Claude Harmon
Encyclopedia
Eugene Claude Harmon, Sr. (July 14, 1916 – July 23, 1989) was an American
golf
er.
Harmon was born in Savannah
, Georgia
, and spent much of his boyhood in the Orlando
area. A youthful prodigy, Harmon qualified for the U.S. Amateur at age 15 in 1931. He was the last-ever club professional to win a major championship
, winning the 1948 Masters Tournament
by five shots, winning $2,500 for his efforts. Harmon served as the head professional at the New York City
area club, Winged Foot Golf Club
from 1945 to 1959, and also served as the winter professional for many years at the Seminole Golf Club
in Florida. In 1959, he was hired as the head professional at Thunderbird Country Club in Palm Springs, California
, where he served for over a decade, and finally took a club job in the Houston area. In 1959, Harmon played in the U.S. Open that was held at Winged Foot, placing third. Harmon was a close friend of legendary star Ben Hogan
, and the two played together frequently and worked together on their games. Harmon was a semi-finalist three times in the PGA Championship
, competing as a club pro against many players who competed full-time.
He died of heart failure in Houston, Texas
at the age 73; he is interred at Desert Memorial Park
in Cathedral City, California
. Harmon's sons Butch
, Craig, and Bill all occupy spots in Golf Digest's
"top 50 teachers" list. His other son Dick Harmon
, also a top golf instructor, died on February 10, 2006 at age 58. Harmon is a member of the World Golf Teachers' Hall of Fame.
Major championship
is shown in bold.
NT = No tournament
DNP = Did not play
WD = Withdrew
DQ = Disqualified
CUT = missed the half-way cut
R64, R32, R16, QF, SF, F = Round in which player lost in PGA Championship match play
"T" indicates a tie for a place
Green background for wins. Yellow background for top-10.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
golf
Golf
Golf is a precision club and ball sport, in which competing players use many types of clubs to hit balls into a series of holes on a golf course using the fewest number of strokes....
er.
Harmon was born in Savannah
Savannah, Georgia
Savannah is the largest city and the county seat of Chatham County, in the U.S. state of Georgia. Established in 1733, the city of Savannah was the colonial capital of the Province of Georgia and later the first state capital of Georgia. Today Savannah is an industrial center and an important...
, Georgia
Georgia (U.S. state)
Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
, and spent much of his boyhood in the Orlando
Orlando
Orlando is a major city in the U.S. state of Florida.Orlando may also refer to-Places:* in Florida** Orlando, a major city** Greater Orlando, the 27th-largest metropolitan area in the United States...
area. A youthful prodigy, Harmon qualified for the U.S. Amateur at age 15 in 1931. He was the last-ever club professional to win a major championship
Men's major golf championships
The men's major golf championships, commonly known as the Major Championships, and often referred to simply as the majors, are the four most prestigious annual tournaments in professional golf...
, winning the 1948 Masters Tournament
1948 Masters Tournament
The 1948 Masters Tournament was contested from April 8 to April 11 at Augusta National Golf Club. It was the 12th Masters Tournament. The purse was $10,000.Claude Harmon defeated Cary Middlecoff by five strokes. It was Harmon's only professional tour victory....
by five shots, winning $2,500 for his efforts. Harmon served as the head professional at the New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
area club, Winged Foot Golf Club
Winged Foot Golf Club
Winged Foot Golf Club is a 36-hole golf course located in Mamaroneck, New York. The course architect is A. W. Tillinghast, who also designed Baltusrol , Bethpage Black, Shackamaxon Country Club, San Francisco Golf Club, Cedar Crest Park, and nearby Quaker Ridge Golf Club and Wykagyl Country Club...
from 1945 to 1959, and also served as the winter professional for many years at the Seminole Golf Club
Seminole Golf Club
Seminole Golf Club is a private golf club located in Juno Beach, Florida. Designed by Donald Ross in 1929, it is consistently ranked as one of the Top 10 courses in the United States....
in Florida. In 1959, he was hired as the head professional at Thunderbird Country Club in Palm Springs, California
Palm Springs, California
Palm Springs is a desert city in Riverside County, California, within the Coachella Valley. It is located approximately 37 miles east of San Bernardino, 111 miles east of Los Angeles and 136 miles northeast of San Diego...
, where he served for over a decade, and finally took a club job in the Houston area. In 1959, Harmon played in the U.S. Open that was held at Winged Foot, placing third. Harmon was a close friend of legendary star Ben Hogan
Ben Hogan
William Ben Hogan was an American golfer, generally considered one of the greatest players in the history of the game...
, and the two played together frequently and worked together on their games. Harmon was a semi-finalist three times in the PGA Championship
PGA Championship
The PGA Championship is an annual golf tournament conducted by the PGA of America as part of the PGA Tour. It is one of the four major championships in men's professional golf, and is the golf season's final major, usually played in mid-August, customarily four weeks after The Open Championship...
, competing as a club pro against many players who competed full-time.
He died of heart failure in Houston, Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
at the age 73; he is interred at Desert Memorial Park
Desert Memorial Park
Desert Memorial Park is a cemetery in Cathedral City, California, United States, near Palm Springs. It is maintained by the Palm Springs Cemetery District...
in Cathedral City, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
. Harmon's sons Butch
Butch Harmon
Claude "Butch" Harmon, Jr. is an American golf instructor and former professional player. He is the son of 1948 Masters Tournament champion Claude Harmon, Sr. and has been in the golf industry since 1965.-Early life:...
, Craig, and Bill all occupy spots in Golf Digest's
Golf Digest
Golf Digest is a monthly golf magazine published by Condé Nast Publications in the United States. It is a generalist golf publication covering recreational golf and men's and women's competitive golf. Condé Nast Publications also publishes the more specialized , and Golf World Business. The...
"top 50 teachers" list. His other son Dick Harmon
Dick Harmon
Dick Harmon was one of America's top golf instructors with clients including Fred Couples, Jay Haas, Craig Stadler, Lanny Wadkins, Steve Elkington and 2009 U.S. Open winner Lucas Glover....
, also a top golf instructor, died on February 10, 2006 at age 58. Harmon is a member of the World Golf Teachers' Hall of Fame.
PGA Tour wins
- 1948 Masters Tournament
- 1950 Miami International Four-BallMiami International Four-BallThe Miami International Four-Ball was a golf tournament on the PGA Tour from 1924 to 1954. It was played primarily at what is now the Miami Springs Golf and Country Club in Miami, Florida...
(with Pete CooperPete Cooper (golfer)Richard Bernice "Pete" Cooper was an American professional golfer on the PGA Tour in the 1940s and 1950s; he was best known for winning the 1976 PGA Seniors' Championship.Cooper turned professional in 1938...
)
Major championship
Men's major golf championships
The men's major golf championships, commonly known as the Major Championships, and often referred to simply as the majors, are the four most prestigious annual tournaments in professional golf...
is shown in bold.
Other wins
this list may be incomplete- 1946 Westchester OpenWestchester OpenThe Westchester Open is golf tournament organized by the Westchester Golf Association. It has been played annually since 1920 at member clubs in New York or Connecticut...
, Metropolitan PGA ChampionshipMetropolitan PGA ChampionshipThe Metropolitan PGA Championship is a golf tournament that is the section championship of the Metropolitan section of the PGA of America. It has been played annually since 1924 at a variety of courses around the New York City metropolitan area. It was considered a PGA Tour event in the 1920s and... - 1947 Westchester OpenWestchester OpenThe Westchester Open is golf tournament organized by the Westchester Golf Association. It has been played annually since 1920 at member clubs in New York or Connecticut...
- 1950 Westchester OpenWestchester OpenThe Westchester Open is golf tournament organized by the Westchester Golf Association. It has been played annually since 1920 at member clubs in New York or Connecticut...
- 1951 Westchester OpenWestchester OpenThe Westchester Open is golf tournament organized by the Westchester Golf Association. It has been played annually since 1920 at member clubs in New York or Connecticut...
, Metropolitan PGA ChampionshipMetropolitan PGA ChampionshipThe Metropolitan PGA Championship is a golf tournament that is the section championship of the Metropolitan section of the PGA of America. It has been played annually since 1924 at a variety of courses around the New York City metropolitan area. It was considered a PGA Tour event in the 1920s and... - 1953 Westchester OpenWestchester OpenThe Westchester Open is golf tournament organized by the Westchester Golf Association. It has been played annually since 1920 at member clubs in New York or Connecticut...
- 1960 Westchester OpenWestchester OpenThe Westchester Open is golf tournament organized by the Westchester Golf Association. It has been played annually since 1920 at member clubs in New York or Connecticut...
Wins (1)
| Year | Championship | 54 Holes | Winning Score | Margin | Runner-up |
|---|---|---|
| 1948 1948 Masters Tournament The 1948 Masters Tournament was contested from April 8 to April 11 at Augusta National Golf Club. It was the 12th Masters Tournament. The purse was $10,000.Claude Harmon defeated Cary Middlecoff by five strokes. It was Harmon's only professional tour victory.... |
Masters Tournament | 2 shot lead |
| 5 strokes |  Cary MiddlecoffCary Middlecoff Emmett Cary Middlecoff was a dentist who gave up his practice to become a professional golfer on the PGA Tour in the 1940s.... |
Results timeline
| Tournament | 1940 | 1941 | 1942 | 1943 | 1944 | 1945 | 1946 | 1947 | 1948 | 1949 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Masters | DNP | DNP | DNP | NT | NT | NT | 18 | T26 | 1 | T11 |
| U.S. Open U.S. Open (golf) The United States Open Championship, commonly known as the U.S. Open, is the annual open golf tournament of the United States. It is the second of the four major championships in golf, and is on the official schedule of both the PGA Tour and the European Tour... |
DQ | DNP | NT | NT | NT | NT | T15 | T19 | CUT | T8 |
| The Open Championship The Open Championship The Open Championship, or simply The Open , is the oldest of the four major championships in professional golf. It is the only "major" held outside the USA and is administered by The R&A, which is the governing body of golf outside the USA and Mexico... |
NT | NT | NT | NT | NT | NT | DNP | DNP | 27 | DNP |
| PGA Championship PGA Championship The PGA Championship is an annual golf tournament conducted by the PGA of America as part of the PGA Tour. It is one of the four major championships in men's professional golf, and is the golf season's final major, usually played in mid-August, customarily four weeks after The Open Championship... |
DNP | DNP | DNP | NT | DNP | SF | R64 | R16 | SF | R32 |
| Tournament | 1950 | 1951 | 1952 | 1953 | 1954 | 1955 | 1956 | 1957 | 1958 | 1959 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Masters The Masters Tournament The Masters Tournament, also known as The Masters , is one of the four major championships in professional golf. Scheduled for the first full week of April, it is the first of the majors to be played each year... |
T32 | T35 | T14 | T34 | T53 | T28 | T46 | T38 | T9 | CUT |
| U.S. Open U.S. Open (golf) The United States Open Championship, commonly known as the U.S. Open, is the annual open golf tournament of the United States. It is the second of the four major championships in golf, and is on the official schedule of both the PGA Tour and the European Tour... |
T38 | T54 | DNP | CUT | T15 | CUT | DNP | DNP | CUT | T3 |
| The Open Championship The Open Championship The Open Championship, or simply The Open , is the oldest of the four major championships in professional golf. It is the only "major" held outside the USA and is administered by The R&A, which is the governing body of golf outside the USA and Mexico... |
DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP |
| PGA Championship PGA Championship The PGA Championship is an annual golf tournament conducted by the PGA of America as part of the PGA Tour. It is one of the four major championships in men's professional golf, and is the golf season's final major, usually played in mid-August, customarily four weeks after The Open Championship... |
R16 | R64 | DNP | SF | R32 | R16 | R32 | 6 | T56 | T38 |
| Tournament | 1960 | 1961 | 1962 | 1963 | 1964 | 1965 | 1966 | 1967 | 1968 | 1969 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Masters | T16 | CUT | CUT | WD | CUT | CUT | WD | WD | WD | WD |
| U.S. Open U.S. Open (golf) The United States Open Championship, commonly known as the U.S. Open, is the annual open golf tournament of the United States. It is the second of the four major championships in golf, and is on the official schedule of both the PGA Tour and the European Tour... |
T27 | DNP | CUT | DNP | CUT | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP |
| The Open Championship The Open Championship The Open Championship, or simply The Open , is the oldest of the four major championships in professional golf. It is the only "major" held outside the USA and is administered by The R&A, which is the governing body of golf outside the USA and Mexico... |
DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP |
| PGA Championship PGA Championship The PGA Championship is an annual golf tournament conducted by the PGA of America as part of the PGA Tour. It is one of the four major championships in men's professional golf, and is the golf season's final major, usually played in mid-August, customarily four weeks after The Open Championship... |
DNP | CUT | T44 | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP |
| Tournament | 1970 | 1971 |
|---|---|---|
| The Masters | DNP | WD |
| U.S. Open U.S. Open (golf) The United States Open Championship, commonly known as the U.S. Open, is the annual open golf tournament of the United States. It is the second of the four major championships in golf, and is on the official schedule of both the PGA Tour and the European Tour... |
DNP | DNP |
| The Open Championship The Open Championship The Open Championship, or simply The Open , is the oldest of the four major championships in professional golf. It is the only "major" held outside the USA and is administered by The R&A, which is the governing body of golf outside the USA and Mexico... |
DNP | DNP |
| PGA Championship PGA Championship The PGA Championship is an annual golf tournament conducted by the PGA of America as part of the PGA Tour. It is one of the four major championships in men's professional golf, and is the golf season's final major, usually played in mid-August, customarily four weeks after The Open Championship... |
DNP | DNP |
NT = No tournament
DNP = Did not play
WD = Withdrew
DQ = Disqualified
CUT = missed the half-way cut
R64, R32, R16, QF, SF, F = Round in which player lost in PGA Championship match play
"T" indicates a tie for a place
Green background for wins. Yellow background for top-10.