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1945 - The Year in Golf, 1945

By Brent Kelley, About.com

Babe Didrikson Zaharias

Babe Didrikson Zaharias plays in three events on the PGA Tour in 1945.

Photo courtesy of the World Golf Hall of Fame; used with permission
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Byron Nelson wins 11 consecutive tournaments and 18 total on the PGA Tour.

Ben Hogan sets a 72-hole scoring record with a 261, only to have Byron Nelson shoot 259 just two weeks later.

Jug McSpaden wins once on the PGA Tour, but finishes second 13 times and in the Top 10 31 times - both tour records that still stand.

Babe Didrikson Zaharias plays in three tournaments on the PGA Tour. She shoots 76-81 to make the two-day cut at the Los Angeles Open, but doesn't survive the third-day cut after a 79. She makes the cut at the Phoenix Open, shooting 77-72-75-80 to place 33rd. And she makes the cut at the Tucson Open, shooting 307 and finishing tied for 42nd. She got into the Phoenix and Tucson events through 36-hole qualifiers, and into the Los Angeles Open on a sponsor's exemption.

Born This Year:

Jane Blalock, 27-time LPGA Tour winner
Donna Caponi, LPGA Hall of Famer
Hale Irwin, 20-time PGA Tour winner, 3-time U.S. Open winner
Judy Rankin, 26-time LPGA winner
• Maurice Bembridge, 4-time British Ryder Cup member
• John Jacobs, PGA Tour, Senior PGA Tour, noted instructor
• Brian Barnes, European Tour, Senior PGA Tour
Catherine Lacoste, only amateur to win U.S. Women's Open

Died This Year:

Dorothy Campbell, 3-time U.S. Women's Amateur and 2-time British Women's Amateur champ

Money Leaders:

PGA: Byron Nelson, $63,335.66 (war bonds)

Men's Major Championship Winners:

The Masters: Not played
U.S. Open: Not played
British Open: Not played
PGA Championship: Byron Nelson

Women's Major Championship Winners:

Titleholders: Not played
Western Open: Babe Didrikson Zaharias

Amateur Champions:

U.S.: Not played
British: Not played
U.S. Women's: Not played
British Women's: Not played

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