Juan “Chi Chi” Rodriguez, who rose from poverty in Puerto Rico to golf’s Hall of Fame, has died at age 88, the PGA Tour said on Thursday.
“A vibrant, colourful personality both on and off the golf course, he will be missed dearly by the PGA TOUR and those whose lives he touched in his mission to give back,” stated PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan.
“Chic Chi” Rodriguez at all times regarded an entertainer
During his three a long time as an expert Rodriquez had 37 victories – together with eight on the PGA Tour and 22 on the senior circuit.
Born right into a poor Puerto Rican household, Rodriquez taught himself to play with rudimentary golf equipment carved from guava tree branches, placing crushed tin cans on baseball fields.
His father labored as a sugar cane cutter, and at age seven, he joined him to work on the plantations as a water provider.
One day he wandered onto a golf course frequented by rich vacationers and found caddies there earned extra money. He joined them and solely left caddying at age 19 to affix the US Army.
He was at all times regarded an entertainer, celebrating birdies by waving his putter like a swashbuckling swordsman.
Rodriquez performed native Puerto Rican tournaments earlier than becoming a member of the PGA Tour in 1960.
He gained his first tour title in 1963, and his last PGA Tour Champions title was in 1993.
By Garrin Lambley © Agence France-Presse
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