Henry Picard

Henry Gilford Picard (November 28, 1906 – April 30, 1997) was an American professional golfer.[2]

Henry Picard
Picard in 1934
Personal information
Full name	Henry Gilford Picard
Nickname	Pick
Born	(1906-11-28)November 28, 1906 Plymouth, Massachusetts
Died	April 30, 1997(1997-04-30) (aged 90) Charleston, South Carolina
Nationality	United States
Spouse	Annie Addison Picard (1905–1983)[1]
Children	3 sons, 1 daughter
Career
College	None
Turned professional	1925
Retired	1973
Former tour(s)	PGA Tour
Professional wins	35
Number of wins by tour
PGA Tour	26
Best results in major championships (wins: 2)
Masters Tournament	Won: 1938
PGA Championship	Won: 1939
U.S. Open	T5: 1936
The Open Championship	6th: 1935
Achievements and awards
World Golf Hall of Fame 2006 (member page) PGA Tour leading money winner 1939

Born in Plymouth, Massachusetts, Picard learned to play golf while caddying at the Plymouth Country Club. Already a talented player by his early 20s, he came to prominence after coaching from the leading instructor Alex Morrison.[3] A leading player on the PGA Tour in the 1930s and early 1940s, he won two major championships: the Masters in 1938[4] and the PGA Championship in 1939, where he defeated Byron Nelson on the 37th hole of the final.[5] Picard ("Pick" to friends) played on both the 1935 and 1937 Ryder Cup teams, winning both singles matches and one of two pairs matches.

Picard helped a struggling Ben Hogan with his game in the late 1930s, advising him to weaken his grip, and Hogan combined this advice with his own hard work to become one of golf's all-time great players. When he left the sought-after pro's position at Hershey Country Club in early 1941, Picard recommended Hogan as his replacement,[6] and he got the job.[3][7] Hogan dedicated his first book, "Ben Hogan's Power Golf," to Picard in 1953.[2][8]

Picard was pro at the Country Club of Charleston, Charleston, South Carolina, 1925–34; Hershey Country Club, Hershey, Pennsylvania, 1934–41;[9] then moving to Twin Hills G & CC, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma,[6][10] for two years, then returned to his South Carolina farm in early 1943.[11] Other professional positions include CC of Harrisburg, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania; Canterbury Golf Club, Cleveland, Ohio; and Seminole Golf Club, Palm Beach, Florida. Among his students was Jack Grout, who later taught Jack Nicklaus.[12]

Picard retired from Seminole in 1973 and returned to Charleston and was named to the South Carolina athletic hall of fame in 1977.[13] He was a fixture in the local golf community in his later years, and helped future LPGA hall of famer Beth Daniel in her teens.[2][14] Picard played regularly into his 80s and died at age 90 in 1997.[2] He was elected to the World Golf Hall of Fame in April 2006 and inducted in that October.[15]