Dave Hill (golfer)
Encyclopedia
James David Hill was an American
professional golf
er. He was the brother of golfer Mike Hill.
Hill was born in Jackson, Michigan
. He attended the University of Detroit, where he played on the golf team. Hill won 13 times on the PGA Tour
, three of which came during his career year of 1969, when he also won the Vardon Trophy
for lowest scoring average. He was a member of the United States Ryder Cup
team in 1969
, 1973
, and 1977
.
Hill was known for his quick wit and biting sarcasm, and was sometimes referred to as "the Don Rickles
of the golf tour". He frequently led the tour in fines and suspensions for violations such as swearing and breaking clubs. Hill played in the acrimonious 1969 Ryder Cup
that ended in a 16-16 tie when Jack Nicklaus
made his famous "concession" of a short but missable putt to Tony Jacklin
on the 18th green in the final match.
In 1970, Hill had his best finish in a major championship
, placing second at the U.S. Open
played at Hazeltine National Golf Club
in Chaska, Minnesota
. What gained him the most notoriety, though, was not his excellent play but his criticisms of the golf course. When first asked what he thought of the golf course, he said "I'm still looking for it". When asked what Hazeltine needed, he retorted, "Hazeltine really did lack only 80 acres of corn and a few cows. They ruined a good farm when they built this course". Hill was far from alone among the pros in his criticism of Hazeltine, which had to be extensively redesigned before getting a chance to host another men's major, again the U.S. Open, in 1991. Afterward, Hill claimed to have paid a farmer cash to borrow his tractor. If he had won the 1970 U.S. Open, Hill planned to ride the tractor out onto the golf course as he hoisted the trophy.
Another controversy involving Hill started in 1971. At the 1971 Colonial National Invitation, Hill shot rounds of 77-85 to miss the cut. On his last hole, Hill threw a ball out of a sand trap. Hill was disqualified but it was for his signing a scorecard with an incorrect score on it. When Hill went to play in his next tournament, the Danny Thomas Memphis Classic, Hill was told he was being fined $500 for conduct unbecoming a professional golfer. Hill was required to pay the fine before teeing it up in the tournament. He did so but less than a week later, Hill filed a one-million dollar anti-trust suit against the PGA Tour. In response, the tour put Hill on probation for one year. Hill then increased the amount of damages he was seeking to three-million dollars. The litigation was resolved out of court in less than a year and Hill was taken off probation.
In 1987, Hill joined the Senior PGA Tour (now the Champions Tour
). He won six tournaments on that tour. Hill had a cameo appearance in the movie, Now You See Him, Now You Don't
.
Hill died on September 27, 2011 in Jackson, Michigan
after spending the last few years of his life battling emphysema.
DNP = Did not play
WD = Withdrew
CUT = missed the half-way cut
"T" indicates a tie for a place
Yellow background for top-10
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
professional golf
Golf
Golf is a precision club and ball sport, in which competing players use many types of clubs to hit balls into a series of holes on a golf course using the fewest number of strokes....
er. He was the brother of golfer Mike Hill.
Hill was born in Jackson, Michigan
Jackson, Michigan
Jackson is a city located along Interstate 94 in the south central area of the U.S. state of Michigan, about west of Ann Arbor and south of Lansing. It is the county seat of Jackson County. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 33,534...
. He attended the University of Detroit, where he played on the golf team. Hill won 13 times on the PGA Tour
PGA Tour
The PGA Tour is the organizer of the main men's professional golf tours in the United States and North America...
, three of which came during his career year of 1969, when he also won the Vardon Trophy
Vardon Trophy
The Vardon Trophy is awarded annually by the PGA of America to the PGA Tour's leader in scoring average. When the award was first given in 1937, it was awarded on the basis of a points system. No award was given from 1942–1946 due to World War II. In 1947, the PGA began awarding it for low...
for lowest scoring average. He was a member of the United States Ryder Cup
Ryder Cup
The Ryder Cup is a biennial golf competition between teams from Europe and the United States. The competition is jointly administered by the PGA of America and the PGA European Tour, and is contested every two years, the venue alternating between courses in the United States and Europe...
team in 1969
1969 Ryder Cup
The 18th Ryder Cup Matches were held at the Royal Birkdale Golf Club in Southport, England.The competition ended in a draw at 16 to 16 points, when America's Jack Nicklaus conceded a missable putt to Britain's Tony Jacklin at the 18th hole in one of the most famous gestures of sportsmanship in all...
, 1973
1973 Ryder Cup
The 20th Ryder Cup Matches were held at Muirfield in Gullane, East Lothian, Scotland.The United States team won the competition by a score of 19 to 13 points...
, and 1977
1977 Ryder Cup
The 22nd Ryder Cup Matches were held at the Royal Lytham & St Annes Golf Club in Lytham St Annes, England.The United States team won the competition by a score of 12½ to 7½ points. The event was the last time that a Great Britain and Ireland team would compete for the Ryder Cup...
.
Hill was known for his quick wit and biting sarcasm, and was sometimes referred to as "the Don Rickles
Don Rickles
Donald Jay "Don" Rickles is an American stand-up comedian and actor. A frequent guest on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson, Rickles has acted in comedic and dramatic roles, but is best known as an insult comic....
of the golf tour". He frequently led the tour in fines and suspensions for violations such as swearing and breaking clubs. Hill played in the acrimonious 1969 Ryder Cup
1969 Ryder Cup
The 18th Ryder Cup Matches were held at the Royal Birkdale Golf Club in Southport, England.The competition ended in a draw at 16 to 16 points, when America's Jack Nicklaus conceded a missable putt to Britain's Tony Jacklin at the 18th hole in one of the most famous gestures of sportsmanship in all...
that ended in a 16-16 tie when Jack Nicklaus
Jack Nicklaus
Jack William Nicklaus , nicknamed "The Golden Bear", is an American professional golfer. He won 18 career major championships on the PGA Tour over a span of 25 years and is widely regarded as one of the greatest professional golfers of all time. In addition to his 18 Majors, he was runner-up a...
made his famous "concession" of a short but missable putt to Tony Jacklin
Tony Jacklin
Anthony Jacklin CBE is an English golfer, who was the most successful British player of his generation. He was also the most successful European Ryder Cup captain ever.-Early life and education:...
on the 18th green in the final match.
In 1970, Hill had his best finish in a major championship
Men's major golf championships
The men's major golf championships, commonly known as the Major Championships, and often referred to simply as the majors, are the four most prestigious annual tournaments in professional golf...
, placing second at the U.S. Open
U.S. Open (golf)
The United States Open Championship, commonly known as the U.S. Open, is the annual open golf tournament of the United States. It is the second of the four major championships in golf, and is on the official schedule of both the PGA Tour and the European Tour...
played at Hazeltine National Golf Club
Hazeltine National Golf Club
Hazeltine National Golf Club is a golf club located in Chaska, Minnesota. It is a private club and therefore closed to guests not accompanied by a member. The golf course was designed by Robert Trent Jones and opened in 1962....
in Chaska, Minnesota
Chaska, Minnesota
As of 2005, there were 22,467 people and 8,194 households residing in the city. The population density was 1,640 people per square mile . There were 6,235 housing units at an average density of 454.1 per square mile...
. What gained him the most notoriety, though, was not his excellent play but his criticisms of the golf course. When first asked what he thought of the golf course, he said "I'm still looking for it". When asked what Hazeltine needed, he retorted, "Hazeltine really did lack only 80 acres of corn and a few cows. They ruined a good farm when they built this course". Hill was far from alone among the pros in his criticism of Hazeltine, which had to be extensively redesigned before getting a chance to host another men's major, again the U.S. Open, in 1991. Afterward, Hill claimed to have paid a farmer cash to borrow his tractor. If he had won the 1970 U.S. Open, Hill planned to ride the tractor out onto the golf course as he hoisted the trophy.
Another controversy involving Hill started in 1971. At the 1971 Colonial National Invitation, Hill shot rounds of 77-85 to miss the cut. On his last hole, Hill threw a ball out of a sand trap. Hill was disqualified but it was for his signing a scorecard with an incorrect score on it. When Hill went to play in his next tournament, the Danny Thomas Memphis Classic, Hill was told he was being fined $500 for conduct unbecoming a professional golfer. Hill was required to pay the fine before teeing it up in the tournament. He did so but less than a week later, Hill filed a one-million dollar anti-trust suit against the PGA Tour. In response, the tour put Hill on probation for one year. Hill then increased the amount of damages he was seeking to three-million dollars. The litigation was resolved out of court in less than a year and Hill was taken off probation.
In 1987, Hill joined the Senior PGA Tour (now the Champions Tour
Champions Tour
The Champions Tour, a golf tour run by the PGA Tour, hosts a series of events annually in the United States and the United Kingdom for golfers 50 years of age and older. Many of the PGA Tour's most successful golfers have gone on to play on the Champions Tour.The Senior PGA Championship, founded in...
). He won six tournaments on that tour. Hill had a cameo appearance in the movie, Now You See Him, Now You Don't
Now You See Him, Now You Don't
Now You See Him, Now You Don't is a 1972 Walt Disney film starring Kurt Russell, a student at the fictional Medfield College. It is the sequel to the 1969 film The Computer Wore Tennis Shoes....
.
Hill died on September 27, 2011 in Jackson, Michigan
Jackson, Michigan
Jackson is a city located along Interstate 94 in the south central area of the U.S. state of Michigan, about west of Ann Arbor and south of Lansing. It is the county seat of Jackson County. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 33,534...
after spending the last few years of his life battling emphysema.
PGA Tour wins (13)
| No. | Date | Tournament | Winning Score | Margin of Victory |
Runner(s)-up |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Feb 19, 1961 | Home of the Sun Open | Playoff |  Tommy BoltTommy Bolt Thomas Henry Bolt was an American professional golfer.Bolt was born in Haworth, Oklahoma. He served in the United States Army during World War II and turned professional in 1946. He worked as a caddie and club professional in Shreveport, Louisiana... , Bud Sullivan |
|
| 2 | Sep 10, 1961 | Denver Open Invitational Denver Open Invitational The Denver Open Invitational was a golf tournament on the PGA Tour that was played intermittently in the Denver, Colorado area from 1947 to 1963. Chi Chi Rodriguez won his first PGA Tour event at the 1963 tournament, which he calls his biggest thrill in golf.... |
6 strokes | Bob Goalby Bob Goalby Robert George Goalby is a former American professional golfer on the PGA Tour, who won the 1968 Masters Tournament, his lone major championship among 11 Tour wins achieved between 1958 and 1971.... , Art Wall, Jr.Art Wall, Jr. Arthur Jonathan Wall, Jr. was an American golfer.Wall was born in Honesdale, Pennsylvania. He attended Duke University, graduating in 1949 with a business degree.... |
|
| 3 | Jul 14, 1963 | Hot Springs Open Invitational | Playoff | Mike Souchak Mike Souchak Michael Souchak was an American professional golfer who won 15 times on the PGA Tour in the 1950s and 1960s, and played for the 1959 and 1961 Ryder Cup teams.-Early years, college:... |
|
| 4 | Jun 4, 1967 | Memphis Open Invitational | 2 strokes | Johnny Pott |
|
| 5 | Jun 1, 1969 | Memphis Open Invitational | 2 strokes | Lee Elder Lee Elder Robert Lee Elder is an American golfer. He is best remembered for becoming the first African-American to play in the Masters Tournament in 1975.-Background and family:... |
|
| 6 | Jul 6, 1969 | Buick Open Invitational | 2 strokes | Frank Beard |
|
| 7 | Jul 20, 1969 | IVB-Philadelphia Golf Classic IVB-Philadelphia Golf Classic The IVB-Philadelphia Golf Classic was a golf tournament on the PGA Tour. It was played at the Whitemarsh Valley Country Club in Lafayette Hill, Pennsylvania from 1963 to 1980.-Winners:IVB-Golf Classic*1980 Doug Tewell... |
Playoff | Gay Brewer Gay Brewer Gay Robert Brewer, Jr. was an American professional golfer who played on the PGA Tour and won the 1967 Masters Tournament.... , Tommy JacobsTommy Jacobs Keith Thomas Jacobs, Jr. is an American professional golfer and golf course owner/operator who has played on the PGA Tour and the Champions Tour... , R. H. SikesR. H. Sikes Richard H. Sikes is an American professional golfer who played on the PGA Tour in the 1960s and 1970s.A native of Paris, Arkansas, Sikes had a stellar amateur and college career as a member of the golf team at the University of Arkansas. He won the U.S. Amateur Public Links in 1961 and 1962. In... |
|
| 8 | May 31, 1970 1970 PGA Tour The 1970 PGA Tour season was played from January 8 to December 13. The season consisted of 45 official money events. Billy Casper won the most tournaments, four, and there were six first-time winners. The tournament results and award winners are listed below.... |
Danny Thomas Memphis Classic | 3 strokes | Frank Beard, Homero Blancas Homero Blancas Homero Blancas, Jr. is an American professional golfer who has played on both the PGA Tour and the Senior PGA Tour .... ,  Bob CharlesBob Charles (golfer) Sir Robert James Charles, ONZ, KNZM, CBE is a New Zealand professional golfer whose achievements over five decades rank him among the most successful left-handed golfers of all time, being the first lefty to win a golf major, winning more than 70 titles, and beating his age twice during a... |
|
| 9 | Apr 16, 1972 1972 PGA Tour The 1972 PGA Tour season was played from January 6 to December 3. The season consisted of 46 official money events. Jack Nicklaus won the most tournaments, seven, and there were five first-time winners. The tournament results and award winners are listed below.... |
Monsanto Open | 1 stroke | Jerry Heard Jerry Heard Jerry M. Heard is an American professional golfer who won several PGA Tour events in the 1970s.Heard was born in Visalia, California. He became a professional golfer in 1968 and joined the PGA Tour in 1969. His first professional win came in the American Golf Classic at the Firestone Country Club... |
|
| 10 | May 20, 1973 1973 PGA Tour The 1973 PGA Tour season was played from January 4 to December 1. The season consisted of 48 official money events. Jack Nicklaus won the most tournaments, seven, and there were seven first-time winners. The tournament results and award winners are listed below.-Tournament results:The following... |
Danny Thomas Memphis Classic | 1 stroke | Allen Miller Allen Miller (golfer) Allen Lane Miller III is an American professional golfer who played on the PGA Tour in the 1970s and 1980s.Miller was born in San Diego, California. He had a distinguished amateur career. He attended the University of Georgia, and was a member of the golf team... , Lee TrevinoLee Trevino Lee Buck Trevino is an American professional golfer. He is an icon for Mexican Americans, and is often referred to as "The Merry Mex" and "Supermex". He won six major championships over the course of his career.-Early life:... |
|
| 11 | May 12, 1974 1974 PGA Tour The 1974 PGA Tour season was played from January 3 to November 3. The season consisted of 44 official money events. Johnny Miller won the most tournaments, eight, including the first three events. There were 10 first-time winners. The tournament results and award winners are listed... |
Houston Open | 1 stroke | Rod Curl Rod Curl Rodney Curl is an American professional golfer best known for being the first full-blooded Native American to win a PGA Tour event.... , Steve MelnykSteve Melnyk (golfer) Steven N. Melnyk is a former American professional golfer and golf sportscaster best known for his success as an amateur golfer. Melnyk won both the U.S. Amateur and British Amateur.- Early years :... , Andy NorthAndy North Andrew Stewart North is an American professional golfer who is best known for winning the U.S. Open twice.- Early years :North was born in Thorp, Wisconsin, and raised in Monona, Wisconsin... |
|
| 12 | Sep 28, 1975 1975 PGA Tour The 1975 PGA Tour season was played from January 9 to October 26. The season consisted of 42 official money events. Jack Nicklaus won the most tournaments, five, and there were eight first-time winners. Johnny Miller won the first two events of the year for the second year in a row... |
Sahara Invitational Sahara Invitational The Sahara Invitational was a PGA Tour event that was played in Las Vegas, Nevada from 1958 to 1976. From 1958 to 1961 it was called the Sahara Pro-Am and was not an official PGA Tour event. It was played at Paradise Valley Country Club from 1970–1972; and at Sahara Nevada Country Club from... |
Playoff | Rik Massengale Rik Massengale Rik Massengale is a former American professional golfer who played full-time on the PGA Tour from 1970–1982.Massengale was born and raised in Jacksboro, Texas. He developed an interest in golf as a result of his older brother, Don, being a professional golfer. He attended the University of... |
|
| 13 | Jul 4, 1976 1976 PGA Tour The 1976 PGA Tour season was played from January 8 to November 7. The season consisted of 45 official money events. Ben Crenshaw and Hubert Green won the most tournaments, three, and there were eight first-time winners. Hubert Green's wins were in three consecutive weeks in March. Johnny Miller won... |
Greater Milwaukee Open | 3 strokes | John Jacobs John Jacobs (American golfer) John Alexander Jacobs is an American professional golfer who played on the PGA Tour and currently plays on the Champions Tour. Jacobs is the younger brother of professional golfer Tommy Jacobs.... |
Other wins (5)
this list may be incomplete- 1959 Michigan OpenMichigan OpenThe Michigan Open is the Michigan state open golf tournament, open to both amateur and professional golfers. It is organized by the Michigan section of the PGA of America...
- 1971 Colorado OpenColorado OpenThe Colorado Open is the Colorado state open golf tournament, open to both amateur and professional golfers. It is organized by the Colorado Open Golf Foundation...
- 1976 Colorado OpenColorado OpenThe Colorado Open is the Colorado state open golf tournament, open to both amateur and professional golfers. It is organized by the Colorado Open Golf Foundation...
- 1977 Colorado OpenColorado OpenThe Colorado Open is the Colorado state open golf tournament, open to both amateur and professional golfers. It is organized by the Colorado Open Golf Foundation...
- 1981 Colorado OpenColorado OpenThe Colorado Open is the Colorado state open golf tournament, open to both amateur and professional golfers. It is organized by the Colorado Open Golf Foundation...
Senior PGA Tour wins (6)
- 19871987 Senior PGA TourThe 1987 Senior PGA Tour was the eighth season since the Senior PGA Tour officially began in 1980 . The season consisted of 32 official money events with purses totalling $8,905,000, including three majors. Chi Chi Rodriguez won the most tournaments, seven...
(1) Fairfield Barnett Senior Classic - 19881988 Senior PGA TourThe 1988 Senior PGA Tour was the ninth season since the Senior PGA Tour officially began in 1980 . The season consisted of 34 official money events with purses totalling $10,370,000, including three majors. Bob Charles and Gary Player won the most tournaments, five...
(3) MONY Senior Tournament of Champions, MONY Syracuse Senior ClassicMONY Syracuse Senior ClassicThe MONY Syracuse Senior Classic was a golf tournament on the Champions Tour from 1982 to 1991. It was played in Syracuse, New York at the Bellevue Country Club and in Jamesville, New York at the Lafayette Country Club ....
, PaineWebber Invitational - 19891989 Senior PGA TourThe 1989 Senior PGA Tour was the 10th season since the Senior PGA Tour officially began in 1980 . The season consisted of 35 official money events with purses totalling $13,345,000 , including four majors. Bob Charles won the most tournaments, five...
(2) Bell Atlantic/St. Christopher's Classic, Rancho Murieta Senior Gold Rush
Results in major championships
| Tournament | 1961 | 1962 | 1963 | 1964 | 1965 | 1966 | 1967 | 1968 | 1969 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Masters Tournament | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | T50 | T24 |
| U.S. Open U.S. Open (golf) The United States Open Championship, commonly known as the U.S. Open, is the annual open golf tournament of the United States. It is the second of the four major championships in golf, and is on the official schedule of both the PGA Tour and the European Tour... |
T51 | WD | DNP | CUT | DNP | T22 | T18 | T16 | T13 |
| The Open Championship The Open Championship The Open Championship, or simply The Open , is the oldest of the four major championships in professional golf. It is the only "major" held outside the USA and is administered by The R&A, which is the governing body of golf outside the USA and Mexico... |
DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP |
| PGA Championship PGA Championship The PGA Championship is an annual golf tournament conducted by the PGA of America as part of the PGA Tour. It is one of the four major championships in men's professional golf, and is the golf season's final major, usually played in mid-August, customarily four weeks after The Open Championship... |
DNP | CUT | T17 | CUT | DNP | DNP | T11 | T17 | T15 |
| Tournament | 1970 | 1971 | 1972 | 1973 | 1974 | 1975 | 1976 | 1977 | 1978 | 1979 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Masters Tournament | T5 | T27 | CUT | T37 | T11 | 7 | T15 | T39 | T45 | CUT |
| U.S. Open U.S. Open (golf) The United States Open Championship, commonly known as the U.S. Open, is the annual open golf tournament of the United States. It is the second of the four major championships in golf, and is on the official schedule of both the PGA Tour and the European Tour... |
2 | CUT | T29 | DNP | CUT | DNP | DNP | DNP | CUT | DNP |
| The Open Championship The Open Championship The Open Championship, or simply The Open , is the oldest of the four major championships in professional golf. It is the only "major" held outside the USA and is administered by The R&A, which is the governing body of golf outside the USA and Mexico... |
DNP | DNP | DNP | T18 | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP |
| PGA Championship PGA Championship The PGA Championship is an annual golf tournament conducted by the PGA of America as part of the PGA Tour. It is one of the four major championships in men's professional golf, and is the golf season's final major, usually played in mid-August, customarily four weeks after The Open Championship... |
T68 | T6 | WD | CUT | T3 | T7 | T22 | T48 | T50 | DNP |
DNP = Did not play
WD = Withdrew
CUT = missed the half-way cut
"T" indicates a tie for a place
Yellow background for top-10