Doug Ford (golfer)

Douglas Michael Ford Sr. (born Douglas Michael Fortunato;[1] August 6, 1922 – May 14, 2018) was an American professional golfer and two-time major golf champion. Ford turned professional in 1949, later going on to win the 1955 PGA Championship and the 1957 Masters Tournament. He was also a member of four Ryder Cup teams (1955, 1957, 1959, and 1961) and was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 2011.

Doug Ford
Personal information
Full nameDouglas Michael Ford Sr.
Born(1922-08-06)August 6, 1922
West Haven, Connecticut, U.S.
DiedMay 14, 2018(2018-05-14) (aged 95)
Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, U.S.
Height5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)
Weight180 lb (82 kg; 13 st)
Sporting nationality United States
Career
Turned professional1949
Former tour(s)PGA Tour
Champions Tour
Professional wins34
Number of wins by tour
PGA Tour19
Other12 (regular)
3 (senior)
Best results in major championships
(wins: 2)
Masters TournamentWon: 1957
PGA ChampionshipWon: 1955
U.S. OpenT5: 1959
The Open ChampionshipT24: 1964
Achievements and awards
World Golf Hall of Fame2011 (member page)
PGA Player of the Year1955

Early life

Ford was born in West Haven, Connecticut, on August 6, 1922.[2][3][4] During World War II, he served in the Coast Guard Air Division.[5]

Ford recalled later in life that he showed enough promise as a baseball player that he received a contract offer from the New York Yankees. While he was considering the offer, his father asked how long he might expect to play baseball. When Doug said that he might expect to play professional baseball for about 10 years, his father responded, "Why don't you stay with the golf. You'll last forever."[6]

Professional career

Ford turned professional in 1949 and won for the first time in 1952 at the Jacksonville Open.[7]

The win in Jacksonville was an unusual one. At the end of regulation play, Ford and Sam Snead were tied for the lead. An 18-hole playoff was scheduled for the next day but rather than play, Snead forfeited.[8] The forfeit stemmed from a ruling Snead received during the tournament's second round of play. On the 10th hole, Snead's drive landed behind an out-of-bounds stake. While Chick Harbert, who was playing with Snead, thought the ball was out-of-bounds,[9] a rules official ruled differently due to the starter not telling players the stakes had been moved since the previous day's play had ended. Afterwards, Snead explained why he forfeited even though Ford suggested they play sudden-death for the title. "I want to be fair about it. I don't want anyone to think I took advantage of the ruling."[10]

Ford's first major title was the PGA Championship in 1955, which was contested at match play. He defeated Cary Middlecoff in the 36-hole final, 4 and 3. Ford was that season's PGA Player of the Year.[2] In 1957, he holed out from a plugged lie in the bunker, on the final hole, to come from behind and beat Sam Snead by three strokes at the Masters Tournament. The last of his 19 PGA Tour wins came in 1963.[7] Ford played on four Ryder Cup teams: 1955, 1957, 1959, and 1961.

Ford played in 49 Masters Tournaments, a record that stood until Arnold Palmer played in his 50th tournament three years later. His final Masters was in 2001 at age 78; he withdrew after an opening-hole double-bogey and was asked not to participate in future tournaments.[11][12]

At the age of 88, Ford still regularly played casual golf.[6]

Personal life

Ford died in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, on May 14, 2018, at the age of 95.[1][13]

Honors and awards

Professional wins (34)

PGA Tour wins (19)
Legend
Major championships (2)
Other PGA Tour (17)
No.DateTournamentWinning scoreMargin of
victory		Runner(s)-up
1 Mar 24, 1952 Jacksonville Open −8 (69-68-70-73=280) Playoff United States Sam Snead
2 Apr 19, 1953 Virginia Beach Open −14 (63-65-67-67=262) 2 strokes United States Ansel Snow
3 Aug 23, 1953 Labatt Open −15 (67-69-64-65=265) 5 strokes United States Walter Burkemo
4 Dec 13, 1953 Miami Open −8 (68-67-70-67=272) 4 strokes United States Sam Snead
5 Apr 5, 1954 Greater Greensboro Open −1 (71-69-73-70=283) Playoff United States Marty Furgol
6 Aug 22, 1954 Fort Wayne Open −18 (70-69-66-65=270) 3 strokes United States Mike Souchak
7 Jul 26, 1955 PGA Championship 4 and 3 United States Cary Middlecoff
8 Aug 7, 1955 All American Open −11 (69-69-69-70=277) 3 strokes United States Leo Biagetti
9 Sep 26, 1955 Carling Golf Classic −12 (70-69-68-69=276) 1 stroke United States Art Wall Jr.
10 Jan 7, 1957 Los Angeles Open −4 (69-71-71-69=280) 1 stroke United States Jay Hebert
11 Apr 7, 1957 Masters Tournament −5 (72-73-72-66=283) 3 strokes United States Sam Snead
12 Jun 30, 1957 Western Open −5 (69-71-67-72=279) Playoff United States George Bayer, United States Gene Littler,
United States Billy Maxwell
13 Mar 16, 1958 Pensacola Open Invitational −10 (70-65-70-73=278) 2 strokes United States Ken Venturi, United States Art Wall Jr.
14 Jun 20, 1959 Canadian Open −12 (68-69-69-70=276) 2 strokes United States Dow Finsterwald, United States Art Wall Jr.,
United States Bo Wininger
15 May 29, 1960 500 Festival Open Invitation −14 (66-68-68-68=270) 2 strokes United States Jerry Barber
16 May 28, 1961 500 Festival Open Invitation (2) −11 (69-69-67-68=273) Playoff United States Arnold Palmer
17 Jan 22, 1962 Bing Crosby National Pro-Am −2 (70-73-69-74=286) Playoff United States Joe Campbell
18 Jun 24, 1962 Eastern Open Invitational −9 (69-65-73-72=279) 1 stroke United States Bob Goalby
19 Jul 6, 1963 Canadian Open (2) −4 (69-67-74-70=280) 1 stroke United States Al Geiberger

PGA Tour playoff record (5–7)

No.YearTournamentOpponent(s)Result
1 1951 Texas Open United States Dutch Harrison Lost 18-hole playoff;
Harrison: −4 (67),
Ford: −3 (68)
2 1951 Kansas City Open United States Dave Douglas, United States Cary Middlecoff Middlecoff won 18-hole playoff;
Middlecoff: −4 (68),
Douglas: E (72),
Ford: E (72)
3 1952 Jacksonville Open United States Sam Snead Won after concession before playoff
4 1953 Greater Greensboro Open United States Sam Snead, United States Earl Stewart,
United States Art Wall Jr.		 Stewart won with par on first extra hole after 18-hole playoff;
Stewart: −2 (68),
Snead: −2 (68),
Ford: E (70),
Wall: +2 (72)
5 1954 Greater Greensboro Open United States Marty Furgol Won 18-hole playoff;
Ford: +1 (72),
Furgol: +4 (75)
6 1955 Rubber City Open United States Jackson Bradley, United States Jack Burke Jr.,
United States Henry Ransom		 Ransom won with birdie on first extra hole
7 1955 Philadelphia Daily News Open United States Ted Kroll Lost to birdie on first extra hole
8 1956 Western Open United States Mike Fetchick, United States Jay Hebert,
United States Don January		 Fetchick won 18-hole playoff;
Fetchick: −6 (66),
Hebert: −1 (71),
Ford: E (72),
January: +3 (75)
9 1957 Rubber City Open Invitational United States Arnold Palmer Lost to birdie on sixth extra hole
10 1957 Western Open United States George Bayer, United States Gene Littler,
United States Billy Maxwell		 Won with par on third extra hole
Littler and Maxwell eliminated by par on first hole
11 1961 500 Festival Open Invitation United States Arnold Palmer Won with birdie on second extra hole
12 1962 Bing Crosby National Pro-Am United States Joe Campbell Won with par on first extra hole

Other wins (12)

Other senior wins (3)

Sources:[2][7][14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22][23][24][25][26][27][28][29][30][31][32][33]

Playoff record

Senior PGA Tour playoff record (0–1)

No.YearTournamentOpponentResult
1 1981 Michelob-Egypt Temple Senior Classic United States Don January Lost to birdie on first extra hole

Major championships

Wins (2)
YearChampionship54 holesWinning scoreMarginRunner-up
1955PGA Championshipn/a4 & 3United States Cary Middlecoff
1957Masters Tournament3 shot deficit−5 (72-73-72-66=283)3 strokesUnited States Sam Snead

Results timeline
Tournament 1949 1950 1951 1952 1953 1954 1955 1956 1957 1958 1959
Masters Tournament T21 T21 T33 T6 1 T2 T25
U.S. Open CUT CUT 41 T19 T21 T35 T7 T9 T17 34 T5
The Open Championship
PGA Championship 1 R32 R16 T11 T11
Tournament 1960 1961 1962 1963 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969
Masters Tournament T25 T32 T44 T11 T46 T31 T17 T31 T48 CUT
U.S. Open T33 T6 T8 CUT CUT CUT
The Open Championship T24
PGA Championship T7 T5 5 T27 CUT T20 CUT CUT CUT CUT
Tournament 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979
Masters Tournament CUT T46 CUT CUT CUT CUT CUT CUT CUT WD
U.S. Open CUT CUT
The Open Championship
PGA Championship CUT CUT CUT T56 CUT CUT CUT CUT CUT CUT
Tournament 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989
Masters Tournament CUT CUT CUT WD CUT WD CUT CUT CUT CUT
U.S. Open
The Open Championship
PGA Championship CUT WD
Tournament 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999
Masters Tournament CUT WD CUT CUT WD WD CUT CUT WD WD
U.S. Open
The Open Championship
PGA Championship
Tournament 2000 2001
Masters Tournament WD WD
U.S. Open
The Open Championship
PGA Championship
  Win
  Top 10
  Did not play

CUT = missed the halfway cut
WD = withdrew
R64, R32, R16, QF, SF = Round in which player lost in PGA Championship match play
"T" indicates a tie for a place.

Source:[34]

Summary
TournamentWins2nd3rdTop-5Top-10Top-25EventsCuts made
Masters Tournament1102394917
U.S. Open0001581912
The Open Championship00000111
PGA Championship1003592711
Totals210613279641
  • Most consecutive cuts made – 31 (1951 U.S. Open – 1963 Masters)
  • Longest streak of top-10s – 4 (1955 U.S. Open – 1956 U.S. Open)

U.S. national team appearances

See also

References
  1. McCabe, Jim (May 15, 2018). "World Golf Hall of Fame member Ford dies at 95". PGA Tour.
  2. "Doug Ford". World Golf Hall of Fame. Retrieved October 15, 2017.
  3. Barkow, Al (November 1989). The History of the PGA TOUR. Copyright PGA Tour. Doubleday. p. 269. ISBN 0-385-26145-4.
  4. Elliott, Len; Barbara Kelly (1976). Who's Who in Golf. New Rochelle, New York: Arlington House. p. 66. ISBN 0-87000-225-2.
  5. "For two-time major golf champion Doug Ford, the Hall of Fame finally calls". Palm Beach Post. October 9, 2010. Retrieved December 3, 2017.
  6. "Ernie Els, 41, inducted into Hall of Fame". ESPN. Associated Press. May 10, 2011. Retrieved May 12, 2011.
  7. "Doug Ford – Profile". PGA Tour. Retrieved May 16, 2018.
  8. "Sam Snead Forfeits First in Jacksonville Open". The Spokesman-Review. Associated Press. March 25, 1952. p. 12 – via Google News.
  9. "Ford Gets First Major Golf Win". Reading Eagle. Reading, Pennsylvania. UP. March 25, 1952. p. 17.
  10. "Snead Forfeits First in Jacksonville Open". The Spokesman-Review. Spokane, Washington. AP. March 25, 1952. p. 12.
  11. Johnson, Martin (April 9, 2002). "The Masters: Augusta bows to change with a pompous flourish". The Telegraph. Retrieved April 10, 2019.
  12. "Doug Ford, Masters Champion in Golf Hall of Fame, Dies at 95". Bloomberg Quint. May 15, 2018. Retrieved April 10, 2019.
  13. Goldstein, Richard (May 15, 2018). "Doug Ford, Oldest Masters Champion, Dies at 95". The New York Times. Retrieved May 15, 2018.
  14. "Sam Snead Forfeits First in Jacksonville Open". The Spokesman-Review. Associated Press. March 25, 1952. p. 12 – via Google News.
  15. Moore, Robert (April 20, 1953). "Ford's 262 Captures Virginia Beach". St. Petersburg Times. Associated Press. p. 17.
  16. Mcauley, Ed. (August 24, 1953). "Doug Ford Wins Labatt Open With 15-under-par 265". The Montreal Gazette. p. 18.
  17. "Ford's Fancy Finish Beats Snead at Miami". The Spokesman-Review. Associated Press. December 14, 1953. p. 8 – via Google News.
  18. "Ford; Furgol In Playoff For Top Greensboro Open Money". St. Petersburg Times. St. Petersburg, Florida. AP. April 5, 1954. p. 17.
  19. "Ford Notes Anniversary With $2,000 Playoff Win". St. Petersburg Times. St. Petersburg, Florida. AP. April 6, 1954. p. 10.
  20. "Ford Is first at Fort Worth; Souchak Second". The Spokesman-Review. Associated Press. August 23, 1954. p. 9 – via Google News.
  21. "Doug Ford Wins PGA Title in His First Try". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Associated Press. July 27, 1955. p. 15.
  22. "Doug Ford Wins All-American golf With 11-Under-Par 277; Biagetti 2d". The Spokesman-Review. Associated Press. August 8, 1955. p. 8 – via Google News.
  23. "Doug Ford Fires Subpar golf to Win Sponsors". The Spokesman-Review. Associated Press. September 27, 1955. p. 8 – via Google News.
  24. "Ford Wins LA Open". Ottawa Citizen. Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. Associated Press. January 8, 1957. p. 9.
  25. "Doug Ford's 283 captures Masters golf". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Associated Press. April 8, 1957. p. 1.
  26. "Doug Ford Wins Golf Playoff". Youngstown Vindicator. UP. July 1, 1955. p. 29 – via Google News.
  27. "Veteran Doug Ford 1st in Pensacola Open". The Spokesman-Review. AP. March 17, 1958. p. 29 – via Google News.
  28. "Ford Grabs Canuck Open on 276 Total". The Spokesman-Review. AP. June 22, 1959. p. 11 – via Google News.
  29. "Ford Grabs "500" Open on 68 Finish". The Spokesman-Review. AP. May 30, 1960. p. 9 – via Google News.
  30. "Ford Snares Playoff Win in 500 Win". The Spokesman-Review. AP. May 29, 1961. p. 10 – via Google News.
  31. "Fast Playing Doug Ford Triumphs Over Campbell in Playoff for Crosby Title". Youngstown Vindicator. UPI. January 23, 1962. p. 10 – via Google News.
  32. "Doug Ford Golf Winner". Youngstown Vindicator. UPI. June 25, 1962. p. 10 – via Google News.
  33. "Ignoring Pressure, Ford Wins Canadian". The Spokesman-Review. AP. July 7, 1963. p. 24 – via Google News.
  34. "Doug Ford". Golf Major Championships. Retrieved May 16, 2018.
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