Lew Worsham

Lewis Elmer Worsham, Jr. (October 5, 1917 – October 19, 1990) was an American professional golfer, the U.S. Open champion in 1947.[1][2]

Lew Worsham
Worsham after winning the 1947 U.S. Open
Personal information
Full nameLewis Elmer Worsham, Jr.
Born(1917-10-05)October 5, 1917
Pittsylvania County, Virginia
DiedOctober 19, 1990(1990-10-19) (aged 73)
Poquoson, Virginia
Nationality United States
Career
Turned professional1935
Former tour(s)PGA Tour
Professional wins13
Number of wins by tour
PGA Tour6
Other7
Best results in major championships
(wins: 1)
Masters Tournament6th: 1949
PGA ChampionshipT5: 1947, 1955
U.S. OpenWon: 1947
The Open ChampionshipDNP
Achievements and awards
PGA Tour
leading money winner		1953
Lew Worsham
Allegiance United States
Service/branch United States Navy
Years of service1943–1945
UnitUSNTC Bainbridge, Maryland

Born in Pittsylvania County, Virginia, Worsham won the U.S. Open in 1947 by defeating Sam Snead by a stroke in an 18-hole playoff at the St. Louis Country Club in Clayton, Missouri.[3][4][5][6] This was the first U.S. Open to be televised locally and the winner's share was $2,000. In July 1947, Worsham appeared on the cover of Golfing magazine. In 1953, he led the PGA Tour money list with $34,002 in earnings. That same year he won the first golf tournament to be broadcast nationally in the United States and golf's first $100,000 tournament, the Tam O'Shanter World Championship of Golf, in spectacular fashion. He holed out a wedge from 104 yards for an eagle-2 to win over Chandler Harper by one shot.[3][7]

Worsham made his only Ryder Cup appearance in 1947 and won both of his matches. Like most tour players of his generation, he earned his living primarily as a club professional, and was the longtime pro at Oakmont Country Club, northeast of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.[8] He died at age 73 in Poquoson, Virginia.[3]

Worsham was honored as the "Sportsperson of the Year" for 1953 by Pittsburgh's Dapper Dan Charities. He was inducted into the PGA of America Hall of Fame in 2017.[9]

Professional wins (13)

PGA Tour wins (6)

Major championship is shown in bold.

Other wins (7)

Major championships
Worsham with wife after winning the 1953 Greater Jacksonville Open

Wins (1)
YearChampionship54 holesWinning scoreMarginRunner-up
1947U.S. Open1 shot lead−2 (70-70-71-71=282)Playoff 1 Sam Snead

1 Defeated Snead in an 18-hole playoff - Worsham 69 (−2), Snead 70 (−1).[4]

Results timeline
Tournament 1938 1939
Masters Tournament
U.S. Open WD
PGA Championship
Tournament 1940 1941 1942 1943 1944 1945 1946 1947 1948 1949
Masters Tournament NT NT NT T33 T30 6
U.S. Open CUT CUT NT NT NT NT T22 1 6 T27
PGA Championship NT R32 QF R16 R16
Tournament 1950 1951 1952 1953 1954 1955 1956 1957 1958 1959
Masters Tournament T42 T3 T7 44 T12 T49 T34 CUT CUT CUT
U.S. Open CUT T14 T7 CUT T23 CUT CUT T38 T45
PGA Championship R32 R32 R32 R64 QF R16
Tournament 1960 1961 1962 1963
Masters Tournament 44 T22 T29
U.S. Open CUT
PGA Championship T37 CUT CUT

Note: Worsham never played in The Open Championship.

  Win
  Top 10
  Did not play

NT = No tournament
CUT = missed the half-way cut
WD = Withdrew
R64, R32, R16, QF, SF = Round in which player lost in PGA Championship match play
"T" = tied

Summary
TournamentWins2nd3rdTop-5Top-10Top-25EventsCuts made
Masters Tournament0011351613
U.S. Open100136179
The Open Championship00000000
PGA Championship0002591111
Totals101411204433
  • Most consecutive cuts made – 12 (1946 U.S. Open – 1950 Masters)
  • Longest streak of top-10s – 3 (1948 U.S. Open – 1949 Masters)

See also

References
  1. Shapiro, Leonard (June 11, 1997). "Congressional and the pros". Washington Post. Retrieved June 14, 2018.
  2. "Lew Worsham". PGA: Middle Atlantic section. Retrieved June 14, 2018.
  3. "Lew Worsham; Golfer, 73". New York Times. October 22, 1990. Retrieved February 23, 2011.
  4. "Lew Worsham downs Snead by stroke for Open crown". Prescott Evening Courier. (Arizona). Associated Press. June 16, 1947. p. 1, part 2.
  5. "Worsham's nerve wins golf title". Pittsburgh Press. United Press. June 16, 1947. p. 16.
  6. "National Open playoff detail". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. June 16, 1947. p. 16.
  7. "Tam O'Shanter Golf Course". Archived from the original on July 27, 2011. Retrieved February 23, 2011.
  8. Diaz, Jaime (August 19, 1996). "Head Pro". Sports Illustrated. p. G12.
  9. "Gary Player, Renee Powell, Mickey Wright, Lew Worsham lead inductees to PGA of America Hall of Fame". PGA of America. September 7, 2017.
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