Jerry Barber

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Jerry Barber bigraphy, stories - Professional golfer

Jerry Barber : biography

April 25, 1916 – September 23, 1994

Carl Jerome "Jerry" Barber (April 25, 1916 – September 23, 1994) was an American professional golfer who played on the PGA Tour. He had seven wins on tour, including a major title, the 1961 PGA Championship.

Born in Woodson, Illinois, Barber was one of nine children raised on an Illinois farm near Jacksonville, and turned professional in 1942. Small in stature, he was one of the top putters of his era.

Barber was a full-time member of the PGA Tour from 1948 to 1962. He played on two Ryder Cup teams, 1955 and 1961; and was also the team captain in 1961. Barber earned a living primarily as a club professional like most of the touring pros of his generation; he worked at Los Angeles’ Wilshire Country Club. He was the Player of the Year on the PGA Tour in 1961, unseating Arnold Palmer for a year.

At the 1961 PGA Championship in Illinois near Chicago, rain delays forced the second round to be completed on Saturday amd the final two rounds on Sunday, briefly delayed by another storm. Barber led after the second round, but trailed Don January by four shots with three holes to play in the final round. In high heat and humidity, Barber made a birdie putt at the 16th hole, a par-saving putt at 17, and a birdie putt at 18 to tie January and force an 18-hole Monday playoff, which Barber won by one stroke. At age 45, he was the oldest player at the time to win a major title, surpassed seven years later by Julius Boros in 1968 at age 48.

Barber holds the record for the oldest player to ever play on the PGA Tour, when he played in the 1994 Buick Invitational at Torrey Pines at the age of 77 years, 10 months, and 9 days. He died later that year.

Often referred to in the media as "little Jerry Barber," he stood . In 1966, he portrayed himself in a guest appearance on episode #23 of I Dream of Jeannie.

Barber and his wife Lucile, who died of cancer in 1968, had five children: Tom, Nancy, twins Sandra and Sally, and Roger. Barber died in Glendale, California at the age of 78, after suffering a mitral valve prolapse and a stroke.

Professional wins (13)

PGA Tour wins (7)

  • 1953 (1) Azalea Open Invitational
  • 1954 (1) All American Open
  • 1960 (2) Yorba Linda Open Invitational, Tournament of Champions
  • 1961 (2) Azalea Open Invitational, PGA Championship
  • 1963 (1) Azalea Open Invitational

Major championship is shown in bold.

Other wins (4)

this list may be incomplete

  • 1950 Pennsylvania Open Championship
  • 1951 Waterloo Open Golf Classic
  • 1952 Waterloo Open Golf Classic
  • 1959 California State Open

Other senior wins (2)

  • 1987 Liberty Mutual Legends of Golf – Legendary Division (with Doug Ford)
  • 1993 Liberty Mutual Legends of Golf – Demaret Division

Senior PGA Tour playoff record (0–1)

No. Year Tournament Opponents Result
1 1985 Digital Seniors Classic USA}} Lee Elder, Don January Elder won with birdie on first extra hole

Major championships

Wins (1)

Year Championship 54 Holes Winning score Margin Runner-up
1961 PGA Championship 2 shot deficit −3 (69-67-71-70=277) Playoff1 USA}} Don January

1Defeated Don January in an 18-hole Monday playoff, 67 to 68

Results timeline

Tournament 1946 1947 1948 1949
The Masters DNP DNP DNP DNP
U.S. Open CUT DNP DNP CUT
The Open Championship DNP DNP DNP DNP
PGA Championship DNP DNP DNP DNP