Chi Chi Rodriguez, thought-about some of the charismatic figures in professional golf, has died at age 88, in accordance with a narrative by noticel.com. No explanation for demise or location was given.
Rodriguez was considered one of golf’s nice entertainers. His comedic antics included putting his hat over holes as a strategy to cease the birdies from escaping. In consequence, he attracted among the circuit’s largest galleries.
“A number of the gamers objected to me placing my hat over the opening, so former Commissioner Joe Dey requested me to cease,” Rodriguez as soon as instructed the L.A. Occasions.
Born in Rio Piedras, Puerto Rico, on Oct. 23, 1935, he almost died at age 4 from rickets and tropical sprue, a persistent deficiency illness. Named Juan Antonio Rodriguez, he picked up the nickname Chi Chi as a child when he performed baseball.
His PGA Tour bio notes that he labored as a caddie in his native nation, studying to play golf by smacking a tin can with a guava tree limb.
He turned professional in 1960 and notched his first PGA Tour win on the 1963 Denver Open Invitational. He additionally received the 1964 Fortunate Worldwide Open, the 1964 Western Open, the 1967 Texas Open, the 1968 Sahara Invitational, the 1972 Byron Nelson Basic, and the 1979 Tallahassee Open.
He performed in 591 occasions and made 422 cuts. He additionally was a member of the victorious 1973 U.S. Ryder Cup workforce.
Rodriguez based the Chi Chi Rodriguez Youth Basis in 1979.
In 1989, he was awarded the Bob Jones Award, the U.S. Golf Affiliation’s highest honor, for distinguished sportsmanship.
“Chi Chi Rodriguez’s ardour for charity and outreach was surpassed solely by his unimaginable expertise with a golf membership in his hand,” mentioned PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan. “A vibrant, colourful character each on and off the golf course, he will likely be missed dearly by the PGA Tour and people whose lives he touched in his mission to present again. The PGA Tour sends its deepest condolences to all the Rodriguez household throughout this tough time.”
No info on survivors was instantly out there.
