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Paul Runyan
American professional golfer (1908–2002) From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Paul Scott Runyan (July 12, 1908 – March 17, 2002) was an American professional golfer. Among the world's best players in the mid-1930s, he won two PGA Championships and is a member of the World Golf Hall of Fame. Runyan was also a golf instructor.
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Early life
Runyan was born in Hot Springs, Arkansas. He started out as a caddie and then an apprentice at a golf course in his hometown.
Professional career
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Runyan turned pro at the age of 17. He was head professional at a Little Rock club by age 18.[1] Runyan served as head pro at Metropolis Country Club in White Plains, New York from 1931 to 1943 during which time he won both of his PGA Championships.
In 1934, Runyan defeated Craig Wood in extra holes in the title match of the PGA Championship, the first of his two PGA Championships. Of Runyan's 29 career PGA Tour wins, 16 of them came in 1933 and 1934, and his nine wins in 1933 make him one of only seven golfers to win nine or more times in one year on the PGA Tour. In the first Masters Tournament in 1934, he was paired for the first 36 holes with tournament host Bobby Jones. Runyan won the tour money title in 1934, and was a member of the U.S. Ryder Cup team in 1933 and 1935.
Runyan was competitive for many years; he won the PGA Championship again in 1938 and led the U.S. Open after three rounds as late as 1951. In the finals of his 1938 PGA, Runyan defeated Sam Snead 8 and 7, the most lopsided title match ever in the event, conducted as match play through 1957. This was despite Snead's vastly greater length off the tee, as much as 75 yards (70 m) per hole.[1]
Fellow golfers nicknamed him "Little Poison" (a take on 1930s baseball player Lloyd Waner, who had the same nickname), primarily because he did not drive the ball very far, but also because he had a terrific short game. Runyan had worked tirelessly on his short game from boyhood, since he realized early on if he were to succeed in golf, he had to compensate for his lack of length. Runyan opined that he is the smallest player in golf history who had significant success,[1] although Fred McLeod had a fine record, too, and stood only 5 ft 4 in (1.63 m) and weighed a paltry 108 lb (49 kg; 7.7 st).
Instructor
Runyan's teaching prowess led many top pros to him over his 75 years of teaching, including Gene Littler, Phil Rodgers, Chuck Courtney, Frank Beard, Jim Ferree and Mickey Wright. Golf Magazine wrote: "... since the late 1930s, he has probably been the most influential short game instructor. Untold thousands have been taught his methods for putting and chipping." Runyan wrote an influential book outlining his short-game methods, The Short Way to Lower Scoring.
He appeared as a contestant on the October 25, 1950, edition of You Bet Your Life where he tells an anecdote of hitting a spectator with his ball and in another competition his partner hits the same man.
Runyan was the first head golf professional at Sahalee Country Club in Sammamish, Washington and served from 1968 to 1971. He also attended the 1998 PGA Championship held at Sahalee.
In 2000, he completed the annual Par 3 competition held one day before the Masters at the age of 91.
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Personal life
In 2002, Runyan died in Palm Springs, California.[2]
Awards and honors
- In 1990, Runyan was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame.
- Runyan received the Harvey Penick Lifetime Teaching Award
- In 1998, he received the PGA of America Distinguished Service Award.
- In addition, he is a member of the World Golf Teachers Hall of Fame, the Arkansas Hall of Fame and The Southern California Golf Association Hall of Fame.
Professional wins
PGA Tour wins (29)
- 1930 (2) North and South Open, New Jersey Open
- 1931 (2) Metropolitan PGA, Westchester Open
- 1932 (1) Gasparilla Open Match Play
- 1933 (9) Agua Caliente Open, Miami Biltmore Open (March), Virginia Beach Cavalier Open, Eastern Open Championship, National Capital Open, Mid-South Pro-Pro (with Willie Macfarlane), Mid-South Open (tie with Willie Macfarlane and Joe Turnesa), Miami International Four-Ball (with Horton Smith), Pasadena Open
- 1934 (6) St. Petersburg Open, Florida West Coast Open, Tournament of the Gardens Open, The Cavalier Open, Metropolitan Open, PGA Championship
- 1935 (4) North and South Open, Grand Slam Open, Westchester Open, Metropolitan PGA
- 1936 (2) Westchester Open, Metropolitan PGA
- 1938 (1) PGA Championship
- 1939 (1) Westchester Open
- 1941 (1) Goodall Round Robin
Major championships are shown in bold.
Other wins
this list is probably incomplete
- 1934 Westchester Open
- 1938 Argentine Open
- 1942 Westchester Open
- 1947 Southern California PGA Championship
Senior wins
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Major championships
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Wins (2)
Note: The PGA Championship was match play through 1957
Results timeline
Win
Top 10
Did not play
NYF = tournament not yet founded
NT = no tournament
WD = withdrew
DQ = disqualified
DNQ = did not qualify for match play portion
CUT = missed the half-way cut
R64, R32, R16, QF, SF = Round in which player lost in PGA Championship match play
"T" indicates a tie for a place
Summary
- Most consecutive cuts made – 33 (1933 PGA – 1952 U.S. Open)
- Longest streak of top-10s – 6 (1934 PGA – 1936 U.S. Open)
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See also
References
External links
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