Dick Mayer

Alvin Richard Mayer (August 28, 1924 – June 2, 1989) was an American professional golfer.

Dick Mayer
Personal information
Full name	Alvin Richard Mayer
Born	(1924-08-28)August 28, 1924 Stamford, Connecticut, U.S.
Died	June 2, 1989(1989-06-02) (aged 64) Palm Springs, California, U.S.
Height	5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)
Weight	165 lb (75 kg; 11.8 st)
Sporting nationality	United States
Career
Turned professional	1949
Former tour(s)	PGA Tour
Professional wins	7
Number of wins by tour
PGA Tour	7
Best results in major championships (wins: 1)
Masters Tournament	T4: 1959
PGA Championship	5th: 1957
U.S. Open	Won: 1957
The Open Championship	DNP
Achievements and awards
PGA Player of the Year 1957 PGA Tour leading money winner 1957

Early life

Mayer was born in Stamford, Connecticut. He apprenticed with renowned player and teacher Claude Harmon at the Winged Foot Golf Club in suburban New York City.^[1]

Professional career

Mayer won seven times on the PGA Tour, between 1953 and 1965. Mayer almost won the 1954 U.S. Open, but a triple bogey on the final hole left him tied for third, two shots back, as Ed Furgol won.

Mayer's career year was 1957, when he finished the regulation 72 holes of the U.S. Open at Inverness Club tied with defending champion Cary Middlecoff. He won the 18-hole playoff 72 to 79, and his prize was $7,200. He later won $50,000 at the World Championship of Golf, topped the PGA Tour money list with winnings of $65,835, and won the PGA Player of the Year award. He also played on the 1957 Ryder Cup team.

Personal life

Mayer battled alcoholism, which kept him from winning more often on the Tour.^[2] Mayer died at age 64 in Palm Springs, California.

Awards and honors

In 2008, Mayer was inducted into the Connecticut Golf Hall of Fame.

Professional wins (7)

PGA Tour wins (7)

Legend
Major championships (1)
Other PGA Tour (6)

No.	Date	Tournament	Winning score	Margin of victory	Runner(s)-up
1	Sep 13, 1953	Eastern Open	−9 (69-70-70-70=279)	4 strokes	Charlie Bassler, Doug Ford, Chandler Harper
2	Mar 21, 1954	Miami Beach International Four-Ball (with Tommy Bolt)	−30 (67-61-65-65=258)	Playoff	Julius Boros and Dutch Harrison
3	May 22, 1955	Kansas City Open	−17 (69-67-68-67=271)	6 strokes	Chandler Harper, Billy Maxwell
4	Jun 24, 1956	Philadelphia Daily News Open	−3 (70-65-63-71=269)	Playoff	Bud Holscher
5	Jun 16, 1957	U.S. Open	[phone]=282)	Playoff	Cary Middlecoff
6	Aug 11, 1957	World Championship of Golf	−9 (72-69-70-68=279)	1 stroke	Al Balding, Sam Snead
7	May 16, 1965	Greater New Orleans Open Invitational	−15 (72-67-66-68=273)	1 stroke	Bruce Devlin, Billy Martindale

PGA Tour playoff record (3–1)

No.	Year	Tournament	Opponent(s)	Result
1	1952	Miami Open	Jack Burke Jr.	Lost to birdie on fifth extra hole
2	1954	Miami Beach International Four-Ball (with Tommy Bolt)	Julius Boros and Dutch Harrison	Won with birdie on first extra hole
3	1956	Philadelphia Daily News Open	Bud Holscher	Won with par on second extra hole
4	1957	U.S. Open	Cary Middlecoff	Won 18-hole playoff; Mayer: +2 (72), Middlecoff: +9 (79)

Major championships

Wins (1)

Year	Championship	54 holes	Winning score	Margin	Runner-up
1957	U.S. Open	1 shot deficit	[phone]=282)	Playoff 1	Cary Middlecoff

¹ Defeated Middlecoff in an 18-hole playoff: Mayer 72 (+2), Middlecoff 79 (+9).

Results timeline

Tournament	1948	1949
Masters Tournament
U.S. Open	T41
PGA Championship

Tournament	1950	1951	1952	1953	1954	1955	1956	1957	1958	1959
Masters Tournament		T25		T16	T29	T10	T43	T35	CUT	T4
U.S. Open	T12	CUT	T28	T54	T3	CUT	T41	1	T23	CUT
PGA Championship							R64	5	T14	CUT

Tournament	1960	1961	1962	1963	1964	1965	1966	1967
Masters Tournament		T19	CUT	T15		CUT	CUT	DQ
U.S. Open		T42		CUT
PGA Championship						CUT

Note: Mayer never played in The Open Championship.

  Win

  Top 10

  Did not play

CUT = missed the half-way cut (3rd round cut in 1959 PGA Championship)
DQ = disqualified
R64, R32, R16, QF, SF = Round in which player lost in PGA Championship match play
"T" = tied

Summary

Tournament	Wins	2nd	3rd	Top-5	Top-10	Top-25	Events	Cuts made
Masters Tournament	0	0	0	1	2	6	14	9
U.S. Open	1	0	1	2	2	4	13	9
The Open Championship	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
PGA Championship	0	0	0	1	1	2	5	3
Totals	1	0	1	4	5	12	32	21

• Most consecutive cuts made – 6 (twice)
• Longest streak of top-10s – 2 (1957 U.S. Open – 1957 PGA)

U.S. national team appearances

• Ryder Cup: 1957