Bob Rosburg's Love Story
New wife, along with a renewed sense of confidence and a funny looking putter help Bob Rosburg end victory drought
Up until the final holes in Sunday’s final round, the biggest news story at the Sony Open in Hawaii was how Jordan Spieth became the first player in the 58 year history of the Sony Open in Hawaii to lead after the first round and then miss the cut. But Si Woo Kim’s chip-in on the 17th hole in the final round, and Hayden Buckley’s inability to get up and down for birdie on the final hole provided quite the exciting finish. Congratulations to Si Woo Kim.
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This week the TOUR is in the Coachella Valley for The American Express. This tournament’s DNA is traceable back to the Palm Springs Desert Classic begun in 1960 before becoming the Palm Springs Golf Classic. Bob Hope added his name to the tournament in 1965 when it became the Bob Hope Desert Classic. It became the Bob Hope Classic in 1984, then the Bob Hope Chrysler Classic in 1986 before it became the Bob Hope Classic, again, in 2009. In 2012 it became the Humana Classic, in 2016 the Career Builder Classic, in 2019 the Desert Classic and in 2020 it became The American Express.
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We’re turning back to 1972 when Bob Rosburg ended an 11-year victory drought at the Bob Hope Desert Classic. Scroll down to learn more.
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Bob Rosburg Has New Wife, Funny Looking Putter and Claude Harman to Thank For Hope Victory
Imagine it is Sunday, February 13th, 1972, the day before Valentine’s Day. You are in the gallery near the 14th green at Indian Wells Country Club during the final round of the Bob Hope Desert Classic. This marathon 90-hole event is about to get real, real fast. You are watching the threesome of Bob Murphy, Bob Rosburg and Johnny Miller. The two veterans and the young Miller are playing in the penultimate group and Miller is facing an eagle putt that would give him the lead with just four holes to play.
You erupt with a cheer along with the other fans surrounding the green, as Miller rolls in his six-foot eagle putt to grab the lead. Bob Rosburg faced a four-foot putt for birdie to tie Miller for the lead.
How did we get here? How did Bob Rosburg handle the pressure of not only his four-foot putt to tie Miller, but also playing the last four holes of the tournament? After all, he hasn’t won since 1961. Let’s backspin to find out.
The Bob Hope Desert Classic was played under a different format than the usual run-of-the-mill PGA TOUR event. It consisted of five rounds played over four different golf courses (Indian Wells Country Club, La Quinta Country Club, Bermuda Dunes Country Club, and Eldorado Country Club). Each pro played with three amateur partners, a different three partners each day, for the first four days before playing the final round in threesomes made up of pros.
Bob Rosburg, 45 years-old, sat atop the leader board, tied with 24-year-old Jerry Heard, after the first round. Both players shot 66, Rosburg on the Indian Wells Country club while Heard played Eldorado. Club pro Jimmy Powell and Chuck Cortney were one shot behind. Jack Nicklaus, Dave Stockton, Chi Chi Rodriguez, and Mike Higgins sat another stroke back. Johnny Miller shot a 71 putting him five shots off the lead.
Rosburg last won a PGA TOUR title at the 1961 Bing Crosby National Pro-Am and was so frustrated with his game in early 1971 that he was ready to quit the tour. Instead, he went to Palm Springs to consult with Claude Harmon who held court at the Thunderbird Country Club in Rancho Mirage.
“Claude didn’t do anything to my game,” Rosburg stated. “All we did was talk and work on my hand positions on the club. Listening to him was better than any lesson. Sometimes in this crazy game no amount of lessons will help. I guess that was my case.”
“I used to jab my putts, but with this putter the head almost swings itself, and I’m stroking the ball much better,”
In addition to the confidence that Harmon instilled in Rosburg, in October of 1971, he got married. Eleanor, his new wife, provided stability to his new level of confidence and the last piece he needed for his rejuvenation fell into place when he added a new “potato masher” putter to his arsenal. The putter earned its nickname due to its huge mallet head.
“I used to jab my putts, but with this putter the head almost swings itself, and I’m stroking the ball much better,” he told Golf Digest.
The rejuvenated Rosburg, who was described as “pudgy” and “balding” added a second round 69 at Bermuda Dunes and now held a one-shot lead over Heard. Arnold Palmer, who was a four-time winner of the event, and defending champion, shot a 68 at Eldorado and sat two strokes off the lead. Johnny Miller shot up the leaderboard to 138 after a second round 67, just three strokes back of Rosburg.
Jerry Heard wrestled away the lead from Rosburg in Friday’s third round shooting a 69 at Indian Wells for a total of 205. He enjoyed a two-stroke lead over Rosburg who matched par at Eldorado. Palmer fell from contention after shooting a 76 that included two shots that went out-of-bounds and a three-putt green. Miller shot a 70 at La Quinta and sat three shots back of Heard. Heard identified Miller as his main worry.
“This golf course is extremely easy but only if you drive well,” Heard said about Indian Wells. “I predict John will shoot 67 here. He’s the only guy in the world who hits a natural straight ball.”
Miller agreed about the demands on driving at the courses being used for Hope.
“The tightest we play all year,” he said. “None of the others are even close.”
Lanny Wadkins shot a 70 and placed himself at 209, four strokes off the lead.
“I can win this thing on Sunday, but it will probably take a 62 or 63, and that’s possible on a course like Indian Wells.”
In Saturday’s fourth round, Heard shot a two-under 70 at Bermuda Dunes for a four round total of 275 and continued to hold a two-stroke lead over Rosburg. Lanny Wadkins shot a 69 and was three shots off the lead and one in front of Johnny Miller (71) and Arnold Palmer who resurrected his chances in the tournament with a score of 66.
“I can win this thing on Sunday,” Palmer insisted. “But it will probably take a 62 or 63, and that’s possible on a course like Indian Wells.”
The pairings for the final round had Wadkins, Heard and Palmer playing in the final group while Rosburg, Miller and Bob Murphy played in the penultimate group.
“That was it as far as I was concerned. I felt that if I could make that putt, I had a good shot at it.”
In the final round, Rosburg fought off his nerves, as well as the charging younger pros, to keep his hopes alive. He watched as Miller made his eagle putt on the 14th hole and then let you, and the other spectators, gather themselves before he stroked in his birdie putt from four feet and the two players headed for the 15th tee tied. The “potato masher” came through for him in the clutch.
“That was it as far as I was concerned,” Rosburg told reporters after the round. “I felt that if I could make that putt, I had a good shot at it.” And that would prove correct—if he could par out to the finish.
On the 15th hole, Miller three-putted from inside of 10 feet to fall one-stroke back as Rosburg parred the hole. They both parred the 16th hole and then Miller bogeyed the 17th hole to wipe out any chance he had of winning.
Rosburg added pars to his scorecard on the 17th and 18th holes. He then watched the final group play the final hole. Palmer and Heard could tie him with an eagle. When both players failed to secure the eagle, it was all over and Rosburg won his first title in 11 years.
“I’ve got it going good, now, so I think I’ll play for the next three weeks, at least.”
He had a funny looking putter, a new wife, and a regained sense of confidence instilled by Claude Harmon, to thank for his comeback. And he was ready to cash-in.
“I’ve got it going good, now,” he stated. “So I think I’ll play for the next three weeks, at least.”
And Eleanor would be by his side. “That’s the way I want it,” he said.
That’s a pretty nice love story for Valentine’s Day.
The Bob Hope Desert Classic had a lot of fun extras. Find out who conceived of the format and what some of the fun extras were in this week’s bonus story.
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Bonus Story
The wildly confusing format of the Bob Hope Desert Classic, one that saw the professional players team up with a different three-man amateur team in the first four rounds, played over four different courses, was actually the brainchild of Bob Rosburg. He presented the idea for the event that started in 1960.
Bob Hope added his name to the event in 1965 and the tournament featured big name Hollywood celebrities as well as national politicians. It also included fun cocktail parties, the Bob Hope Girls, and prizes for the players. One such prize was a car for the player who came closest to the pin on the par-three 15th hole at Indian Wells in the final round.
Jack Nicklaus won the car in 1972 and then promptly donated it to the Eisenhower Medical Center, the beneficiary of the Hope Classic.
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Tour Backspin Quiz |Palm Springs Trivia
What movie industry rule helped fuel the growth of celebrities who vacationed in Palm Springs?
Answer below
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Tour Backspin Quiz Answer:
The movie industry rule was known as “The Two Hour” rule and required actors and actresses to stay within two hours of the movie studio. The rule was a way for the studios to exert control over their stars and ensure they were always ready to show up at the studio. Palm Springs was located right at the two hour limit. Palm Springs was close enough to Hollywood, yet far enough to feel like you’ve escaped from Los Angeles.
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