Ralph Guldahl
| Ralph Guldahl | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Personal information | |
| Full name | Ralph J. Guldahl |
| Born |
November 22, 1911 Dallas, Texas |
| Died | June 11, 1987 (aged 75) Sherman Oaks, California |
| Height | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) |
| Weight | 175 lb (79 kg; 12.5 st) |
| Nationality |
 United States
|
| Spouse | Laverne |
| Children | Ralph Jr. |
| Career | |
| College | None |
| Turned professional | 1931 |
| Former tour(s) | PGA Tour |
| Professional wins | 16 |
| Number of wins by tour | |
| PGA Tour | 16 |
| Best results in major championships (wins: 3) |
|
| Masters Tournament | Won: 1939 |
| U.S. Open | Won: 1937, 1938 |
| The Open Championship | T11: 1937 |
| PGA Championship | T3: 1940 |
| Achievements and awards | |
| World Golf Hall of Fame | 1981 (member page) |
Ralph J. Guldahl (November 22, 1911 – June 11, 1987) was an American professional golfer, one of the top players in the sport from 1936 to 1940.
Born in Dallas, Texas, Guhldahl was a 1930 graduate of Woodrow Wilson High School, he started playing on the professional tournament circuit in 1931 and won an event in his rookie season before turning 20 years of age, setting a record that would not be matched until 2013, when Jordan Spieth won the John Deere Classic. In 1933, at the age of 21, Guldahl went into the last hole of the U.S. Open tied for the lead with Johnny Goodman. A par would have taken him into a playoff, but he made bogey and finished second. After further frustrating failures Guldahl quit the sport temporarily in 1935 and became a car salesman. He made a comeback part way through the next PGA Tour season in 1936 and won the prestigious Western Open and finished second on the money list. He won the Western Open in 1937 and 1938 as well.
Guldahl's manner of play was relaxed: "He paused to comb his hair before every hole, and would forestall any suspense by announcing exactly where he intended to plant the ball."
Guldahl won three major championships. He claimed the U.S. Open title in 1937 and 1938, and was the last to win the U.S. Open while wearing a necktie during play in 1938. Guldahl was runner-up at the Masters in both 1937 and 1938, before taking that title in 1939. He played on the Ryder Cup team in 1937, the last before a decade hiatus due to World War II.
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