Dow Finsterwald was a legendary pro golfer who won the 1958 PGA Championship the first year the tournament used stroke play.
- Died: Friday, November 4, 2022. (Who else died on November 4?)
- Details of death: Died in Colorado Springs, Colorado at the age of 93.
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Legendary Pro Golfer
Dow Finsterwald played college golf at Ohio University. While in college, he played a match at Wake Forest University against iconic golfer Arnold Palmer and the two became lifelong friends. Finsterwald won 12 tournaments on the PGA tour but is best known for winning the 1958 PGA Championship in 1958, the first year they used stroke play instead of match play. He won the title at Llanerch Country Club in Pennsylvania, two strokes ahead of Billy Casper. He was the PGA player of the year in 1958, played on four U.S. Ryder Cup teams and was the captain in 1977. After playing, he became a golf pro at Broadmoor resort in Colorado.
Notable Quote
“It certainly made a big impact on my life, and certain things were made available because of winning that championship. “But as important as it was to me — and believe me, it has been very important — it was a major step for the PGA of America to go from match play to stroke play.” – He said at Oakland Hills in 2008 according to ESPN
Tributes to Dow Finsterwald
Full Obituary: ESPN
