Here are 9 cool secrets about the PGA tour. Bet you don’t know all of them!
1. Left-hander Phil Mickelson is Not Entirely Left-handed
Golfer Phil Mickelson has been called Lefty for years.
Known to play the game of golf left-handed, MIchelson, who was inducted into the 22012 World Golf Hall of Fame, is only one of 16 golfers who have won 3 of 4 major opens.
He also came in second six times.
What many people do not know about “Lefty,” or Mickelson, is that he does everything else right-handed.
You should see him throw a football. He looks like an NFL quarterback.
So the moniker “Lefty” only applies to golf.
2. PGA Golfer Allen Doyle Began His Rookie Year Past the Age of 40
Golfers do not need to be 20 or 30 years old to play golf. Golf is open to any person of any age.
Nevertheless, the game is still considered a younger man’s game, especially for the rookies in the field. One of the exceptions in this regard is Allen Doyle who started his rookie year in the PGA at the tender age of 47.
3. Tiger Woods’ Golf Ball Landed in the Trash at the Genesis Invitational
Tiger Woods kept busy at the Genesis Invitational in LA as a host and player, in February 2021, at the Riviera Country Club. Unfortunately, Woods played a lackluster game coming in last for the golfers making the cut.
However, the 15-time majors champion experienced an even more confounding situation on the final nine during game play. Woods’ shot hooked left, at the par-4 third hole, and settled in a garbage bag.
In this case, Rule 16:b  was noted as the solution to the problem.
Under the rule, if the ball is in the general area and an abnormal course condition is caused by interference, the player may drop the original ball or another ball. Evidently Tiger decided to use the original ball, as he fished through the trash for the wayward object.
Because the golf ball came to rest in an immovable obstruction, Woods was allowed a free drop within a club length of the nearest relief point.Â
4. Olympic Champion Babe Zaharias Broke Down the Gender Barrier for a Short Time in 1945
While the sport of golf has been enjoyed by both genders throughout the years, one woman golfer, Babe Zaharias, was a notable exception.
The expert lady golfer took part in tournament play in Los Angeles in 1945 where she played the first two rounds of the competition.
She proved she had the skills required to compete, as she shot a 76 and 81. Unfortunately, she was not permitted to play in another PGA tournament, although she clearly was exceptional.
In fact, Babe Zaharias is considered one of the best athletes ever.
She won gold medals in the 1932 Olympics for the javelin toss and hurdles. She was introduced to golf at the Olympics when she was 21 years old. That is what led to her appearance at the later PGA tournament.
5. Augusta National Was Not Always Operational
At one point during golf history, golf officials decided to shut down the Masters tournament and the Augusta National Golf Club during the World War II conflict in 1942.
It was decided that  it was best to temporarily stop golf activities until the battle came to an end. During the shutdown, the greenkeeper at the site rose cattle and turkey.
The golf club ceased operations during 1943 and 1945 and reopened for play in 1945.
6. Sportscaster Jack Whitaker Was Perhaps Too Descriptive
An accomplished sportscaster, Jack Whiaker reported golf play at the Augusta National Golf Club for a number of years. However, he courted controversy during a broadcast in 1966.
He made a reference to the site as being a “mob scene,” because of the large galleries.
However, those in charge of the occasion thought his words were poorly crafted.
After the incident, the reporter was not allowed to commentate a PGA competition at Augusta until August 1972.
7. The Original Championship Trophy for the U.S. Open Was Destroyed in a Fire
Receiving a championship trophy or winning the U.S. Open is a realized dream.
After all, trophies in the filed of sports are won by the best players and represent solid rewards that can be kept in their possession as long as they live.Â
However, sometimes accidents do happen.
The original trophy awarded to U.S. Championship winners is a one example of an unfortunate mishap. The 51-year-old trophy was destroyed in a 1946 fire.Â
8. Two of the PGA’s Tour Winners Received Wins Exactly 28 Years Apart
Most PGA tour winners experience a winning streak when they win PGA tournaments. It seems winning a PGA championship has a synchronous effect. Not that many golfers remain near the top of their field for an extended time.
However, there are always the golfers who break this type of stride, such as Sam Snead and Raymond Floyd. Both of the PGA golfers won their first and last PGA tours 28 years apart.
9. Mark Calcavecchia Holds the Record for the Most Birdies in a 72-Hole Tournament
In technical terms, a birdie in golf is when you score one stroke under the declared par of a given hole. For example, if you are dealing with a par-3 hole, you have to complete the hole in two (2) strokes to score a birdie.
Mark Calcavecchia, who debuted in the PGA in 1982, is a regular birdie machine.
The golfer holds the record for shooting the most birdies during 72-hole tournament play. HIs tally comes to 32.
Photo credits: creative commons https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=87NXbukSZNE
