Chi-Chi Rodríguez

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Chi-Chi Rodríguez
— Golfer —

Personal information
Full name	Juan Antonio Rodríguez
Nickname	Chi-Chi
Born	(1935-10-23) October 23, 1935 Rio Piedras, Puerto Rico
Height	5 ft 7 in (1.70 m)
Weight	150 lb (68 kg; 11 st)
Nationality	Puerto Rico United States
Career
College	None
Turned professional	1960
Current tour(s)	Champions Tour
Former tour(s)	PGA Tour
Professional wins	38
Number of wins by tour
PGA Tour	8
Champions Tour	22
Best results in Major Championships
Masters Tournament	T10: 1970, 1973
U.S. Open	T6: 1981
The Open Championship	T28: 1973
PGA Championship	T15: 1969
Achievements and awards
World Golf Hall of Fame	1992 (member page)
Old Tom Morris Award	1989
Bob Jones Award	1989

Juan Antonio "Chi-Chi" Rodríguez (born October 23, 1935) is a Puerto Rican professional golfer. He was the first Puerto Rican to be inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame.

Early years

Rodríguez was born into a poor family in Rio Piedras, Puerto Rico. He was one of six siblings. His father used to earn only $18 a week as a laborer and cattle handler. When Rodríguez was only seven years old, he helped the family by earning money as a water carrier on a sugar plantation. One day Juan wandered off into a golf course. When he saw that the caddies were earning more money than he was he decided to become a caddy himself.^[1]^[2]

Rodríguez would take a branch from a guava tree and turn it into a golf club. Using a metal can as a "golf ball", he would practice what he had seen the "real" golfers do, teaching himself how to play golf. By the time he was nine years old, he was proficient at golf and in 1947 at the age of 12, he scored a 67.^[1]^[2]

In 1954 when Rodríguez was 19, he joined the United States Army. During his breaks, he would visit whichever golf course was nearby, where he continued to perfect his game.^[2]

Rodríguez, with characteristic charisma, would often make jokes about his past hardships on the golf course, such as, "How long does John Daly drive a golf ball? When I was a kid, I didn't go that far on vacation." And, "Playing golf is not hot work. Cutting sugar cane for a dollar a day — that's hot work. Hotter than my first wrist watch." ^[2]^[3]

PGA Tour

Rodríguez turned professional in 1960. In 1963 at age 28 Rodríguez won the Denver Open, which he considers his favorite win. He won eight titles on the PGA Tour between 1963 and 1979.^[1]

At first Rodríguez used to put his hat over the hole whenever he made a birdie or eagle. After he heard that other golfers were complaining about his little act, he decided to try something new. Juan developed his signature "toreador dance", where he would make believe that the ball was a "bull" and that his putter was a "sword", and he would terminate the "bull". Rodríguez represented Puerto Rico on 12 World Cup teams.^[1]

Senior PGA Tour

Rodríguez became eligible to play on the Senior PGA Tour (now known as the Champions Tour) in 1985 and did so for many years with great success, earning 22 tournament victories between 1986 and 1993. He was the first player on the Senior PGA Tour to win the same event in three consecutive years. He set a tour record with eight consecutive birdies en route to a win at the 1987 Silver Pages Classic. In 1991, he lost an 18-hole playoff to Jack Nicklaus in the U.S. Senior Open.^[1]^[2]

Awards and honors

In 1986, Rodríguez won the Hispanic Recognition Award. In 1988, he was named Replica's Hispanic Man of the Year. In 1989, Rodríguez was voted the Bob Jones Award, the highest honor given by the United States Golf Association in recognition of distinguished sportsmanship in golf. He received the 1989 Old Tom Morris Award from the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America, GCSAA's highest honor. In 1992, Juan "Chi-Chi" Rodríguez was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame, the first Puerto Rican so honored.^[1]^[2]

Later years

On one occasion Rodríguez had a brief encounter with Mother Teresa. He considers that moment as the greatest moment in his life. This encounter inspired him to help others. Rodríguez, together with former pro golfer Bill Hayes and Bob James, established the "Chi-Chi Rodríguez Youth Foundation", an afterschool program at the Glen Oaks Golf Course in Clearwater, Florida.^[1] The principal idea behind the foundation is to instill self-esteem in young people who are victims of abuse, have experienced minor brushes with the law, or have suffered other hardships. Rodríguez also bought his mother a house and gave financial help to his brothers and sisters.^[1]

In October 1998, Rodríguez suffered a heart attack. He had an angioplasty to clear the blocked artery and made a recovery. He is married and has one daughter.^[2]

In 2004 Rodriguez made a cameo in the movie Welcome to Mooseport, shown golfing with the "President" portrayed by Gene Hackman.^[2]

In May 2010, Rodríguez was robbed at his house in Guayama, Puerto Rico by three people who stole $500,000 in cash and jewelry. Rodríguez and his wife were awakened at 1:45 in the morning by masked men who then tied them up and robbed them.^[2]^[4]

On March 11, 2012, at the age of 76, Rodríguez participated as an honorary player in the Puerto Rico Open. He played 18 holes as his final officlal round as a professional in the PGA. There were several events honoring Rodríguez associated with the Tournament, and the tribute received extensive media coverage.^[5]

Professional wins (38)

PGA Tour wins (8)

No.	Date	Tournament	Winning score	Margin of victory	Runner(s)-up
1	Sep 1, 1963	Denver Open Invitational	−4 (68-74-65-69=276)	2 strokes	Bill Eggers
2	Jan 26, 1964	Lucky International Open	−12 (72-69-65-66=272)	Playoff	Don January
3	Aug 9, 1964	Western Open	−16 (64-69-68-67=268)	1 stroke	Arnold Palmer
4	Apr 30, 1967	Texas Open Invitational	−7 (68-73-70-66=277)	1 stroke	Bob Charles, Bob Goalby
5	Oct 20, 1968	Sahara Invitational	−10 (70-71-69-64=274)	Playoff	Dale Douglass
6	May 1, 1972	Byron Nelson Golf Classic	−7 (66-68-69-70=273)	Playoff	Billy Casper
7	Apr 2, 1973	Greater Greensboro Open	−17 (68-66-67-66=267)	1 stroke	Lou Graham, Ken Still
8	Apr 22, 1979	Tallahassee Open	−19 (66-69-67-67=269)	3 strokes	Lindy Miller

PGA Tour playoff record (3–1)

No.	Year	Tournament	Opponent	Result
1	1964	Lucky International Open	Don January	Won 18-hole playoff (Rodríguez:70, January:71)
2	1966	Cajun Classic Open Invitational	Jacky Cupit	Lost to par on second extra hole
3	1968	Sahara Invitational	Dale Douglass	Won with birdie on first extra hole
4	1972	Byron Nelson Golf Classic	Billy Casper	Won with birdie on first extra hole

Other wins (4)

1963 Colombian Open
1976 Pepsi-Cola Mixed Team Championship (with Jo Ann Washam)
1979 Bahamas Open, Panama Open (tie with Butch Baird)

Senior PGA Tour wins (22)

No.	Date	Tournament	Winning score	Margin of victory	Runner(s)-up
1	Jun 22, 1986	Senior Tournament Players Championship	−10 (69-67-70=206)	2 strokes	Bruce Crampton
2	Aug 10, 1986	Digital Seniors Classic	−13 (70-67-66=203)	1 stroke	Gary Player
3	Sep 14, 1986	United Virginia Bank Seniors	−14 (69-67-66=202)	3 strokes	Don January
4	Feb 15, 1987	General Foods PGA Seniors' Championship	−6 (70-69-76-67=282)	1 stroke	Dale Douglass
5	May 10, 1987	Vantage at The Dominion	−13 (67-67-69=203)	3 strokes	Butch Baird
6	May 17, 1987	United Hospitals Senior Golf Championship	−8 (70-69-63=202)	1 stroke	Lee Elder
7	May 24, 1987	Silver Pages Classic	−16 (66-65-69=200)	3 strokes	Bruce Crampton
8	Jun 7, 1987	Senior Players Reunion Pro-Am	−15 (67-69-65=201)	1 stroke	Bruce Crampton
9	Aug 9, 1987	Digital Seniors Classic	−18 (65-66-67=198)	8 strokes	Orville Moody
10	Aug 23, 1987	GTE Northwest Classic	−10 (70-68-68=206)	1 stroke	Butch Baird
11	Apr 17, 1988	Doug Sanders Kingwood Celebrity Classic	−8 (70-69-69=208)	2 strokes	Miller Barber, John Brodie
12	Jul 31, 1988	Digital Seniors Classic	−14 (68-65-69=202)	1 stroke	Bob Charles
13	Sep 17, 1989	Crestar Classic	−13 (66-69-68=203)	1 stroke	Jim Dent, Dick Rhyan
14	May 6, 1990	Las Vegas Senior Classic	−12 (68-67-69=204)	1 stroke	George Archer, Charles Coody
15	Jul 22, 1990	Ameritech Senior Open	−13 (67-70-66=203)	7 strokes	George Archer, Al Kelley
16	Aug 12, 1990	Sunwest Bank Charley Pride Senior Golf Classic	−11 (66-71-68=205)	2 strokes	Charles Coody, Jim Dent, Jim Ferree
17	Mar 3, 1991	GTE West Classic	−8 (66-66=132)	1 stroke	Bruce Crampton, Gary Player
18	Mar 24, 1991	Vintage ARCO Invitational	−10 (70-67-69=206)	1 stroke	Mike Hill, Don January
19	May 5, 1991	Las Vegas Senior Classic	−12 (70-68-66=204)	3 strokes	Walt Zembriski
20	May 12, 1991	Murata Reunion Pro-Am	−8 (71-70-67=208)	Playoff	Jim Colbert
21	Nov 8, 1992	Ko Olina Senior Invitational	−10 (69-68-69=206)	6 strokes	Charles Coody
22	Jun 20, 1993	Burnet Senior Classic	−15 (69-67-65=201)	2 strokes	Jim Colbert, Bob Murphy

Champions Tour playoff record (1–7)

No.	Year	Tournament	Opponent(s)	Result
1	1986	Greater Grand Rapids Open	Jim Ferree, Gene Littler	Ferree won with birdie on first extra hole
2	1989	Bell Atlantic/St. Christopher's Classic	Dave Hill	Lost to par on third extra hole
3	1989	General Tire Las Vegas Classic	Charles Coody, Bob Charles	Coody won with birdie on second extra hole
4	1990	NYNEX Commemorative	Mike Fetchick, Jimmy Powell, Lee Trevino	Trevino won with birdie on fifth extra hole Powell and Rodríguez eliminated with birdie on first hole
5	1991	Murata Reunion Pro-Am	Jim Colbert	Won with par on fourth extra hole
6	1991	U.S. Senior Open	Jack Nicklaus	Lost 18-hole playoff (Nicklaus:65, Rodríguez:69)
7	1991	Security Pacific Senior Classic	George Archer, John Brodie	Brodie won with birdie on second extra hole
8	1993	First of America Classic	George Archer, Jim Colbert	Archer won with par on third extra hole Rodríguez eliminated with par on first hole

Senior major championships are shown in bold.

Other senior wins (4)

1988 Japan PGA Senior Championship, Senior Skins Game
1989 Senior Skins Game
1993 Wendy's 3-Tour Challenge (with Raymond Floyd and Jack Nicklaus)

Results in major championships

Tournament	1961	1962	1963	1964	1965	1966	1967	1968	1969
Masters Tournament	CUT	T33	CUT	T21	CUT	DNP	T26	DNP	DNP
U.S. Open	DNP	DNP	DNP	WD	T40	T44	T42	DNP	DNP
The Open Championship	DNP	DNP	DNP	DNP	DNP	DNP	DNP	DNP	DNP
PGA Championship	DNP	DNP	DNP	T44	T71	DNP	DNP	DNP	T15

Tournament	1970	1971	1972	1973	1974	1975	1976	1977	1978	1979
Masters Tournament	T10	T30	CUT	T10	T20	CUT	DNP	DNP	DNP	DNP
U.S. Open	T27	T13	T9	T29	T26	DNP	CUT	60	T46	T32
The Open Championship	DNP	DNP	DNP	T28	DNP	DNP	DNP	DNP	DNP	DNP
PGA Championship	CUT	T66	T24	T24	T39	T22	DNP	CUT	DNP	T46

Tournament	1980	1981	1982
Masters Tournament	T44	DNP	T38
U.S. Open	CUT	T6	CUT
The Open Championship	DNP	DNP	DNP
PGA Championship	WD	DNP	DNP

DNP = Did not play
CUT = missed the half-way cut
WD = Withdrew
"T" indicates a tie for a place
Yellow background for top-10

Summary

Tournament	Top-10	Top-25	Events	Cuts made
Masters Tournament	2	4	14	9
U.S. Open	2	3	16	12
The Open Championship	0	0	1	1
PGA Championship	0	4	12	9
Totals	4	11	43	31

Most consecutive cuts made – 9 (1972 U.S. Open – 1974 PGA)
Longest streak of top-10s – 1 (four times)

Champions Tour major championships

Wins (2)

Year	Championship	Winning score	Margin	Runner-up
1986	Senior Tournament Players Championship	−10 (69-67-70=206)	2 strokes	Bruce Crampton
1987	General Foods PGA Seniors' Championship	−6 (70-69-76-67=282)	1 stroke	Dale Douglass

Team appearances

World Cup (representing Puerto Rico): 1961, 1962, 1963, 1964, 1965, 1966, 1967, 1968, 1971, 1974, 1976, 1993
Ryder Cup (representing the United States): 1973 (winners)

References

↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 "Chi-Chi Rodriguez Academy". Chichi.org. Retrieved 2012-03-12.
↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 2.7 2.8 Made Up Media: R.Sellers, M.Walker, I.George, D.Crouch, G.Newsham. "Hall of Fame". Ingolfwetrust.com. Retrieved 2012-03-12.
↑ The Gigantic Book of Golf Quotations, ed. Jim Apfelbaum. 2007.
↑ "Chi Chi Rodriguez robbed at home in Puerto Rico". Stats.cbc.ca. Retrieved 2012-03-12.
↑ "Fifth Annual Puerto Rico Open Tees Off at The Trump International: Golf Legend Chi Chi Rodríguez to Play His Final Official Round". Prweb.com. 2012-01-19. Retrieved 2012-03-12.

External links

Chi-Chi Rodríguez at the PGA Tour official site
Profile at the World Golf Hall of Fame

v t e Senior PGA Championship champions

1980 Arnold Palmer† 1981 Miller Barber 1982 Don January 1983 Not held 1984 (Jan) Arnold Palmer 1984 (Dec) Peter Thomson 1985 Not held 1986 Gary Player 1987 Chi-Chi Rodríguez 1988 Gary Player 1989 Larry Mowry 1990 Gary Player 1991 Jack Nicklaus 1992 Lee Trevino 1993 Tom Wargo† 1994 Lee Trevino 1995 Raymond Floyd 1996 Hale Irwin 1997 Hale Irwin 1998 Hale Irwin 1999 Allen Doyle 2000 Doug Tewell 2001 Tom Watson 2002 Fuzzy Zoeller 2003 John Jacobs 2004 Hale Irwin 2005 Mike Reid† 2006 Jay Haas† 2007 Denis Watson 2008 Jay Haas 2009 Michael Allen 2010 Tom Lehman† 2011 Tom Watson† 2012 Roger Chapman 2013 Kōki Idoki

† indicates the event was won in a playoff

v t e Senior Players Championship champions

1983 Miller Barber 1984 Arnold Palmer 1985 Arnold Palmer 1986 Chi-Chi Rodríguez 1987 Gary Player 1988 Billy Casper 1989 Orville Moody 1990 Jack Nicklaus 1991 Jim Albus 1992 Dave Stockton 1993 Jim Colbert 1994 Dave Stockton 1995 J. C. Snead† 1996 Raymond Floyd 1997 Larry Gilbert 1998 Gil Morgan 1999 Hale Irwin 2000 Raymond Floyd 2001 Allen Doyle† 2002 Stewart Ginn 2003 Craig Stadler 2004 Mark James 2005 Peter Jacobsen 2006 Bobby Wadkins 2007 Loren Roberts 2008 D. A. Weibring 2009 Jay Haas 2010 Mark O'Meara† 2011 Fred Couples† 2012 Joe Daley 2013 Kenny Perry

† indicates the event was won in a playoff

v t e United States Ryder Cup team – 1973

Tommy Aaron Homero Blancas Gay Brewer Billy Casper Dave Hill Lou Graham Jack Nicklaus Arnold Palmer Juan "Chi-Chi" Rodríguez J. C. Snead Lee Trevino Tom Weiskopf Jack Burke, Jr. (non-playing captain)

Won: 19 – 13

v t e Florida Sports Hall of Fame

A–C	1972 Miami Dolphins Ruth Alexander Michelle Akers Bobby Allison Donnie Allison Ottis Anderson Dave Andreychuk Don Aronow Paul Azinger Catie Ball Walter Lanier "Red" Barber Rick Barry Andy Bean Deane Beman Patty Berg Fred Biletnikoff Otis Birdsong Otis Boggs Wade Boggs Nick Bollettieri Tommy Bolt Pat Borders Julius Boros Tony Boselli Don Bosseler Bobby Bowden Scot Brantley Pat Bradley Derrick Brooks Jerome Brown Bill Buchalter Nick Buoniconti Lew Burdette Norm Carlson Steve Carlton Harold Carmichael JoAnne Carner Jimmy Carnes Don Carter Gary Carter Rick Casares Charles Casey Tracy Caulkins Wes Chandler Chandra Cheeseborough Dean Chenoweth Torchy Clark Jerry Collins Cris Collinsworth Pete Cooper Lee Corso Jim Courier Dave Cowens Gene Cox Larry Csonka Hugh Culverhouse Fran Curci

D–I	Darryl Dawkins Andre Dawson Gene Deckerhoff Jim Dooley Herb Dudley Angelo Dundee Hugh Durham James Everett Chris Evert J. Rex Farrior Forrest K. "Fergie" Ferguson Joe Fields Sam Finley Don Fleming Raymond Floyd Eddie Flynn Bill France, Sr. Bill France, Jr. Betty Skelton Erde Ron Fraser Shirley Fry Rowdy Gaines Jake Gaither Willie Galimore Don Garlits Steve Garvey Ben Geraghty Althea Gibson Artis Gilmore Lafayette G. Golden Mary Ann Gonzalez Curt Gowdy Ray Graves Hubert Green Peter Gregg Bob Griese Andy Gustafson Jack Hairston Nicole Haislett Jack Harding Doris Hart Bill Hartack "Bullet" Bob Hayes Hurley Haywood Ted Hendricks Nash Higgins Hulk Hogan Nancy Hogshead Dick Howser Marcelino Huerta Wayne Huizenga Fred Hutchinson Michael Irvin

J–Q	Julian Jackson Davey Johnson Jimmy Johnson Deacon Jones Joe Justice Jim Kelly Bernie Kosar Nick Kotys Al Lang Floyd E. Lay Bernie Little Larry Little Pop Lloyd Al Lopez Greg Louganis Dan Marino Mike Martin Tino Martinez Bob Masterson Walter "Tiger" Mayberry Dick Mayer Jack "Cy" McClairen Tim McDowell Tom McEwen Bill McGrotha Hal McRae Steve Melnyk George Mira Hubert Mizell Nat Moore Earl Morrall Perry Moss Gardnar Mulloy Bob Murphy Robert Allan Murphy Needles Jack Nelson Jack Nicklaus Greg Norman Tom Nugent Stephen C. O'Connell George R. Olsen Buck O'Neil Charles Owens Dick Pace Arnold Palmer John Pennel Newt Perry Bill Peterson Lou Piniella Dick Pope, Jr. Dick Pope, Sr. Edwin Pope Boog Powell Paul Quinn

R–Z	Tim Raines Jim Rathmann Dot Richardson Rick Rhoden Bobby Riggs Ken Riley Joe Robbie Glenn "Fireball" Roberts Robin Roberts Chi Chi Rodriguez Tony Romeo Al Rosen Pete Sampras Deion Sanders Doug Sanders Gene Sarazen Herb Score Howard Schnellenberger Pancho Segura Earnie Seiler Monica Seles Ron Sellers Lee Roy Selmon Rip Sewell Frank Shorter Don Shula Hal Smeltzy Emmitt Smith Freddie Solomon Steve Spurrier George Steinbrenner Payne Stewart Lyn St. James Roger Strickland Pat Summerall Don Sutton Mark Swiconek Charlie Tate Zack Taylor Vinny Testaverde Gino Torretta James Van Fleet Dale Van Sickel Don Veller Dick Vitale Don Wallen Paul Waner Paul Warfield Glenn Wilkes Ted Williams Mary Wise Danny Wuerffel Early Wynn Garo Yepremian Jack Youngblood Babe Zaharias

Persondata
Name	Rodríguez, Juan Chi-Chi
Alternative names	Rodríguez, Juan Antonio, Rodriguez Chi-Chi
Short description	Professional golfer
Date of birth	October 23, 1935
Place of birth	Rio Piedras, Puerto Rico
Date of death
Place of death

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