Wiffy Cox

Wilfred Hiram "Wiffy" Cox (October 27, 1896 – February 20, 1969) was an American professional golfer who played on the PGA Tour in the 1930s.

Wiffy Cox
Personal information
Full nameWilfred Hiram Cox
NicknameWiffy
Born(1896-10-27)October 27, 1896
Brooklyn, New York
DiedFebruary 20, 1969(1969-02-20) (aged 72)
Washington, D.C.
Sporting nationality United States
Career
StatusProfessional
Former tour(s)PGA Tour
Professional wins12
Number of wins by tour
PGA Tour9
Other3
Best results in major championships
Masters Tournament12th: 1937
PGA ChampionshipT17: 1928, 1929, 1930
U.S. OpenT3: 1934
The Open ChampionshipDNP

Cox was born and grew up in a tough Irish-Italian section of Brooklyn, New York.[1][2] He started in golf as a caddie at Westchester County courses and learned to play at sunrise and sunset with clubs borrowed from the pro shop. The diminutive Cox had a hot-temper and a reputation for foul-mouthed, trash talk among his fellow players.[1]

Cox won nine times on the PGA Tour.[3] His first individual win on the PGA Tour came at the 1931 North and South Open;[1] his four wins that year led the PGA Tour for most wins.[1][4] His best finish in a major championship was tied for third at the 1934 U.S. Open.[5]

Cox played on the winning U.S. team in the 1931 Ryder Cup, winning both his matches.

Like most professional golfers of his generation, Cox earned his living primarily as a club pro. He was the course pro at Dyker Beach Golf Course in Brooklyn, New York from 1921 to 1935.[6] He eventually landed a plum job as head pro at the Congressional Country Club in Bethesda, Maryland,[1] which he held until 1969.[7] He died in Washington, D.C.[2]

Professional wins (12)

PGA Tour wins (9)

Other wins (3)

Results in major championships
Tournament 1923 1924 1925 1926 1927 1928 1929 1930 1931 1932 1933 1934 1935 1936 1937 1938 1939
Masters Tournament NYF NYF NYF NYF NYF NYF NYF NYF NYF NYF NYF WD T43 T13 12 T25
U.S. Open T29 T11 T35 T4 5 CUT T3 CUT T5 T45 CUT
PGA Championship R64 R32 R32 R32 R64

Note: Cox never played in The Open Championship.

  Top 10
  Did not play

NYF = tournament not yet founded
WD = withdrew
CUT = missed the half-way cut
R64, R32, R16, QF, SF = round in which player lost in PGA Championship match play
"T" indicates a tie for a place

See also

References
  1. Stevens, Peter F. "Golf History Unveiled". Golf News Magazine. Retrieved February 15, 2010.
  2. Elliott, Len; Kelly, Barbara (1976). Who's Who in Golf. New Rochelle, New York: Arlington House. pp. 42–3. ISBN 0-87000-225-2.
  3. Barkow, Al (November 1989). The History of the PGA TOUR. Doubleday. p. 253. ISBN 0-385-26145-4.
  4. "PGA Tour Yearly Victory Leaders". GolfCompendium.com. Retrieved March 15, 2021.
  5. "Golf Major Championships". Retrieved February 18, 2010.
  6. "Willy Cox, Golf Star of 1930's And Former Pro Here, Is Dead". The New York Times. February 21, 1969.
  7. "Larry Wise Golf". Archived from the original on January 5, 2009. Retrieved February 15, 2010.
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