave Douglas, USA Doug Ford
20	Feb 10, 1952	El Paso Open	−15 (65-66-69-69=269)	3 strokes	USA Al Besselink
21	Jul 6, 1952	Motor City Open (2)	−14 (69-67-67-71=274)	Playoff	USA Ted Kroll
22	Jul 13, 1952	St. Paul Open	−22 (65-68-67-66=266)	5 strokes	USA Sam Snead
23	Aug 17, 1952	Kansas City Open (2)	−12 (67-68-72-69=276)	Playoff	USA Jack Burke Jr.
24	Mar 1, 1953	Houston Open (2)	−5 (67-72-72-72=283)	Playoff	AUS Jim Ferrier, USA Shelley Mayfield,
USA Bill Nary, USA Earl Stewart
25	May 17, 1953	Palm Beach Round Robin	+42 points	7 points	USA Jimmy Demaret
26	Jun 28, 1953	Carling Open	−13 (68-71-67-69=275)	Playoff	USA Ted Kroll
27	Jul 4, 1954	Motor City Open (3)	−6 (72-68-70-68=278)	2 strokes	USA Tommy Bolt, USA Marty Furgol,
USA Gene Littler
28	Jan 16, 1955	Bing Crosby National Pro-Am Golf Championship	−7 (69-69-71=209)	4 strokes	USA Julius Boros, USA Paul McGuire
29	Mar 20, 1955	St. Petersburg Open	−14 (68-66-73-67=274)	2 strokes	USA Jay Hebert
30	Apr 10, 1955	Masters Tournament	−9 (72-65-72-70=279)	7 strokes	USA Ben Hogan
31	Jun 26, 1955	Western Open	−16 (69-70-70-63=272)	2 strokes	USA Mike Souchak
32	Jul 17, 1955	Miller High Life Open	−15 (64-67-66-68=265)	4 strokes	USA Julius Boros, USA Ted Kroll,
USA Mike Souchak
33	Sep 11, 1955	Cavalcade of Golf	−4 (71-70-70-65=276)	2 strokes	USA Sam Snead
34	Sep 11, 1956	Bing Crosby National Pro-Am Golf Championship (2)	−14 (66-68-68=202)	5 strokes	USA Mike Souchak
35	Feb 5, 1956	Phoenix Open	−8 (72-66-70-68=276)	3 strokes	USA Mike Souchak
36	Jun 16, 1956	U.S. Open (2)	+1 (71-70-70-70=281)	1 stroke	USA Julius Boros, USA Ben Hogan
37	Aug 11, 1958	Miller Open Invitational (2)	−16 (67-64-66-67=264)	2 strokes	USA Bob Rosburg
38	Mar 23, 1959	St. Petersburg Open Invitational (2)	−16 (70-69-67-69=275)	3 strokes	USA Pete Cooper
39	Jun 4, 1961	Memphis Open Invitational	−14 (67-68-64-67=266)	5 strokes	USA Gardner Dickinson, USA Mike Souchak

*Mangrum and Middlecoff agreed to share the 1949 Motor City Open after failing light caused play to halt after eleven holes of a playoff.

PGA Tour playoff record (7–6–1)

No.	Year	Tournament	Opponent(s)	Result
1	1947	Charlotte Open	USA George Schoux	Won 18-hole playoff;
Middlecoff: −8 (64),
Schoux: +1 (73)
2	1948	Tacoma Open Invitational	USA Chuck Congdon, USA Vic Ghezzi,
USA Fred Haas, USA Ed Oliver	Oliver won with eagle on first extra hole after 18-hole playoff;
Oliver: −2 (69),
Middlecoff: −2 (69),
Haas: +1 (72),
Congdon: +2 (73),
Ghezzi: +4 (75)
3	1949	Motor City Open	USA Lloyd Mangrum	Playoff abandoned after eleven holes due to darkness; tournament shared
4	1950	St. Louis Open	USA Ed Oliver	Won with birdie on second extra hole after 18-hole playoff;
Middlecoff: −3 (67),
Oliver: −3 (67)
5	1951	Kansas City Open	USA Dave Douglas, USA Doug Ford	Won 18-hole playoff;
Middlecoff: −4 (68),
Douglas: E (72),
Ford: E (72)
6	1952	Motor City Open	USA Ted Kroll	Won with birdie on first extra hole
7	1952	World Championship of Golf	USA Julius Boros	Lost 18-hole playoff;
Boros: −4 (68),
Middlecoff: −2 (70)
8	1952	Kansas City Open	USA Jack Burke Jr.	Won 18-hole playoff;
Middlecoff: −6 (66),
Burke: E (72)
9	1953	Houston Open	AUS Jim Ferrier, USA Shelley Mayfield,
USA Bill Nary, USA Earl Stewart	Won 18-hole playoff;
Middlecoff: −3 (69),
Ferrier: −1 (71),
Mayfield: −1 (71),
Stewart: E (72),
Nary: +3 (75)
10	1953	Carling Open	USA Ted Kroll	Won with par on second extra hole
11	1953	Fort Wayne Open	USA Art Wall Jr.	Lost 18-hole playoff;
Wall: −2 (70),
Middlecoff: E (72)
12	1954	Phoenix Open	USA Ed Furgol	Lost to birdie on first extra hole
13	1956	Texas International Open	USA Gene Littler, AUS Peter Thomson	Thomson won with birdie on second extra hole
14	1957	U.S. Open	USA Dick Mayer	Lost 18-hole playoff;
Mayer: +2 (72),
Middlecoff: +9 (79)

Sources:

Other wins (1)

this list may be incomplete

1949 Greenbrier Pro-Am

Major championships

Wins (3)

Year	Championship	54 holes	Winning score	Margin	Runner(s)-up
1949	U.S. Open	1 shot lead	+2 (75-67-69-75=286)	1 stroke	USA Clayton Heafner, USA Sam Snead
1955	Masters Tournament	4 shot lead	−9 (72-65-72-70=279)	7 strokes	USA Ben Hogan
1956	U.S. Open (2)	1 shot lead	+1 (71-70-70-70=281)	1 stroke	USA Julius Boros, USA Ben Hogan

Results timeline

Tournament	1946	1947	1948	1949
Masters Tournament	T12 LA	T29	2	T23
U.S. Open		CUT	T21	1
The Open Championship
PGA Championship

Tournament	1950	1951	1952	1953	1954	1955	1956	1957	1958	1959
Masters Tournament	T7	T12	11	T27	T9	1	3	CUT	T6	2
U.S. Open	T10	T24	T24	WD	T11	T21	1	2	T27	T19
The Open Championship								14
PGA Championship			QF	R32	SF	2			T20	T8

Tournament	1960	1961	1962	1963	1964	1965	1966	1967	1968	1969
Masters Tournament	CUT	CUT	T29	CUT	CUT	CUT	WD	CUT	CUT	WD
U.S. Open	T43	CUT	CUT	CUT			WD
The Open Championship
PGA Championship	T29	T11	T15

Tournament	1970	1971
Masters Tournament	CUT	WD
U.S. Open
The Open Championship
PGA Championship

LA = low amateur

CUT = missed the half-way cut

WD = withdrew

R32, R16, QF, SF = Round in which player lost in PGA Championship match play

"T" = tied

Summary

Tournament	Wins	2nd	3rd	Top-5	Top-10	Top-25	Events	Cuts made
Masters Tournament	1	2	1	4	7	11	26	14
U.S. Open	2	1	0	3	4	10	18	12
The Open Championship	0	0	0	0	0	1	1	1
PGA Championship	0	1	1	3	4	8	9	9

Most consecutive cuts made – 12 (1948 Masters – 1953 Masters)
Longest streak of top-10s – 3 (twice)

U.S. national team appearances

Professional

Ryder Cup: 1953 (winners), 1955 (winners), 1959 (winners)
Canada Cup: 1959
Hopkins Trophy: 1952 (winners), 1955 (winners), 1956 (winners)

References

(January 6, 2019). "UPI Almanac for Sunday, Jan. 6, 2019". [[United Press International]].
(January 13, 1947). "Twelve Names in U.S. Walker Cup Selection". [[Glasgow Herald]].
(January 20, 1947). "U.S. Walker Cup Team Change". [[Glasgow Herald]].
(2006). "PGA TOUR 2007 Guide". PGA Tour.
(July 30, 1957). "U.S. Ryder Cup side named". The Bulletin.
Sommers, Robert. (1996). "The U.S. Open: Golf's Ultimate Challenge". Oxford University Press.
Litsky, Frank. (September 3, 1998). "Cary Middlecoff, 77, Dentist Who Became Top Pro Golfer". The New York Times.
Barkow, Al. (November 1989). "The History of the PGA TOUR". [[Doubleday (publisher).
"Cary Middlecoff". PGA Tour.

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