Jimmy Demaret
| Jimmy Demaret | |
|---|---|
| — Golfer — | |
| Personal information | |
| Full name | James Newton Demaret |
| Born |
May 24, 1910 Houston, Texas |
| Died | December 28, 1983 (aged 73) Houston, Texas |
| Height | 5 ft 10.5 in (1.79 m) |
| Weight | 190 lb (86 kg; 14 st) |
| Nationality |
 United States
|
| Spouse | Idella Adams |
| Children | Peggy |
| Career | |
| Turned professional | 1927 |
| Retired | 1959 |
| Former tour(s) | PGA Tour |
| Professional wins | 36 |
| Number of wins by tour | |
| PGA Tour | 31 |
| Other | 5 |
| Best results in major championships (wins: 3) |
|
| Masters Tournament | Won: 1940, 1947, 1950 |
| U.S. Open | 2nd: 1948 |
| The Open Championship | T10: 1954 |
| PGA Championship | T3: 1942, 1946, 1948, 1950 |
| Achievements and awards | |
| World Golf Hall of Fame | 1983 (member page) |
| PGA Tour leading money winner |
1947 |
| Vardon Trophy | 1947 |
James Newton Demaret (May 24, 1910 – December 28, 1983) was an American professional golfer. He won 31 PGA Tour events in a long career between 1935 and 1957, and was the first three-time winner of the Masters, with titles in 1940, 1947, and 1950.
Born in Houston, Texas, Demaret reached his peak in the late 1940s with wins in the Masters in 1947, runner-up to Ben Hogan in the 1948 U.S. Open, and leading money winner and Vardon Trophy winner in 1947. He reached the semifinals of the PGA Championship four times, but never made the finals. He was one stroke short of making the playoff for the 1957 U.S. Open, at age 47. He played on three Ryder Cup teams: 1947, 1949, and 1951. His career declined in the 1950s, although he managed several key wins including the 1952 Bing Crosby Pro-Am. His last Tour win came in 1957 at age 47, although he also teamed at age 51 with Sam Snead to win the Canada Cup for the U.S. in Puerto Rico.
Demaret's playing style was developed by necessity through the windy conditions of his native Texas. He favored a low fade (left-to-right flight) on his longer shots; the method gave good distance and excellent control. His skills were highly rated by his contemporaries; Ben Hogan, whose career overshadowed his, opined that he was the best player he had ever seen in windy conditions.
Demaret was known for his flamboyant personality, which he enhanced by wearing bright-colored clothing during tournaments; he had his clothes specially made, and became a fan favorite. As a result, he was known by his nickname, "The Wardrobe." He had a very good baritone voice and talent as a comedian; he frequently entertained at nightclubs at Tour stops.
...
Wikipedia