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1987 - The Year in Golf, 1987

By , About.com Guide

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The European Ryder Cup team wins for the first time on U.S. soil.

Greg Norman is victimized in another major by another hole-out. This time it's Larry Mize holing a pitch shot to win a playoff for The Masters.

What is known today as the Tour Championship is played for the first time as the Nabisco Championships of Golf. It offers the PGA Tour's first $2 million purse. Tom Watson is the winner.

Chi Chi Rodriguez wins the PGA Seniors Championship. He shoots 67 in the final round using a set of clubs he purchased in the club pro shop following a disappointing third round.

Chi Chi Rodriguez wins 4 straight events on the Senior Tour, a tour record.

Nick Faldo wins the British Open for his first major championship, recording a final round of 18 pars.

A year after serving as a caddie during the same event, Mark Calcavecchia wins the PGA Honda Classic. Calc caddied for Ken Green during the 1986 event.

Died This Year:


Bobby Locke, 4-time British Open champ
Ralph Guldahl, 3-time major winner
• Dan Sikes Jr., PGA Tour
Henry Cotton, 3-time British Open champion

Money Leaders:


PGA: Curtis Strange, $925,941
Senior PGA: Chi Chi Rodriguez, $509,145
LPGA: Ayako Okamoto, $466,034
European: Ian Woosnam, Wales, £ 253,717

Scoring Leaders:


PGA (Vardon Trophy): Dan Pohl, 70.25
Senior PGA: Chi Chi Rodriguez, 70.07
LPGA (Vare Trophy): Betsy King, 71.14

Men's Major Championship Winners:


The Masters: Larry Mize
U.S. Open: Scott Simpson
British Open: Nick Faldo
PGA Championship: Larry Nelson

Women's Major Championship Winners:


LPGA: Jane Geddes
U.S. Open: Laura Davies
duMaurier: Jody Rosenthal
Nabisco: Betsy King

Amateur Champions:


U.S.: Billy Mayfair
British: Paul Mayo
U.S. Women's: Kay Cockerill
British Women's: Janet Collingham

Ryder Cup:


Europe 15, U.S. 13

Walker Cup
U.S. 16.5, Great Britain and Ireland 7.5

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