Chi Chi Rodriguez, Hall of Famer and one of golf’s greatest players, dies at 88

Juan “Chi Chi” Rodriguez, a World Golf Hall of Famer and one of the game’s most prominent players, died Thursday, multiple sources announced, including the PGA Tour. He was 88 years old.

Rodriguez was powerful in his shooting – and full of eloquence in his presentation. Inducted into the golf hall of fame in 1992, he won eight times on the PGA Tour and 22 times on the PGA Tour Champions circuit, but he was also loved by fans for his personality – and especially, his celebrations, which included swinging the putter. like a sword after a putt made, followed by its downward action, as if returning the weapon to its shaft.

Rodriguez also dropped out of school, and his philanthropic efforts included the creation of the Chi Chi Rodriguez Youth Foundation. His work in that area earned him the USGA’s Bob Jones Award and induction into the World Golf Hall of Fame.

“Chi Chi Rodriguez’s passion for charity and community outreach was surpassed only by her incredible skill with a golf club in her hand,” PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan said in a statement posted on the tour’s website. “A dynamic, colorful personality on and off the golf course, he will be greatly missed by the PGA Tour and those whose lives he touched in his mission of giving back. The PGA Tour extends its condolences to the entire Rodriguez family during this difficult time.”

Born in Rio Piedras, Puerto Rico, on October 23, 1935, Rodriguez picked up golf by “hitting tins with a guava stick,” according to his biography on the PGA Tour website, then worked as a caddy before joining the US. Army at 19 years old. He became a professional in 1960, and his first PGA Tour victory came at the 1963 Denver Open Invitational. He followed that up with wins at the 1964 Lucky International Open, 1964 Western Open, 1967 Texas Open Invitational, 1968 Sahara Invitational, 1972 Byron Nelson Golf Classic, 1973 Greater Greensboro Open and 1979 Tallahassee Open, before his run of 50-. and-over the region. There, he won 22 times and finished second 33 times.

He was also praised for his skills, which included a matador-style celebration and a move where he covered the finished hole with his fedora – so his ball wouldn’t run away.

“Chi Chi feels lucky, she’s proud of what she’s done, she’s very grateful that she has to give something back,” said Doug Sanders. Sports Illustrated in a 1987 interview. “The sword dancing, the jokes, the hat, the bright clothes, the way he helps the kids and everybody, it just comes down to, ‘Look at me. You didn’t think I could make it. But I did. Despite everything.

“Now let me share it with you.'”

It is because of that, that this is also worth sharing. In 2016, GOLF.com published a Q&A with Rodriguez, then 80, titled “Deep Thoughts on Golf Legend Chi-Chi Rodriguez.” That full interview can be read by clicking here or by scrolling below, where the questions are in italics.

What’s the weirdest thing you’ve seen on the golf course?

“Well, to tell you the truth, I did something that has never been done on the Tour. At the Buick Open in Grand Blanc, Michigan, I hit a drive and a 6-iron to the 13th hole and made double eagle. And that’s the only time a double eagle rained on the Program. [Laughs.] That was strange.”

What’s going on?

“Well, it rained a lot. I was leading the competition, but they brought you a round. Two-thirds of the field was completed. See, they never had rules in the raining round. Officials could make any decision they wanted. It depends [on] who was leading, that’s how they made the decision.”

That’s a shame. Was there a moment when you realized you were good enough to play golf for a living?

“I knew I was going to be good when I was 12 because I shot a 67 on a 7,200-yard course. There was green sand, and I was rubbing it.”

Where did 67 occur?

“It was a place called Berwind Country Club in Puerto Rico. I was a caddy. I formed a union because they were not paying us enough money. They were paying us 25 cents for 18 holes, and I told the adults, that’s not enough. And I organized them all and we went on strike, and they raised 35 cents. After six months, I said 35 is not enough. Then they went to 50. When I joined the Army when I was 19, we were getting $1.70 for 18 holes.”

What is your greatest achievement?

“I met Mother Teresa in the Philippines. I was a good friend of President Marcos, and we were in Puerto Azul on a course designed by Gary Player, and [Marcos] he asked me, ‘Who would you rather meet, Mother Teresa or the Pope?’ And I said, ‘We’ll always have a Pope, but we’ll never have another Mother Teresa.’ So I met him and spent 45 minutes with him. Victory is important because of the money and pride it creates, but this was not a physical thing, this was a spiritual thing, meeting the only saint in the world at that time.”

Which young players on Tour today remind you of yourself?

“Rickie Fowler did, but he’s changed. I didn’t want to be like anyone else. I wanted to be me. I wish Rickie would have kept the way he dressed. He used to dress like Doug Sanders, with long hair. My wife and I loved watching him on TV. We still do, but he has changed.”

How do you view your work?

“In life, you must have goals. And I beat most of my goals. I wasn’t the greatest golfer in the world, but I was the greatest Puerto Rican golfer ever.”

When you were young, who impressed you the most?

“I must have played 15 tournaments with Ben Hogan, and I don’t think I ever saw him miss a green. He was like a machine. The first time we played together was at Oakland Hills, and I went to the 1st tee and said, ‘Mr. Hogan, my name is Chi Chi Rodriguez. And out of respect to you, I know you have a bad knee. Do you mind if I correct your ball mark for every round?’ And he says, ‘I really appreciate that.’ He loved me after that.”

Before we say goodbye, can you tell us a joke?

“Well, there was this guy who owned this pet store, and he had a parrot. And this lady used to walk every day and the parrot would go, ‘You’re fat! Bad! You are disgusting!’ For months this lady passed by. ‘You are fat! Bad! You are disgusting!’ The lady finally got angry and came to her owner and said, ‘Hey, your parrot doesn’t respect me and embarrasses me in front of everyone every day. If you don’t do anything about it I will sue you.’ So the boy said to the parrot, ‘You better be nice to that lady, or I’ll put you in the oven.’ So the next day the parrot is there and the lady walks by and she looks at the parrot and the parrot looks at her, and she says, ‘You know!’

Nick Piastowski

Golf.com Editor

Nick Piastowski is a Senior Editor at Golf.com and Golf Magazine. In his role, he is responsible for planning, writing and promoting news on the golf course. And when he’s not writing about how to hit the golf ball forward and straight, the Milwaukee native is probably playing the game, hitting the ball left, right and short, and drinking a cold beer to wash down his scores. You can contact him about any of these topics – his news, his game or his beer – at nick.piastowski@golf.com.