This video is an absolute“blue diamond” in our treasure chest of vintage memories here at ImaSportsphile…..as not only was this 6 hole sudden death playoff at the 1979 Legends of Golf Tournament played at Onion Creek Country Club in Autin, Texas one of the greatest finishes to ANY professional golf championship ever played….but it also brings back exceptional memories to our Bone Daddy, the original Sportsphile…..cuz he was there to see this special finish “live and in color” at Onion Creek to watch this historic playoff….for we have often heard about how awesome Roberto de Vicenzo was in making 5 playoff birdies in a row to win…..so, here’s our salute to Boros, de Vicenzo, Wall and Bolt.
Julius Boros (March 3, 1920 – May 28, 1994) was an American professional golfer noted for his effortless-looking swing and strong record on difficult golf courses….particularly at the U.S. Open….. Boros….as Boros won 18 PGA Tour events….which included three major championships….with the 1952 and 1963 U.S. Opens…..and the 1968 PGA Championship. Julius Boros was also instrumental in starting the Senior PGA Tour in the late 1970’s…..as the exciting televised playoff victory of Boros and partner Roberto De Vicenzo over Tommy Bolt and Art Wall, Jr. at the Legends of Golf tournament in 1979 raised the profile of professional senior golf competition…..as seen in the video highlights herewith.
His partner at this event was Roberto De Vicenzo (14 April 1923 – 1 June 2017)….who was a professional golfer from Argentina……as he has won a record 230 professional tournaments worldwide in his career….which included eight on the PGA Tour…..with his most famous victory being the 1967 Open Championship (British Open)…..howeverr, he is perhaps best remembered for signing an incorrect scorecard that kept him out of a playoff for the 1968 Masters Tournament.
Art Wall Jr. (November 25, 1923 – October 31, 2001) was an American professional golfer….who won the 1959 Masters Tournament….when in the final round, he birdied five of his last six holes to shoot a 66….and overtake Dr. Cary Middlecoff and defending champion Arnold Palmer….plus, he also won fourteen other titles on the PGA Tour….which included four in 1959. That same year he was chosen as the PGA Player of the Year…. while winning the money title and Vardon Trophy for lowest scoring average.
Tommy Bolt (March 31, 1916 – August 30, 2008) was an American professional golfer…..who worked as a caddie and club professional in Shreveport, Louisiana…..as he did not join the PGA Tour until he was in his thirties….but still he went on to win fifteen PGA Tour titles….which included the 1958 U.S. Open. Bolt was the fifth PGA Tour player to shoot a 60 (11 birdies) in an 18-hole round….when he did it in the second round of the Insurance City Open outside Hartford, Connecticut…..as he followed that round with a 69-71 over his final 36 holes….which got him into a playoff with Earl Stewart, an extra session Bolt won.
