Orville Moody

Orville James Moody (December 9, 1933 – August 8, 2008) was an American professional golfer who won numerous tournaments in his career. He won the U.S. Open in 1969, the last champion in the 20th century to win through local and sectional qualifying.[1][2]

Orville Moody
Personal information
Full nameOrville James Moody
NicknameSarge
Born(1933-12-09)December 9, 1933
Chickasha, Oklahoma
DiedAugust 8, 2008(2008-08-08) (aged 74)
Allen, Texas
Height5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)
Weight200 lb (91 kg; 14 st)
Nationality United States
SpouseBeverly Moody
Children1 son, 3 daughters
Career
CollegeOklahoma (briefly)
Turned professional1967
Former tour(s)PGA Tour
Champions Tour
Professional wins29
Number of wins by tour
PGA Tour1
PGA Tour Champions11
Other17
Best results in major championships
(wins: 1)
Masters TournamentT18: 1970
PGA ChampionshipT7: 1969
U.S. OpenWon: 1969
The Open ChampionshipT11: 1978
Achievements and awards
PGA Player of the Year1969
Orville Moody
Allegiance United States
Service/branch United States Army
Years of service1952–1966

Early life

Born in Chickasha, Oklahoma, Moody was the youngest of ten children.[3] The son of a golf course superintendent, he began his career at Capitol Hill High School in Oklahoma City, winning the 1952 state high school golf championship. After attempting college for a few weeks at the University of Oklahoma in Norman, Moody joined the U.S. Army. He was able to continue playing golf while in uniform, winning the All-Service championship and three Korea Opens. He spent fourteen years in the Army, heading up maintenance supervision and instruction at all Army golf courses.[4]

Professional golf career

Moody gave up his military career in favor of a trial run at the PGA Tour in 1967. His nickname on tour was "Sarge" because he rose to the rank of sergeant in the Army.[4][5] Moody had limited success on the PGA Tour prior to 1969. In April of that year, he took part in a four-way playoff at the Greater Greensboro Open won by Gene Littler.[6]

The U.S. Open in 1969 was played in June at the Cypress Creek Course of the Champions Golf Club in Houston, Texas. Defending champion Lee Trevino picked Moody to win, saying, "He's one helluva player."[7] Moody won by one stroke over Deane Beman, Al Geiberger, and Bob Rosburg with a 72-hole score of 281. He tied for sixteenth at the British Open, tied for seventh at the PGA Championship, and was named PGA Player of the Year for 1969.[8]

The U.S. Open win was Moody's sole tour victory in 266 career events, although he was runner-up five times.[9] He toured Japan, played in a few tournaments and eventually took a club pro job in Sulphur Springs, Texas.[4] Moody was troubled by poor putting during his early pro years.

His career on the Senior PGA Tour (now PGA Tour Champions) was dramatically different. After turning fifty in late 1983, he won two of his first five tournaments in 1984 and finished fifth on the money list. In 1989, he became only the fourth man to win both the U.S. Open and the U.S. Senior Open. Moody went to a long putter after becoming a senior golfer, and this method improved his putting significantly. He had eleven wins on the senior tour, with the last in 1992.

Moody had triple bypass heart surgery prior to the 1995 season, but still managed to play in 29 events.

Later life

Moody continued to play in charity and other golf events up until 2007. The following year, he died at age 74 in Allen, Texas, from complications of a stroke he had earlier suffered and/or complications from multiple myeloma.[9] He was survived by his wife, Beverly, their son and three daughters, and eight grandchildren.[3]

Professional wins (29)

PGA Tour wins (1)
Legend
Major championships (1)
Other PGA Tour (0)
No. Date Tournament Winning score To par Margin of
victory		 Runners-up
1 Jun 15, 1969 U.S. Open 71-70-68-72=281 +1 1 stroke Deane Beman, Al Geiberger,
Bob Rosburg

PGA Tour playoff record (0–2)

No.YearTournamentOpponentsResult
1 1969 Greater Greensboro Open Julius Boros, Gene Littler,
Tom Weiskopf		 Littler won with birdie on fifth extra hole
Weiskopf eliminated with par on first hole
2 1973 Bing Crosby Pro-Am Raymond Floyd, Jack Nicklaus Nicklaus won with birdie on first extra hole

Asia Golf Circuit wins (1)
No. Date Tournament Winning score To par Margin of
victory		 Runner-up
1 Apr 4, 1971 Hong Kong Open 66-66-66-68=266 −14 2 strokes Haruo Yasuda

Korean wins (5)

Other wins (3)

This list is incomplete

Senior PGA Tour wins (11)
Legend
Senior PGA Tour major championships (2)
Other Senior PGA Tour (9)
No. Date Tournament Winning score To par Margin of
victory		 Runner(s)-up
1 Apr 8, 1984 Daytona Beach Seniors Golf Classic 70-74-69=213 −3 Playoff Arnold Palmer, Dan Sikes
2 May 6, 1984 MONY Senior Tournament of Champions 71-75-70-72=288 E 7 strokes Dan Sikes
3 Aug 16, 1987 Rancho Murieta Senior Gold Rush 69-67-69=205 −11 2 strokes Butch Baird
4 Dec 13, 1987 GTE Kaanapali Classic 65-67=132 −12 3 strokes John Brodie
5 Mar 6, 1988 Vintage Chrysler Invitational 66-64-70-63=263 −25 11 strokes Al Geiberger, Harold Henning
6 Jun 5 1988 Senior Players Reunion Pro-Am 70-70-66=206 −10 Playoff Bob Charles, Don Massengale,
Bobby Nichols
7 Aug 21, 1988 Greater Grand Rapids Open 68-65-70=203 −7 1 stroke Chick Evans, Gary Player,
Chi-Chi Rodríguez
8 Jun 11, 1989 Mazda Senior Tournament Players Championship 67-69-64-71=271 −17 2 strokes Charles Coody
9 Jul 2, 1989 U.S. Senior Open 72-73-64-70=279 −9 2 strokes Frank Beard
10 Jun 23, 1991 PaineWebber Invitational 69-68-70=207 −9 1 stroke Dick Hendrickson
11 Aug 30, 1992 Franklin Showdown Classic 70-67=137 −7 Playoff Bob Betley

Senior PGA Tour playoff record (3–4)

No.YearTournamentOpponent(s)Result
1 1984 Daytona Beach Seniors Golf Classic Arnold Palmer, Dan Sikes Won with birdie on second extra hole
2 1985 Citizens Union Senior Golf Classic Lee Elder, Dan Sikes,
Walt Zembriski		 Elder won with birdie on third extra hole
Moody eliminated with birdie on second hole
3 1988 Senior Players Reunion Pro-Am Bob Charles, Don Massengale,
Bobby Nichols		 Won with birdie on first extra hole
4 1989 Southwestern Bell Classic Bobby Nichols Lost to birdie on third extra hole
5 1989 Northville Long Island Classic Butch Baird, Frank Beard,
Don Bies		 Baird won with birdie on first extra hole
6 1989 Gatlin Brothers Southwest Senior Classic George Archer, Jimmy Powell Archer won with par on second extra hole
7 1992 Franklin Showdown Classic Bob Betley Won with birdie on eighth extra hole

Other senior wins (8)

Major championships

Wins (1)
YearChampionship54 holesWinning scoreMarginRunners-up
1969U.S. Open3 shot deficit+1 (71-70-68-72=281)1 stroke Deane Beman, Al Geiberger,
Bob Rosburg

Results timeline
Tournament 1962 1963 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969
Masters Tournament
U.S. Open CUT 1
The Open Championship T16
PGA Championship T7
Tournament 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980
Masters Tournament T18 T20 CUT CUT 44
U.S. Open CUT T27 T15 CUT CUT
The Open Championship CUT T11 T19 CUT
PGA Championship T41 CUT WD T30 CUT
  Win
  Top 10
  Did not play

CUT = missed the half-way cut (3rd round cut in 1970 and 1980 Open Championships)
WD = withdrew
"T" = tied

Summary
TournamentWins2nd3rdTop-5Top-10Top-25EventsCuts made
Masters Tournament00000253
U.S. Open10011273
The Open Championship00000353
PGA Championship00001163
Totals1001282312
  • Most consecutive cuts made – 4 (1969 U.S. Open – 1970 Masters)
  • Longest streak of top-10s – 1 (twice)

Champions Tour major championships

Wins (2)
YearChampionshipWinning ScoreMarginRunner-up
1989Mazda Senior Tournament Players Championship−17 (67−69−64−71=271)2 strokes Charles Coody
1989U.S. Senior Open−9 (72−73−64−70=279)2 strokes Frank Beard

U.S. national team appearances

Professional

See also

References
  1. "For the Record". Sports Illustrated. August 18, 2008. p. 22.
  2. "U.S. Open Records - The Last Time It Happened". USGA. Archived from the original on November 15, 2015. Retrieved July 8, 2014.
  3. Goldstein, Richard (August 11, 2008). "Orville Moody, 74, Winner of the U.S. Open, Dies". The New York Times.
  4. "Orville Moody bio". Oklahoma Sports Hall of Fame. Archived from the original on April 2, 2015. Retrieved July 8, 2014.
  5. "Open champ likes patriotic colors". Eugene Register-Guard. (Oregon). Associated Press. June 16, 1970. p. 2B.
  6. "Littler gets prize in golf playoff". Lewiston Morning Tribune. (Idaho). Associated Press. April 7, 1969. p. 11.
  7. Jenkins, Dan (June 23, 1969). "Old Sarge cools it". Sports Illustrated.
  8. "U.S. Open History – Past Champions – 1969". USGA. Archived from the original on March 3, 2016. Retrieved July 8, 2014.
  9. "1969 U.S. Open champion Orville Moody dies". Golf.com. August 8, 2008.
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