Jacobs Goes Low to Win in Utah
A third round 62 helps Tommy Jacobs win the 1963 Utah Open
With the PGA TOUR returning to Utah for the first time since 1963, we are pointing our wayback machine to that year for this week’s journey through the past. Tommy Jacobs won his third PGA TOUR title at the 1963 Utah Open. Scroll down to learn more.
The PGA TOUR returned last week after the President’s Cup for the Sanderson Farms Championship, a part of the FedExCup Fall series. The action gave us a first-time champion, who won in sudden death after a wild finish. Scroll down as I provide a few of my thoughts, as well as the Clips You Might Have Missed.
We’ve got a question for you to weigh in on with the Tour Backspin Poll. This week’s Music Clip features Pacific Northwest legends, The Kingsmen, doing “Louie Louie” live (if you’re a Husky fan, as am I, just try following along with the lyrics and not shout “Rose Bowl!” after they sing “we gotta go”). Tour Backspin Goes to The Movies, with a great theatrical trailer from 1963 that only Alfred Hitchcock could do. Scroll down to listen and watch.
The Swing Like a Pro features a putting tip from Tommy Jacobs, and we have a stunning hole for the WHAT HOLE IS IT? Presented by Rota Golf this week. Submit your answer and you may just win a golf swag prize pack which includes our new 19th Hole Hot Sauce (soon to be available online in the Tour Backspin Golf Shop). Rota Golf has a cool way to map out your bucket list journey of playing the top 100 courses in the U.S. that you should check out. Click on the Rota Ad to view more. We’ve got some links for you in the Check it Out section and an ad that represents the 1963 version of online shopping in this week’s Vintage Ad. Scroll down to view.
The Tour Backspin Poll
Last week we wanted to know if you thought that changing the Presidents Cup to a mixed event would help make it more competitive. There were 55% of respondents who felt it would be more competitive if women players were added while 45% felt it should remain a men-only event. This is almost exactly the same results we got when we asked this same question a couple of years ago.
It’s fall and time for one of the most consequential, and controversial, issues in golf. Do you play the “leaf rule” in your group? Let us know in this week’s Tour Backspin Poll.
We’re playing 1963 PGA TOUR Trivia in this week’s Tour Backspin Quiz. Scroll down to play.
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Enjoy!
Larry Baush
Tommy Jacobs Wins Third TOUR Title in Utah
It is early in the first week of September in Salt Lake City and the PGA TOUR is returning to the Salt Lake Country Club for the Utah Open for the first time since 1960. The Utah Open, an annual event, dated back to 1926, and while it was a regular stop on the PGA TOUR in the 1940s, by the 1960s, it was only an official tour event in 1960 and 1963.
Tommy Jacobs made his professional debut at the 1953 Utah Open and opened with a round of 69. He barely made the cut after a second-round 81 and finished on the weekend with a 69 and a 73 for a total of 292 that placed him in 13th place, but out of the money. The last time the event was sanctioned by the PGA as an official stop on the tour, 1960, Jacobs had rounds of 69-69-63-70 that was good for a tie for 12th and a check for $550.
Jacobs arrived at the Utah Open after playing in the Denver Open where he shot rounds of 73-73-68-74 for a total of 288, far behind the 276 fired by the winner of the event, Chi Chi Rodríguez. Jacobs was outside the top 25 money winners for the year with just over $13,000 when he arrived in Salt Lake City.
Jacobs, along with all the other entrants in the Utah Open, were looking for a big payday. The purse for the tournament was $40,000, a record for the Utah Open. The sponsors of the World Series of Golf, which would be nationally televised during the weekend of the Utah Open, donated $20,000 towards that purse to the Utah Golf Association. Sponsors of the World Series of Golf included Zenith and Amana.
“I have never had better lies anywhere in the world. The fairways are cut short like they should be and I never had a bad lie all day.”
The pro-am on Wednesday gave the professional players a last chance to get familiar with the Salt Lake Country Club course which had been remodeled and now played to 6,950-yards and a par of 70. Rod Funseth, who got into the pro-am as a last-minute alternate when Paul Bondeson did not show up for his tee time, shared low pro honors with Don January after shooting a five-under-par 65. A total of nine professionals broke par during Wednesday’s pro-am. Tommy Jacobs shot a 67 while Gary Player, the top name entered into the tournament, recorded a 68.
Player was effusive in his praise for the newly re-designed Salt Lake Country Clubs saying, “I have never had better lies anywhere in the world. The fairways are cut short like they should be and I never had a bad lie all day.”
Despite a very busy schedule that saw him play in 10 exhibition matches, in 10 states, and in 12 days, Player was a gallery favorite as he quipped and talked with the fans during his round.
Chi Chi Rodríguez quickly left the course after withdrawing from the tournament after the pro-am after learning that his father was seriously ill back in Puerto Rico. In addition to the disappointing loss of Rodríguez, officials were also keeping a wary eye on the weather with rain and wind in the forecast for the week.
“I guess it was my lucky day.”
Both January and Player kept up their good play from Wednesday in Thursday’s opening round as they both shot 66s as did Billy Maxwell, who had a hole-in-one on the 242-yard, par 3, 10th hole. He hit a 4-wood on the 10th hole and the ball took one hop into the cup and it was the first ace that Maxwell had in competition. January and Player were able to complete their rounds in relatively good weather in the morning, but Maxwell was faced with the toughest conditions of the day during his back nine and managed to shoot a 34-32.
After eight straight pars, Maxwell birdied the 9th hole to go one-under and then birdied the 12th and 13th hole to go five-under in five holes.
“I guess it was my lucky day,” Maxwell said after his round.
Tommy Jacobs played during the worst weather in the afternoon and managed to shoot a two-under 68 and was one of the 13 players who were able to break par for the day.
Ken Venturi withdrew because of illness after shooting a 37 on the front nine. The crowd of 3,500 approached a record for the tournament before the afternoon rain diminished attendance and many fans left the course early.
The weather for Friday’s second round was even worse than it was for Thursday’s opening round. It rained during the morning and when it ended, the skies were overcast, and the temperatures were chilly. The weather dampened the enthusiasm of the ticket buying public and attendance was disappointing.
“I couldn’t have hit the ball much better, but I simply couldn’t putt.”
Billy Maxwell barely got his equipment dried out before he had to brave the wet conditions during his morning round which made his score of 68 quite remarkable. January and Player played in the afternoon with January recording a 67 for a two-round total of 133 and a one-shot lead over Maxwell. Player shot a 69 and was at 135, in third place. The difference between January’s round and Player’s round was putting. January had a very good day on the greens while Player was disappointed with his putting.
“I couldn’t have hit the ball much better,” Player lamented after his round. “But I simply couldn’t putt.”
Jacobs again played in the worst of the weather, and he stumbled to a two-over 72 for a three-round total of 140, seven shots off January’s pace. Dave Hill withdrew from the tournament after learning about the death of his father.
The weather on Saturday improved and officials were hopeful that there would be large crowds following the action at Salt Lake Country Club, and their hopes were answered. More than 8,500 fans came out to witness the action with most choosing to follow the group that included January and Player. They had no idea they were missing the best golf of the day as Tommy Jacobs played in relative privacy while recording a new course record of 62. It was one of the finest rounds played on tour in 1963, just one stroke off the 61 recorded by Jim Ferrier at the 500 Festival Open, and the 61 shot by Jack Rule, Jr. at the St. Paul Open.
“I guess I got lucky.”
Jacobs started fast with a birdie at the 1st and 2nd holes, but then bogeyed the 3rd hole after hitting his approach shot into a greenside bunker. He got that stroke back on the very next hole with another birdie and added a birdie at the 9th hole to turn in 32.
He started a string of five consecutive birdies at the 13th hole and finished the back nine in 30 strokes for his 62 and three-round total of 202. He figured out the wet and slow greens and put on a dazzling display of putting while the rest of the field, especially Gary Player, struggled with an epidemic of three putts.
“I guess I got lucky,” was all that Jacobs could say about his putting.
Jacobs enjoyed a two-shot lead over Player, who had a third-round 70, and January, who fell to a 72. Billy Maxwell struggled to a 74 and a total of 208, tied with Bob Goalby, who had a third-round 70, and Bill Eggers, who charged in with a 68.
Officials were relieved to see Sunday dawn with good weather conditions which helped attract over 10,500 fans to the course to witness the final round. Many of these fans camped out on the hillside around the final hole, a natural amphitheater that provided great views of the action.
“It was lucky because it may have gone in the creek otherwise.”
Jacobs played cautiously, but he was steady during the early part of his round. On the 11th hole, he benefited from good bounce to keep his round going.
“On 11, my second shot hit a spectator,” Jacobs explained to John Mooney, the sports editor of The Salt Lake Tribune. He laughed before continuing, “It was lucky because it may have gone in the creek otherwise. The ball hit the green and bounced straight right to hit the gallery fan. I was able to chip within four inches of the pin because of this lucky break.”
Jacobs managed to build his lead to four strokes after the 16th hole. January, playing in the group in front of Jacobs, then applied some pressure to the leader when he birdied the 17th hole. Jacobs then hit his approach shot to the 17th hole long and failed to get up-and-down for his par. His lead was now three as he headed to the 18th tee.
January played the 18th hole in regulation and signed his scorecard before taking a seat under an umbrella at the scorer’s table to watch Jacobs, who only needed a par to win by three strokes. Then things got wild.
“That’s when I checked with the scorers to see how many shots I had over my nearest rival.”
“I played the hole the same as I had all week,” January began as he explained what happened at the final hole. “I played to eliminate the trouble on the left side of the fairway, as I had done before. The first shot went about where I wanted it, although maybe a little shorter than I expected.
“On my second shot, I intended to put the ball in the middle of the green. But I wound up in the trap. That’s when I checked with the scorers to see how many shots I had over my nearest rival. My third shot was a lot harder than I expected and the ball went across the green. But I wasn’t worried. I had an easy chip to the green and even if I missed the shot, I figured the ball would roll toward the pin.”
His strategy worked as the ball trickled down to about 10-inches and he was able to tap in for a double bogey six, and a one-shot victory over January. The check of $6,400 was the largest of his career to that point and brought his money earnings to just under $20,000 for the year, which was about the break-even mark for a player after deducting traveling expenses during that era.
January won $3,600 for his second-place finish while Player, with a final round of 70, won $2,500 for finishing third.
The inclusion of the Utah Open into the PGA schedule for 1963, as well as the added prize money supplied by the sponsors of the World Golf Hall of Fame, made the event special, but a Saturday 62 by Tommy Jacobs made the event memorable. Jacobs would go on to finish the year strong and finished within the top 25 money winners.
Next Week: Gary Koch scrambles his way to victory in the 1988 Panasonic Las Vegas Invitational
BONUS STORY
The second World Series of Golf would be played on the same weekend that Tommy Jacobs was winning the Utah Open. The World Series of Golf pitted the four major champions against each other in a 36-hole tournament that would award the winner $50,000. In 1963 the participants would be Jack Nicklaus, winner of the Masters and the PGA Championship, Julius Boros, winner of the U.S. Open, Bob Charles, winner of the Open Championship, and Arnold Palmer.
Because Jack Nicklaus won two of the majors, a playoff would be used to determine the fourth player. In 1962, Palmer won two majors, the Masters and the Open Championship, and the World Series of Golf was played with only three players. Nicklaus, winner of the U.S. Open, and Player, winner of the PGA Championship, joined Palmer for the World Series of Golf. But in 1963, four players would participate, and a playoff was needed to determine who that fourth player would be.
It was decided that players who lost in playoffs at the major championships would participate in an 18-hole playoff with the winner getting the coveted fourth spot in the lucrative exhibition. Those players would be Palmer, who lost a playoff against Boros in the U.S. Open, Jacky Cupit, who also was a loser in that same U.S. Open playoff, and Phil Rodgers, who lost in a playoff at the Open Championship to Bob Charles.
Palmer prevailed in the playoff that was held in August and would have the chance to win the $50,000 first-place check offered at Akron for the World Series of Golf.
Nicklaus defended his title from 1962 winning the 1963 World Series of Golf by one stroke over Julius Boros. Palmer, suffering from a sore shoulder, finished in third place and Bob Charles finished in fourth place.
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Congratulations to Al Oppenheim, who correctly identified #18, at Lake Merced Golf Club in Daly City, CA, in last week’s WHAT HOLE IS IT? contest. Al beat out eight other correct answers in the random drawing. We’re sending a prize pack of golf swag, including the new Tour Backspin 19th Hole Hot Sauce, to Al.
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PGA TOUR Wrap-Up | Sanderson Farms Championship
Kevin Yu won his first PGA TOUR title winning the Sanderson Farms Championship at the Country Club of Jackson in Jackson, MS. Yu tracked down the overnight leader Keith Mitchell, and Beau Hossler, who was chasing Mitchell, with birdies on the back nine.
Yu made a birdie at the 72nd hole and then watched as Hossler was able to tie him to force a playoff, while Mitchell three-putted the last hole to miss the playoff by one stroke.
Yu prevailed in the playoff with another birdie on the 18th hole to take the title. Yu’s father had a premonition about the week.
The top five shots from the PGA TOUR, PGA Tour Champions, and the Korn Ferry Tour from last week.
Clips You Might Have Missed
Really? Glad the two rule officials shut this down right away.
He’s a good boy.
Bill Murray gets a very lucky break.
This is so emotional.
Remember when we had this back at the Rocket Classic?
Now we have this from last week.
And this from this week in Las Vegas.
Rocco added to the old man vibe, as well.
This from SNL was so good.
Tour Backspin Quiz | 1963 PGA TOUR Trivia
Who won their last title on the PGA TOUR at the 1963 Lucky International Open?
Scroll down for answer
Swing Like a Pro
Tommy Jacobs with some timeless putting tips.
Blind Shot
Click for something fun. 👀
Tour Backspin Music Clip
Pacific Northwest legends, The Kingsmen, perform “Louie Louie” live.
Tour Backspin Quiz Answer:
Jack Burke, Jr. won his last of 16 PGA TOUR titles at the 1963 Lucky International Open
Great newsletter!!
Jim M.
Played Magnolia in 1975 and maybe 1977, great community event, I had a pretty good week, I think like top 15 or so...had family friends in the town as well...
John A.
Thank you for reading this far, I know your time is valuable and choosing to spend some of it on what I’ve created is gratifying. If you want to help support the work we’re doing, please consider upgrading. It’s just $36 a year and you’ll be helping to tell the stories from one of golf’s golden ages.
Vintage Ad
Final Thoughts
Clip the order form, fill it out, put it in an envelope, address and stamp the envelope, wait 4 to 6 weeks for the yarn to arrive and then knit your own golf sweater. Whew! And it cost $15.95, a fortune in 1963.
What is it with the old man vibes these past two weeks on the golf tours?
How cool is that version of The Kingsmen doing “Louie Louie” live?
That SNL skit has to be every golfer’s nightmare.