Lloyd Mangrum
Encyclopedia
Lloyd Eugene Mangrum was an American
professional golf
er. He was known for his smooth swing and his relaxed demeanour on the course, which earned him the nickname "Mr. Icicle".
Mangrum was born in Trenton, Texas
. He became a professional golfer at age fifteen, working as an assistant to his brother Ray
, the head professional at Cliff-Dale Country Club in Dallas. He joined the PGA Tour
in 1937 and went on to win 36 events on the Tour. He might have won more if his career had not been interrupted by service in World War II
. While training for the D-Day
landings, Mangrum was offered the professional's job at the army's Fort Meade golf course, which would have kept him out of combat, but he declined. He won two Purple Heart
s and was wounded in the Battle of the Bulge
. His best years on tour came after the war. He led the PGA Tour money list in 1951 and won the Vardon Trophy
for the lowest scoring average on the tour in 1951 and 1953.
Mangrum's only major championship
win came at the 1946 U.S. Open
, though he was runner-up in four majors and third in five more. He lost in playoffs at the 1940 and 1950 U.S. Opens. He finished in the top ten at The Masters Tournament
ten consecutive years. In 1940 he shot a tournament record 64 in the opening round of The Masters, a record that stood for decades until Nick Price
shot a 63 in 1986.
Mangrum played for the United States in the Ryder Cup
in 1947, 1949, 1951 and 1953. On the last occasion he was a playing captain. He had a record of six wins, two losses, and no ties, including three wins, one loss, and no ties in singles matches.
Mangrum died in Apple Valley, California
in 1973 of a heart attack
. It was the 12th he had suffered. Mangrum was called "the forgotten man of golf" by sportswriter Jim Murray
. Even though only 11 men have won more PGA Tour events, his reputation has been overshadowed by the other stars of his era who lived long, extraordinary lives such as Sam Snead
; and fellow Texans Ben Hogan
, Jimmy Demaret
and Byron Nelson
. At the 1996 Masters, Nelson conducted a test. "I asked three young pros if they ever heard of Lloyd Mangrum, and they never had." Nelson commented, "Lloyd's the best player who's been forgotten since I've been playing golf." In 1998 Mangrum was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame
.
Major championship
is shown in bold.
Source:
1 Defeated Vic Gezzi & Byron Nelson in a playoff. All three shot 72 (E) in first 18-hole playoff. Second 18-hole playoff: Mangum 72=144 (E), Ghezzi 73=145 (+1), Nelson 73=145 (+1).
NT = No tournament
DNP = Did not play
CUT = missed the half-way cut
"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...
professional 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. He was known for his smooth swing and his relaxed demeanour on the course, which earned him the nickname "Mr. Icicle".
Mangrum was born in Trenton, Texas
Trenton, Texas
Trenton is a city in Fannin County, Texas, United States. The population was 662 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Trenton is located at .According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , all of it land....
. He became a professional golfer at age fifteen, working as an assistant to his brother Ray
Ray Mangrum
Ray B. Mangrum was an American professional golfer and the older brother of a more famous golfer, Lloyd Mangrum....
, the head professional at Cliff-Dale Country Club in Dallas. He joined the PGA Tour
PGA Tour
The PGA Tour is the organizer of the main men's professional golf tours in the United States and North America...
in 1937 and went on to win 36 events on the Tour. He might have won more if his career had not been interrupted by service in World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. While training for the D-Day
D-Day
D-Day is a term often used in military parlance to denote the day on which a combat attack or operation is to be initiated. "D-Day" often represents a variable, designating the day upon which some significant event will occur or has occurred; see Military designation of days and hours for similar...
landings, Mangrum was offered the professional's job at the army's Fort Meade golf course, which would have kept him out of combat, but he declined. He won two Purple Heart
Purple Heart
The Purple Heart is a United States military decoration awarded in the name of the President to those who have been wounded or killed while serving on or after April 5, 1917 with the U.S. military. The National Purple Heart Hall of Honor is located in New Windsor, New York...
s and was wounded in the Battle of the Bulge
Battle of the Bulge
The Battle of the Bulge was a major German offensive , launched toward the end of World War II through the densely forested Ardennes mountain region of Wallonia in Belgium, hence its French name , and France and...
. His best years on tour came after the war. He led the PGA Tour money list in 1951 and won the Vardon Trophy
Vardon Trophy
The Vardon Trophy is awarded annually by the PGA of America to the PGA Tour's leader in scoring average. When the award was first given in 1937, it was awarded on the basis of a points system. No award was given from 1942–1946 due to World War II. In 1947, the PGA began awarding it for low...
for the lowest scoring average on the tour in 1951 and 1953.
Mangrum's only 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...
win came at the 1946 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...
, though he was runner-up in four majors and third in five more. He lost in playoffs at the 1940 and 1950 U.S. Opens. He finished in the top ten at The Masters Tournament
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...
ten consecutive years. In 1940 he shot a tournament record 64 in the opening round of The Masters, a record that stood for decades until Nick Price
Nick Price
Nicholas Raymond Leige Price is a South African-Zimbabwean Professional golfer and an inductee in the World Golf Hall of Fame. In the mid-1990s, Price reached number one in the Official World Golf Rankings.-Background:...
shot a 63 in 1986.
Mangrum played for the United States in the Ryder Cup
Ryder Cup
The Ryder Cup is a biennial golf competition between teams from Europe and the United States. The competition is jointly administered by the PGA of America and the PGA European Tour, and is contested every two years, the venue alternating between courses in the United States and Europe...
in 1947, 1949, 1951 and 1953. On the last occasion he was a playing captain. He had a record of six wins, two losses, and no ties, including three wins, one loss, and no ties in singles matches.
Mangrum died in Apple Valley, California
Apple Valley, California
-Climate:*On average, the warmest month is July.*The highest recorded temperature was in 2002.*On average, the coolest month is December.*The lowest recorded temperature was in 1949.*The most precipitation on average occurs in February.-History:...
in 1973 of a heart attack
Myocardial infarction
Myocardial infarction or acute myocardial infarction , commonly known as a heart attack, results from the interruption of blood supply to a part of the heart, causing heart cells to die...
. It was the 12th he had suffered. Mangrum was called "the forgotten man of golf" by sportswriter Jim Murray
Jim Murray (sportswriter)
James Patrick Murray was an American sportswriter at the Los Angeles Times from 1961 to 1998.Many of his achievements include winning the NSSA's Sportswriter of the Year award an astounding fourteen times...
. Even though only 11 men have won more PGA Tour events, his reputation has been overshadowed by the other stars of his era who lived long, extraordinary lives such as Sam Snead
Sam Snead
Samuel Jackson Snead was an American professional golfer who was one of the top players in the world for most of four decades. Snead won a record 82 PGA Tour events including seven majors. He failed to win a U.S...
; and fellow Texans Ben Hogan
Ben Hogan
William Ben Hogan was an American golfer, generally considered one of the greatest players in the history of the game...
, Jimmy Demaret
Jimmy Demaret
James Newton Demaret 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....
and Byron Nelson
Byron Nelson
John Byron Nelson, Jr. was an American PGA Tour golfer between 1935 and 1946.Nelson and two other well known golfers of the time, Ben Hogan and Sam Snead, were born within seven months of each other in 1912...
. At the 1996 Masters, Nelson conducted a test. "I asked three young pros if they ever heard of Lloyd Mangrum, and they never had." Nelson commented, "Lloyd's the best player who's been forgotten since I've been playing golf." In 1998 Mangrum was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame
World Golf Hall of Fame
The World Golf Hall of Fame is located at World Golf Village near St. Augustine, Florida, in the United States, and it is unusual among sports halls of fame in that a single site serves both men and women. It is supported by a consortium of 26 golf organizations from all over the world.The Hall of...
.
PGA Tour wins (36)
- 1940 (1) Thomasville OpenThomasville Open (PGA Tour)The Thomasville Open was a golf tournament on the PGA Tour from 1936 to 1941. It was held at the Glen Arven Country Club in Thomasville, Georgia.-Winners:*1941 Harold "Jug" McSpaden*1940 Lloyd Mangrum*1939 Henry Picard*1938 Byron Nelson*1937 Dick Metz...
- 1941 (1) Atlantic City Open
- 1942 (3) New Orleans OpenNew Orleans OpenThe New Orleans Open is a defunct tennis tournament for male tennis players, held in New Orleans, United States. It was established in 1978 and was played until 1980. Wojtek Fibak, John McEnroe and Roscoe Tanner all won the tournament during its run....
, Seminole Victory Golf Tournament, Inverness Invitational Four-BallInverness Invitational Four-BallThe Inverness Invitational Four-Ball was a golf tournament on the PGA Tour from 1935 to 1953. It was played at the Inverness Club in Toledo, Ohio.-Format:...
(with Lawson LittleLawson LittleWilliam Lawson Little, Jr. was an American professional golfer who also had a distinguished amateur career....
) - 1946 (1) U.S. OpenU.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...
- 1947 (2) National Capital Open, Albuquerque Open
- 1948 (7) Bing Crosby Pro-Am, Lower Rio Grande Open, Greater Greensboro Open, Zooligans' Open, All American OpenAll American OpenThe All American Open was a golf tournament on the PGA Tour in the 1940s and 1950s. It was played at the Tam O'Shanter Country Club in Niles, Illinois. It was run by George S. May and was also known as the Tam O'Shanter Open. From 1944 to 1946 it offered $10,000 winner's prize...
, World Championship of GolfWorld Championship of GolfThe World Championship of Golf was a championship played on the PGA Tour in the 1940s and 1950s that, in its latter years, boasted a purse that dwarfed every other event on the tour, including even the U.S. Open. It was played in August of each year at the Tam O'Shanter Country Club, in Niles,...
, Utah OpenUtah OpenThe Utah Open is the Utah state open golf tournament, open to both amateur and professional golfers. It is organized by the Utah section of the PGA of America. It was first played in 1926 and has been played at a variety of courses around the state... - 1949 (4) Los Angeles Open, Tucson Open, Motor City OpenMotor City OpenThe Motor City Open was a PGA Tour event played at various clubs in and around Detroit for just under two decades. The PGA Tour record for the longest sudden-death playoff was established at the 1949 Motor City Open. Cary Middlecoff and Lloyd Mangrum played 11 holes at Meadowbrook Country Club in...
(co-winner with Cary MiddlecoffCary MiddlecoffEmmett Cary Middlecoff was a dentist who gave up his practice to become a professional golfer on the PGA Tour in the 1940s....
), All American OpenAll American OpenThe All American Open was a golf tournament on the PGA Tour in the 1940s and 1950s. It was played at the Tam O'Shanter Country Club in Niles, Illinois. It was run by George S. May and was also known as the Tam O'Shanter Open. From 1944 to 1946 it offered $10,000 winner's prize... - 1950 (5) Fort Wayne OpenFort Wayne Open (PGA Tour event)The Fort Wayne Open, which played for one year as Fort Wayne Invitational, was a golf tournament on the PGA Tour in the 1950s. It was played at the Orchard Ridge Country Club in 1950 before moving to the Fort Wayne Elks Lodge No...
, Motor City OpenMotor City OpenThe Motor City Open was a PGA Tour event played at various clubs in and around Detroit for just under two decades. The PGA Tour record for the longest sudden-death playoff was established at the 1949 Motor City Open. Cary Middlecoff and Lloyd Mangrum played 11 holes at Meadowbrook Country Club in...
, Eastern Open, Kansas City Open, Palm Beach Round Robin - 1951 (4) Los Angeles Open, Tucson Open, Wilmington Azalea Open, St. Paul Open
- 1952 (2) Phoenix Open, Western OpenWestern OpenThe Western Open, a professional golf tournament, was first played in 1899. At the time of its 2006 playing, the Western Open was the 3rd oldest active PGA Tour tournament, after the British Open and U.S. Open...
- 1953 (4) Los Angeles Open, Bing Crosby Pro-Am Invitational, Phoenix Open, All American OpenAll American OpenThe All American Open was a golf tournament on the PGA Tour in the 1940s and 1950s. It was played at the Tam O'Shanter Country Club in Niles, Illinois. It was run by George S. May and was also known as the Tam O'Shanter Open. From 1944 to 1946 it offered $10,000 winner's prize...
- 1954 (1) Western OpenWestern OpenThe Western Open, a professional golf tournament, was first played in 1899. At the time of its 2006 playing, the Western Open was the 3rd oldest active PGA Tour tournament, after the British Open and U.S. Open...
- 1956 (1) Los Angeles Open
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.
Source:
Other wins (6)
- 1938 Pennsylvania Open ChampionshipPennsylvania Open ChampionshipThe Pennsylvania Open Championship is the Pennsylvania state open golf tournament, open to both amateur and professional golfers. It is organized by the Pennsylvania Golf Association. It has been played annually since 1912 at a variety of courses around the state...
- 1946 Argentine OpenArgentine OpenThe Argentine Open or Abierto de la República or Abierto de Argentina is one of the oldest national golf open championships. First played in 1905, it has featured numerous notable winners including major champions Jimmy Demaret , Lloyd Mangrum , Tom Weiskopf , Craig Stadler , Mark Calcavecchia ,...
- 1950 California State OpenCalifornia State OpenThe California State Open is the California state open golf tournament, open to both amateur and professional golfers. It is organized by the Southern California section of the PGA of America. It was first played in 1900 and has been played at a variety of courses around the state...
- 1952 Philippine OpenPhilippine Open (golf)The Philippine Open is one of the world's longest running men's golf tournaments. First held in 1913, it is also Asia's oldest golf tournament and Asia's oldest national golf open...
- Adelaide (Australia), Ampol (Australia)
Wins (1)
| Year | Championship | 54 Holes | Winning Score | Margin | Runners-up |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1946 | 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... |
1 shot deficit | -4 (74-70-68-72=284) | Playoff 1 |  Vic GhezziVic Ghezzi Victor J. Ghezzi was an American golfer. He won 11 times on the PGA Tour including one major championship, the 1941 PGA Championship. He was selected for three Ryder Cup teams, 1939, 1941, and 1943 but each was canceled due to World War II... , Byron NelsonByron Nelson John Byron Nelson, Jr. was an American PGA Tour golfer between 1935 and 1946.Nelson and two other well known golfers of the time, Ben Hogan and Sam Snead, were born within seven months of each other in 1912... |
1 Defeated Vic Gezzi & Byron Nelson in a playoff. All three shot 72 (E) in first 18-hole playoff. Second 18-hole playoff: Mangum 72=144 (E), Ghezzi 73=145 (+1), Nelson 73=145 (+1).
Results timeline
| Tournament | 1937 | 1938 | 1939 |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Masters | DNP | DNP | DNP |
| 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... |
CUT | DNP | T56 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| Tournament | 1940 | 1941 | 1942 | 1943 | 1944 | 1945 | 1946 | 1947 | 1948 | 1949 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Masters | 2 | T9 | DNP | NT | NT | NT | T16 | T8 | T4 | T2 |
| 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... |
T5 | T10 | NT | NT | NT | NT | 1 | T23 | T21 | T14 |
| 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 | 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 | T3 | T9 | NT | DNP | DNP | T33 | T5 | T17 | T3 |
| Tournament | 1950 | 1951 | 1952 | 1953 | 1954 | 1955 | 1956 | 1957 | 1958 | 1959 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Masters | 6 | T3 | 6 | 3 | T4 | 7 | T4 | T28 | CUT | 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... |
2 | T4 | T10 | 3 | T3 | DNP | DNP | CUT | T37 | 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 | T24 | 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... |
T5 | T9 | T17 | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP |
| Tournament | 1960 | 1961 | 1962 |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Masters | 43 | CUT | T33 |
| 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... |
T23 | 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 |
| 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 = No tournament
DNP = Did not play
CUT = missed the half-way cut
"T" indicates a tie for a place
Green background for wins. Yellow background for top-10