Cary Middlecoff

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Cary Middlecoff
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Middlecoff, circa 1950
Personal information
Full nameEmmett Cary Middlecoff
NicknameDoc
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Halls, Tennessee, U.S.
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Memphis, Tennessee, U.S.
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Edith Buck
​
​
(m. 1947)​
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Career
CollegeUniversity of Mississippi
University of Tennessee College of Dentistry
Turned professional1947
Former tourTemplate:Pluralize from textPGA Tour
Professional wins40
Highest rankingTemplate:Infobox golfer/highest ranking
Number of wins by tour
PGA Tour39 (Tied 10th all time)
Other1
Best results in major championships
(wins: 3)
Masters TournamentWon: 1955
PGA Championship2nd: 1955
U.S. OpenWon: 1949, 1956
The Open Championship14th: 1957
Achievements and awards
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World Golf Hall of Fame1986 (member page)
Vardon Trophy1956
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Signature
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Emmett Cary Middlecoff (January 6, 1921 – September 1, 1998) was an American professional golfer on the PGA Tour from 1947 to 1961. His 39 Tour wins place him tied for tenth all-time, and he won three major championships. Middlecoff graduated as a dentist, but gave up his practice at age 26 to become a full-time Tour golfer.

Early life and amateur career

Middlecoff was born January 6, 1921,[1] in Halls, Tennessee. He graduated from Christian Brothers High School. He played collegiate golf at the University of Mississippi, becoming that school's first golf All-American in 1939. First as an undergraduate and active member of Kappa Alpha Order, then as a dental student at the University of Tennessee, Middlecoff won the Tennessee State Amateur Championship for four straight years (1940–1943). After obtaining his Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS) degree in 1944, he entered the United States Army Dental Corps during World War II as a dental professional for the United States Army Dental Corps (USADC). He won a PGA Tour tournament as an amateur in 1945

Professional career

In 1947, Middlecoff turned professional. He was selected for the 1947 Walker Cup team but immediately withdrew as he intended turning professional.[2][3]

During his playing career, Middlecoff won 39 PGA Tour tournaments,[4] including the 1955 Masters and U.S. Open titles in 1949 and 1956. He won the Vardon Trophy for lowest scoring average in 1956.

Middlecoff played on three Ryder Cup teams: 1953, 1955, and 1959 – the U.S. teams won all three times. He was ineligible for the 1957 Ryder Cup because he failed to play in the PGA Championship that year.[5] Middlecoff was disappointed to lose a playoff in the 1957 U.S. Open to Dick Mayer, and played very few events following that event. The U.S. lost the Cup in 1957, for the first time since 1933.

Middlecoff's three best seasons were 1949, 1951 and 1956, as he won six tour titles in each of those years. He won at least one tour tournament in 13 of his 15 seasons, missing only in 1957 and 1960.

During the decade of the 1950s, Middlecoff won 28 tour titles, more than any other player during that span. A tall player with plenty of power and very good accuracy, Middlecoff during his best years was also a superb putter. He was known for often taking excessive time to play his shots.

Back problems and struggles with his nerves during competition ended his career in the early 1960s, when he was in his early 40s, although he continued to play occasionally, competing in the Masters until 1971, as a past champion.

Middlecoff became a top player despite having one leg slightly shorter than the other.[6]

He appeared in two motion pictures as himself (Follow the Sun (1951, about the life and career of Ben Hogan) and The Bellboy (1960)). He wrote a newspaper column, "The Golf Doctor." He also appeared in a short biographical sports documentary Golf Doctor (1947).

Middlecoff later developed a reputation as one of the best of the early golf television commentators. After retiring from the tour, he spent 18 years as a golf analyst for television.[7]

Death

Middlecoff died of heart disease in 1998 in Memphis, Tennessee. He was survived by his wife of 51 years, Edith.[7]

Awards and honors

  • In 1956, Middlecoff earned the Vardon Trophy, the honor bestowed to the player with the lowest average score over the course of the season.
  • In 1986, Middlecoff was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame.

Professional wins (41)

PGA Tour wins (39)

Legend
Major championships (3)
Other PGA Tour (36)
No. Date Tournament Winning score Margin of
victory		 Runner(s)-up
1 Nov 8, 1945 North and South Open
(as an amateur) 		−8 (70-69-69-72=280) 5 strokes Template:Flagicon Denny Shute
2 Mar 30, 1947 Charlotte Open −11 (70-65-71-71=277) Playoff Template:Flagicon George Schoux
3 Mar 9, 1948 Miami International Four-Ball
(with Template:Flagicon Jim Ferrier) 		1 up Template:Flagicon Ed Furgol and Template:Flagicon Ellsworth Vines
4 Nov 7, 1948 Hawaiian Open −10 (70-70-63-71=274) 3 strokes Template:Flagicon Johnny Bulla
5 Feb 27, 1949 Rio Grande Valley Open −17 (68-66-63-70=267) 2 strokes Template:Flagicon Bob Hamilton
6 Mar 13, 1949 Miami International Four-Ball (2)
(with Template:Flagicon Jim Ferrier) 		9 and 8 Template:Flagicon Skip Alexander and Template:Flagicon Harry Cooper
7 Mar 21, 1949 Jacksonville Open −14 (66-68-71-69=274) 2 strokes Template:Flagicon Jerry Barber
8 Jun 11, 1949 U.S. Open +2 (75-67-69-75=286) 1 stroke Template:Flagicon Clayton Heafner, Template:Flagicon Sam Snead
9 Jun 19, 1949 Motor City Open −11 (66-67-71-69=273) Shared title with Template:Flagicon Lloyd Mangrum
10 Jul 10, 1949 Reading Open −14 (67-68-65-66=266) 1 stroke Template:Flagicon Sam Snead
11 Feb 26, 1950 Houston Open −11 (71-66-69-71=277) 3 strokes Template:Flagicon Pete Cooper
12 Mar 20, 1950 Jacksonville Open (2) −9 (70-73-67-69=279) 2 strokes Template:Flagicon George Fazio
13 Sep 18, 1950 St. Louis Open −10 (71-66-68-65=270) Playoff Template:Flagicon Ed Oliver
14 Jan 22, 1951 Lakewood Park Open −13 (70-64-69-68=271) 3 strokes Template:Flagicon Manuel de la Torre
15 May 27, 1951 Colonial National Invitation +2 (69-71-69-73=282) 1 stroke Template:Flagicon Jack Burke Jr.
16 Aug 5, 1951 All American Open −14 (71-69-66-68=274) 2 strokes Template:Flagicon Fred Hawkins
17 Sep 16, 1951 Eastern Open −9 (71-68-69-71=279) 1 stroke Template:Flagicon Jerry Barber
18 Sep 30, 1951 St. Louis Open (2) −15 (65-65-69-70=269) 2 strokes Template:Flagicon Lloyd Mangrum
19 Oct 7, 1951 Kansas City Open −10 (69-66-72-71=278) Playoff Template:Flagicon Dave Douglas, Template:Flagicon Doug Ford
20 Feb 10, 1952 El Paso Open −15 (65-66-69-69=269) 3 strokes Template:Flagicon Al Besselink
21 Jul 6, 1952 Motor City Open (2) −14 (69-67-67-71=274) Playoff Template:Flagicon Ted Kroll
22 Jul 13, 1952 St. Paul Open −22 (65-68-67-66=266) 5 strokes Template:Flagicon Sam Snead
23 Aug 17, 1952 Kansas City Open (2) −12 (67-68-72-69=276) Playoff Template:Flagicon Jack Burke Jr.
24 Mar 1, 1953 Houston Open (2) −5 (67-72-72-72=283) Playoff Template:Flagicon Jim Ferrier, Template:Flagicon Shelley Mayfield,
Template:Flagicon Bill Nary, Template:Flagicon Earl Stewart
25 May 17, 1953 Palm Beach Round Robin +42 points 7 points Template:Flagicon Jimmy Demaret
26 Jun 28, 1953 Carling Open −13 (68-71-67-69=275) Playoff Template:Flagicon Ted Kroll
27 Jul 4, 1954 Motor City Open (3) −6 (72-68-70-68=278) 2 strokes Template:Flagicon Tommy Bolt, Template:Flagicon Marty Furgol,
Template:Flagicon Gene Littler
28 Jan 16, 1955 Bing Crosby National Pro-Am Golf Championship −7 (69-69-71=209) 4 strokes Template:Flagicon Julius Boros, Template:Flagicon Paul McGuire
29 Mar 20, 1955 St. Petersburg Open −14 (68-66-73-67=274) 2 strokes Template:Flagicon Jay Hebert
30 Apr 10, 1955 Masters Tournament −9 (72-65-72-70=279) 7 strokes Template:Flagicon Ben Hogan
31 Jun 26, 1955 Western Open −16 (69-70-70-63=272) 2 strokes Template:Flagicon Mike Souchak
32 Jul 17, 1955 Miller High Life Open −15 (64-67-66-68=265) 4 strokes Template:Flagicon Julius Boros, Template:Flagicon Ted Kroll,
Template:Flagicon Mike Souchak
33 Sep 11, 1955 Cavalcade of Golf −4 (71-70-70-65=276) 2 strokes Template:Flagicon Sam Snead
34 Sep 11, 1956 Bing Crosby National Pro-Am Golf Championship (2) −14 (66-68-68=202) 5 strokes Template:Flagicon Mike Souchak
35 Feb 5, 1956 Phoenix Open −8 (72-66-70-68=276) 3 strokes Template:Flagicon Mike Souchak
36 Jun 16, 1956 U.S. Open (2) +1 (71-70-70-70=281) 1 stroke Template:Flagicon Julius Boros, Template:Flagicon Ben Hogan
37 Aug 11, 1958 Miller Open Invitational (2) −16 (67-64-66-67=264) 2 strokes Template:Flagicon Bob Rosburg
38 Mar 23, 1959 St. Petersburg Open Invitational (2) −16 (70-69-67-69=275) 3 strokes Template:Flagicon Pete Cooper
39 Jun 4, 1961 Memphis Open Invitational −14 (67-68-64-67=266) 5 strokes Template:Flagicon Gardner Dickinson, Template:Flagicon Mike Souchak

*Mangrum and Middlecoff agreed to share the 1949 Motor City Open after failing light caused play to halt after eleven holes of a playoff.

PGA Tour playoff record (7–6–1)

No. Year Tournament Opponent(s) Result
1 1947 Charlotte Open Template:Flagicon George Schoux Won 18-hole playoff;
Middlecoff: −8 (64),
Schoux: +1 (73)
2 1948 Tacoma Open Invitational Template:Flagicon Chuck Congdon, Template:Flagicon Vic Ghezzi,
Template:Flagicon Fred Haas, Template:Flagicon Ed Oliver 		Oliver won with eagle on first extra hole after 18-hole playoff;
Oliver: −2 (69),
Middlecoff: −2 (69),
Haas: +1 (72),
Congdon: +2 (73),
Ghezzi: +4 (75)
3 1949 Motor City Open Template:Flagicon Lloyd Mangrum Playoff abandoned after eleven holes due to darkness; tournament shared
4 1950 St. Louis Open Template:Flagicon Ed Oliver Won with birdie on second extra hole after 18-hole playoff;
Middlecoff: −3 (67),
Oliver: −3 (67)
5 1951 Kansas City Open Template:Flagicon Dave Douglas, Template:Flagicon Doug Ford Won 18-hole playoff;
Middlecoff: −4 (68),
Douglas: E (72),
Ford: E (72)
6 1952 Motor City Open Template:Flagicon Ted Kroll Won with birdie on first extra hole
7 1952 World Championship of Golf Template:Flagicon Julius Boros Lost 18-hole playoff;
Boros: −4 (68),
Middlecoff: −2 (70)
8 1952 Kansas City Open Template:Flagicon Jack Burke Jr. Won 18-hole playoff;
Middlecoff: −6 (66),
Burke: E (72)
9 1953 Houston Open Template:Flagicon Jim Ferrier, Template:Flagicon Shelley Mayfield,
Template:Flagicon Bill Nary, Template:Flagicon Earl Stewart 		Won 18-hole playoff;
Middlecoff: −3 (69),
Ferrier: −1 (71),
Mayfield: −1 (71),
Stewart: E (72),
Nary: +3 (75)
10 1953 Carling Open Template:Flagicon Ted Kroll Won with par on second extra hole
11 1953 Fort Wayne Open Template:Flagicon Art Wall Jr. Lost 18-hole playoff;
Wall: −2 (70),
Middlecoff: E (72)
12 1954 Phoenix Open Template:Flagicon Ed Furgol Lost to birdie on first extra hole
13 1956 Texas International Open Template:Flagicon Gene Littler, Template:Flagicon Peter Thomson Thomson won with birdie on second extra hole
14 1957 U.S. Open Template:Flagicon Dick Mayer Lost 18-hole playoff;
Mayer: +2 (72),
Middlecoff: +9 (79)

Sources:[4][8][9]

Other wins (1)

this list may be incomplete

Major championships

Wins (3)

Year Championship 54 holes Winning score Margin Runner(s)-up
1949 U.S. Open 1 shot lead +2 (75-67-69-75=286) 1 stroke Template:Flagicon Clayton Heafner, Template:Flagicon Sam Snead
1955 Masters Tournament 4 shot lead −9 (72-65-72-70=279) 7 strokes Template:Flagicon Ben Hogan
1956 U.S. Open (2) 1 shot lead +1 (71-70-70-70=281) 1 stroke Template:Flagicon Julius Boros, Template:Flagicon Ben Hogan

Results timeline

Tournament 1946 1947 1948 1949
Masters Tournament T12 LA T29 2 T23
U.S. Open CUT T21 1
The Open Championship
PGA Championship
Tournament 1950 1951 1952 1953 1954 1955 1956 1957 1958 1959
Masters Tournament T7 T12 11 T27 T9 1 3 CUT T6 2
U.S. Open T10 T24 T24 WD T11 T21 1 2 T27 T19
The Open Championship 14
PGA Championship QF R32 SF 2 T20 T8
Tournament 1960 1961 1962 1963 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969
Masters Tournament CUT CUT T29 CUT CUT CUT WD CUT CUT WD
U.S. Open T43 CUT CUT CUT WD
The Open Championship
PGA Championship T29 T11 T15
Tournament 1970 1971
Masters Tournament CUT WD
U.S. Open
The Open Championship
PGA Championship

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  Win

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  Top 10

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  Did not play

LA = low amateur
CUT = missed the half-way cut
WD = withdrew
R32, R16, QF, SF = Round in which player lost in PGA Championship match play
"T" = tied

Summary

Tournament Wins 2nd 3rd Top-5 Top-10 Top-25 Events Cuts made
Masters Tournament 1 2 1 4 7 11 26 14
U.S. Open 2 1 0 3 4 10 18 12
The Open Championship 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 1
PGA Championship 0 1 1 3 4 8 9 9
Totals 3 4 2 10 15 30 54 36
  • Most consecutive cuts made – 12 (1948 Masters – 1953 Masters)
  • Longest streak of top-10s – 3 (twice)

U.S. national team appearances

Professional

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."UPI Almanac for Sunday, Jan. 6, 2019". United Press International. January 6, 2019. Retrieved September 10, 2019. golf Hall of Fame member Cary Middlecoff in 1921{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  2. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Twelve Names in U.S. Walker Cup Selection". Glasgow Herald. January 13, 1947. p. 2.
  3. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."U.S. Walker Cup Team Change". Glasgow Herald. January 20, 1947. p. 2.
  4. ^ a b Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."All-Time Records - Top 50 All-Time PGA Tour Winners". PGA TOUR 2007 Guide. PGA Tour. 2006. pp. 6–12.
  5. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."U.S. Ryder Cup side named". The Bulletin. July 30, 1957. p. 10. Retrieved June 14, 2013.
  6. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Sommers, Robert (1996). The U.S. Open: Golf's Ultimate Challenge (2nd ed.). Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0195100495.
  7. ^ a b Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Litsky, Frank (September 3, 1998). "Cary Middlecoff, 77, Dentist Who Became Top Pro Golfer". The New York Times.
  8. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Barkow, Al (November 1989). The History of the PGA TOUR. Copyright PGA Tour. Doubleday. p. 265. ISBN 0-385-26145-4.
  9. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Cary Middlecoff". PGA Tour. Retrieved September 16, 2025.

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