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Roberto De Vicenzo

Argentine professional golfer (1923–2017)


Summary

Argentine professional golfer (1923–2017)

FieldValue
nameRoberto De Vicenzo
imageRoberto_De_Vicenzo_(cropped).jpg
imagesize180px
captionDe Vicenzo in 2013
birth_date
birth_placeVilla Ballester, Argentina
death_date
death_placeRanelagh, Argentina
height
weight
sporting_nationality
yearpro1938
extourPGA Tour
Senior PGA Tour
prowins229
pgawins5
champwins2
otherwins222
majorwins1
masters2nd: 1968
usopenT8: 1958
openWon: 1967
pgaT5: 1954
wghofidroberto-de-vicenzo
wghofyear1989
award1Bob Jones Award
year11970
award2Olimpia Award
year21967, 1970
awardssection
module{{Infobox personembed=yes
signatureRoberto_De_Vicenzo_signature.jpg

Senior PGA Tour Roberto De Vicenzo (14 April 1923 – 1 June 2017) was a professional golfer from Argentina. He won a record 229 professional tournaments worldwide during his career, including seven on the PGA Tour and most famously the 1967 Open Championship. He is also remembered for signing an incorrect scorecard that kept him out of a playoff for the 1968 Masters Tournament.

Early life

De Vicenzo was born on 14 April 1923 in Villa Ballester, a northern suburb of Buenos Aires, Argentina. He was raised in the Villa Pueyrredón neighborhood of Buenos Aires, and acquired the game of golf as a caddie. He developed his skills at the Ranelagh Golf Club, and later relocated to the town of the same name.

Professional career

De Vicenzo won his first Argentine tournament, the Abierto del Litoral, in 1942; his first World Cup in 1953; and a major tournament, The Open Championship, in 1967.

De Vicenzo is also remembered for his misfortune in the 1968 Masters Tournament. On the par-4 17th hole, Roberto De Vicenzo made a birdie, but playing partner Tommy Aaron inadvertently entered a 4 instead of 3 on the scorecard. He did not check the scorecard for the error before signing it, and according to the Rules of Golf the higher score had to stand and be counted. If not for this mistake, De Vicenzo would have tied for first place with Bob Goalby, and the two would have met in an 18-hole playoff the next day. His quote afterwards became legendary for its poignancy: "What a stupid I am!"

De Vicenzo subsequently found great success in the early days of the Senior PGA Tour, winning the Liberty Mutual Legends of Golf two times and the inaugural U.S. Senior Open in 1980. He also won the 1974 PGA Seniors' Championship, but prior to it became recognized as a senior major championship.

He represented Argentina 15 times and Mexico four times in the Canada Cup/World Cup, leading Argentina to victory in 1953 and twice winning the individual title.

He officially retired on 12 November 2006, at age 83 with over 200 international victories.

Personal life

De Vicenzo died 1 June 2017 at the age of 94.

Awards and honors

  • In 1970, he was voted the Bob Jones Award, the highest honor given by the United States Golf Association (USGA) in recognition of distinguished sportsmanship in golf
  • In 1989, De Vicenzo was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame
  • The Museum of Golf in Argentina in Berazategui, Argentina was founded because of his hard work. It was named in his honor upon its completion in 2006.

Professional wins (229)

PGA Tour wins (5)

Legend
Major championships (1)
Other PGA Tour (6)
No.DateTournamentWinning scoreMargin of
victoryRunner(s)-up
125 May 1957Colonial National Invitation+4 (72-74-68-70=284)1 strokeUSA Dick Mayer
25 Aug 1957All American Open−15 (69-64-70-70=273)4 strokesUSA Gene Littler
326 Apr 1966Dallas Open Invitational−8 (71-69-69-67=276)1 strokeUSA Joe Campbell, USA Raymond Floyd,
ZAF Harold Henning
415 Jul 1967The Open Championship−10 (70-71-67-70=278)2 strokesUSA Jack Nicklaus
55 May 1968Houston Champions International−10 (67-68-71-68=274)1 strokeUSA Lee Trevino

Source:

European circuit wins (9)

  • 1948 (1) North British-Harrogate Tournament
  • 1950 (3) Dutch Open, Belgian Open, Open de France
  • 1960 (1) Open de France
  • 1964 (2) Open de France, German Open
  • 1966 (1) Spanish Open
  • 1967 (1) The Open Championship

Argentine Tour wins (132)

this list is incomplete

  • 1942 (1) Abierto del Litoral
  • 1943 (2) Center Open, Westinhouse Grand Prix
  • 1944 (3) Argentine PGA Championship, Argentine Open, Cirio Grand Prix
  • 1945 (3) Argentine PGA Championship, Cirio Grand Prix, Bahía Blanca Open
  • 1946 (5) Palermo Grand Prix, Abierto del Litoral, South Open, La Plata Open, Masllorens Grand Prix
  • 1947 (10) Argentine PGA Championship, Abierto del Litoral, South Open, Cirio Grand Prix, Ranelagh Open, Masllorens Grand Prix, Alvear Grand Prix, San Isidro Open, Mailly Grand Prix, America Cup
  • 1948 (5) Argentine PGA Championship, Cirio Grand Prix, Masllorens Grand Prix, Ranelagh Open, La Plata Open
  • 1949 (6) Argentine PGA Championship, Argentine Open, Abierto del Litoral, Ituzaingo Grand Prix, Masllorens Grand Prix, San Isidro Open
  • 1950 (4) Masllorens Grand Prix, Ituzaingo Grand Prix, San Isidro Open, San Martin Grand Prix
  • 1951 (5) Argentine PGA Championship, Argentine Open, Msllorens Grand Prix, Alvear Grand Prix, San Isidro Open
  • 1952 (2) Argentine Open, San Isidro Open
  • 1953 (1) Argentino Grand Prix
  • 1954 (2) Alvear Grand Prix, San Martin Grand Prix
  • 1958 (1) Argentine Open
  • 1960 (3) Argentine PGA Championship, Charles of the Ritz Grand Prix, Siam Grand Prix
  • 1961 (1) Ranelagh Open
  • 1962 (6) Argentine Masters, North Open, Center Open, South Open, Branca Grand Prix, Suixtill Grand Prix
  • 1963 (2) Branca Grand Prix, Tortugas Grand Prix
  • 1964 (4) Argentine Masters, Argentine PGA Championship, Minerva Grand Prix, Jockey Club Rosario Open
  • 1965 (6) Argentine PGA Championship, Argentine Open, Center Open, Rio Cuarto Open, Acantilados Grand Prix, Jockey Club Rosario Open
  • 1966 (4) Argentine Masters, Argentine PGA Championship, North Open, Ranser Grand Prix
  • 1967 (6) Argentine Open, Center Open, South Open, Ranelagh Open, Ranser Grand Prix, Pindapoy Grand Prix
  • 1968 (4) Abierto del Litoral, Ranelagh Open, Acantilados Grand Prix, Peugeot Grand Prix
  • 1969 (6) Argentine PGA Championship, Norpatagonico Open, Ranelagh Open, Glustora Grand Prix, Lomas Open, Kanmar Grand Prix
  • 1970 (4) Argentine Open, Argentine Masters, Ranelagh Open, Old Smuggler Grand Prix
  • 1971 (5) Argentine PGA Championship, Acantilados Grand Prix, La Cumbre Open, Pinamar Open, Santa Teresita Open
  • 1972 (5) Argentine PGA Championship, Center Open, South Open, Ranelagh Open, Acantilados Grand Prix
  • 1973 (4) Center Open, South Open, North Open, Lomas Open
  • 1974 (8) Argentine PGA Championship, Argentine Masters, Argentine Open, Center Open, North Open, San Martin Grand Prix, Charles of the Ritz Grand Prix, Los Lagartos Grand Prix
  • 1975 (2) Jockey Club Rosario Open, Charles of the Ritz Grand Prix
  • 1976 (2) Velox Grand Prix, Metropolitano Open
  • 1977 (3) Argentine PGA Championship, South Open, Velox Grand Prix
  • 1978 South Open, San Martin Grand Prix, Sidesa Grand Prix
  • 1979 (3) Acantilados Grand Prix, Sidesa Grand Prix
  • 1983 (1) North Open
  • 1985 (1) Argentine PGA Championship

Latin America/Caribbean wins (60)

this list may be incomplete

  • 1946 Chile Open (tie with Enrique Bertolino), Viña del Mar Open (Chile)
  • 1947 Cali Open (Colombia)
  • 1948 Uruguay Open
  • 1949 Uruguay Open
  • 1951 Cali Open (Colombia), Bogota Open (Colombia), Barranquilla Open (Colombia), Mexican Open
  • 1952 Panama Open, Santo Domingo Open (Chile)
  • 1953 Panama Open, Mexican Open, Peru Open
  • 1954 Brazil Open, Peru Open, Barranquilla Open (Colombia) Bogota Open (Colombia)
  • 1955 Mexican Open, PGA of Mexico, Medellin Open (Colombia)
  • 1956 Jamaica Open, Barranquilla Open (Colombia), Bogota Open (Colombia), PGA of Mexico
  • 1957 Brazil Open, Jamaica Open
  • 1958 Peru Open, Medellin Open (Colombia), PGA of Mexico
  • 1959 PGA of Mexico
  • 1960 Brazil Open, Barranquilla Open (Colombia), Bogota Open (Colombia)
  • 1961 Chile Open, Colombian Open, Barranquilla Open (Colombia)
  • 1962 Barranquilla Open (Colombia)
  • 1963 Brazil Open
  • 1964 Brazil Open, Uruguay Open, Bogota Open (Colombia)
  • 1965 Los Lagartos Open
  • 1966 Los Lagartos Open
  • 1968 Los Lagartos Open
  • 1969 PGA of Mexico, Los Lagartos Open
  • 1970 Itanhanga Open (Brazil)
  • 1971 Panama Open
  • 1972 Caracas Open, San Pablo Open (Brazil), Rio Grande Open (Brazil)
  • 1973 Panama Open, Caracas Open, Brazil Open
  • 1974 Panama Open, Raleigh Cup (Mexico)
  • 1978 Santiago Open (Chile)
  • 1979 Santo Tome Open, Oro Negro Open (Venezuela)

Other wins (5)

No.DateTournamentWinning scoreMargin of
victoryRunner(s)-up
110 Jun 1951Palm Beach Round Robin+40 points12 pointsAUS Jim Ferrier
224 Jun 1951Inverness Invitational Four-Ball
(with USA Henry Ransom)+9 points3 pointsAUS Jim Ferrier and USA Sam Snead
33 Jun 1953Canada Cup
(with ARG Antonio Cerdá)−1 (145-142=287)10 strokesCAN − Bill Kerr and Stan Leonard
411 Nov 1962Canada Cup International Trophy−4 (71-68-69-68=276)2 strokesENG Peter Alliss, USA Arnold Palmer
515 Nov 1970World Cup International Trophy (2)−19 (64-67-68-70=269)1 strokeAUS David Graham

Senior PGA Tour wins (2)

Legend
Senior major championships (1)
Other Senior PGA Tour (1)
No.DateTournamentWinning scoreMargin of
victoryRunner-up
129 Jun 1980U.S. Senior Open−3 (74-73-68-70=285)4 strokesUSA William C. Campbell (a)
215 Jul 1984Merrill Lynch/Golf Digest Commemorative Pro-Am−8 (70-70-65=205)2 strokesUSA Gardner Dickinson

Senior PGA Tour playoff record (0–1)

No.YearTournamentOpponentResult
11986Denver Post Champions of GolfZAF Gary PlayerLost to par on fourth extra hole

Other senior wins (16)

this list may be incomplete

  • 1974 PGA Seniors' Championship, World Senior Championship
  • 1979 Liberty Mutual Legends of Golf (with Julius Boros)
  • 1983 Liberty Mutual Legends of Golf (with Rod Funseth), Doug Sanders Classic
  • 1986 Conmmemorative Pro-Am (Super Senior)
  • 1987 Argentine Senior Open, Pontevedra Classic (Super Senior), Digital Classic (Super Senior)
  • 1988 Liberty Mutual Legends of Golf - Legendary Division (with Charlie Sifford), Vintage Championship Invitational (Super Senior), Pages Classic (Super Senior)
  • 1989 Liberty Mutual Legends of Golf - Legendary Division (with Charlie Sifford), Vantage Championship (Super Senior)
  • 1991 Liberty Mutual Legends of Golf - Legendary Division (with Charlie Sifford)
  • 1992 Center Senior Argentine Open

Major championships

Wins (1)

YearChampionship54 holesWinning scoreMarginRunner-up
1967The Open Championship2 shot lead−10 (70-71-67-70=278)2 strokesUSA Jack Nicklaus

Results timeline

Tournament19481949
Masters Tournament
U.S. Open
The Open ChampionshipT33
PGA Championship
Tournament1950195119521953195419551956195719581959
Masters TournamentT12T20T17CUT
U.S. OpenT29T27T8CUT
The Open Championship263T35
PGA ChampionshipR16QF
Tournament1960196119621963196419651966196719681969
Masters TournamentT22T33T22T102CUT
U.S. OpenT24
The Open ChampionshipT334T201T10T3
PGA Championship
Tournament1970197119721973197419751976197719781979
Masters TournamentCUTT9T22T51CUT
U.S. Open
The Open ChampionshipT17T11T28T51T28T32T48CUTCUT
PGA Championship

CUT = missed the half-way cut

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

"T" = tied

Summary

TournamentWins2nd3rdTop-5Top-10Top-25EventsCuts madeTotals1261117274437
Masters Tournament0101391511
U.S. Open00001254
The Open Championship116911142220
PGA Championship00012222
  • Most consecutive cuts made – 14 (1948 Open Championship – 1957 Open Championship)
  • Longest streak of top-10s – 3 (twice)

Champions Tour major championships

Wins (1)

YearChampionshipWinning scoreMarginRunner-up
1980U.S. Senior Open−3 (74-73-68-70=285)4 strokesUSA William C. Campbell (a)

Team appearances

References

References

  1. Barkow, Al. (November 1989). "The History of the PGA TOUR". [[Doubleday (publisher).
  2. Evans, Farrell. (14 July 2008). "Roberto De Vicenzo".
  3. "1967 Roberto De Vicenzo". The Open.
  4. Tarde, Jerry. (1 June 2017). "Roberto De Vicenzo and the 1968 Masters: When the game held its head in its hands".
  5. Pelanda, Brian. "What's a 'Bunker'?: The Curious Case of How Dustin Johnson Lost the 2010 PGA Championship and Why the PGA Must Revise the Now Infamous Local Rule at Whistling Straits". Entertainment, Arts and Sports Law Journal.
  6. (15 April 1968). "Loser Said He Was Stupid". [[Sarasota Herald-Tribune]].
  7. (1 June 2017). "Murió Roberto De Vicenzo, el golfista que conquistó al mundo con sus títulos y sus valores". [[La Nación]].
  8. Harig, Bob. (1 June 2017). "Argentine golfing legend Roberto De Vicenzo dies at age 94". ESPN.
  9. Mason, Peter. (2 June 2017). "Roberto De Vicenzo obituary". The Guardian.
  10. "Museo del Golf Roberto de Vicenzo". Municipalidad de Berazategui.
  11. "Roberto De Vicenzo". PGA Tour.
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