Howie Johnson
Howard "Howie" Johnson (September 8, 1925 – September 13, 2015) was an American professional golfer who played on the PGA Tour and the Senior PGA Tour.
| Howie Johnson | |
|---|---|
| Personal information | |
| Full name | Howard Johnson |
| Born | September 8, 1925 Saint Paul, Minnesota |
| Died | September 13, 2015 (aged 90) Palm Desert, California |
| Height | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) |
| Weight | 195 lb (88 kg; 13.9 st) |
| Sporting nationality |  United States |
| Career | |
| College | University of Minnesota |
| Turned professional | 1956 |
| Former tour(s) | PGA Tour Senior PGA Tour |
| Professional wins | 3 |
| Number of wins by tour | |
| PGA Tour | 2 |
| Other | 1 |
| Best results in major championships | |
| Masters Tournament | T18: 1970 |
| PGA Championship | T19: 1969 |
| U.S. Open | T12: 1970 |
| The Open Championship | T20: 1971 |
Born in Saint Paul, Minnesota,[1] Johnson played college golf at the University of Minnesota, where he was team captain.[1] He did not turn professional until age 30, and then only on a dare.[1]
Johnson joined the PGA Tour in 1956 and had two victories.[2] He won his first tour event in 1958 at the Azalea Open, in a playoff with Arnold Palmer.[3][4] His best finish in a major was T-12 at the U.S. Open in 1970.[5]
Johnson joined the Senior PGA Tour in 1980 and his best finish was a T-2 at the Vintage Chrysler Invitational in 1987. He lived in Rancho Mirage, California, and his son, Howard Johnson, Jr., played on the Nationwide Tour.
Johnson died in September 2015 at the age of 90.[6]
Professional wins (3)
PGA Tour wins (2)
| No. | Date | Tournament | Winning score | To par | Margin of victory | Runner-up |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mar 30, 1958 | Azalea Open | 74-68-72-68=282 | −6 | Playoff | Arnold Palmer |
| 2 | Mar 1, 1959 | Baton Rouge Open Invitational | 72-71-70-70=283 | −5 | 1 stroke | Jay Hebert |
PGA Tour playoff record (1–1)
| No. | Year | Tournament | Opponent(s) | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1958 | Azalea Open | Arnold Palmer |
Won 18-hole playoff; Johnson: +5 (77), Palmer: +6 (78) |
| 2 | 1970 | Greater New Orleans Open Invitational | Miller Barber,  Bob Charles |
Barber won with birdie on second extra hole |
Other wins (1)
- 1960 Mexican Open
References
- Elliott, Len; Kelly, Barbara (1976). Who's Who in Golf. New Rochelle, New York: Arlington House. pp. 104–5. ISBN 0-87000-225-2.
- "Sanders, Johnson win Grand Champions by one". July 7, 2003. Retrieved January 12, 2008.
- "Johnson wins Azalea Open". St. Petersburg Times. (Florida). Associated Press. April 1, 1958. p. 1C.
- "Howie Johnson takes Azalea; penalty helps". Chicago Daily Tribune. Associated Press. April 1, 1958. p. 3, sec. 3.
- "Golf Major Championships". Retrieved January 12, 2008.
- Livsey, Laury (September 21, 2015). "PGA Tour winner Johnson passes away at age 90". PGA Tour.
External links
- Howie Johnson at the PGA Tour official site