Mac O'Grady
Encyclopedia
Mac O'Grady born Phil McGleno, aka Phillip McClelland O'Grady, is an American
professional golfer
and golf
teaching professional who played on the PGA Tour
in the 1970s and 1980s, known mainly for his eccentric behavior and brash statements, in addition to his attending PGA Tour qualifying school
17 times before achieving his card.
. He attended Santa Monica Junior College in Santa Monica, California
, and turned pro in 1972. He attempted to qualify for the PGA Tour through Q School 17 times before finally receiving his tour card. During this time, he legally changed his name from Phil McGleno to Phillip McClelland O'Grady, and then to Mac O'Grady. O'Grady won two events on the PGA Tour. His first win came at the 1986 Canon Sammy Davis Jr.-Greater Hartford Open; his second and final win came a year later at the MONY Tournament of Champions. His best finish in a major
was a T-9 at the 1987 U.S. Open
. O'Grady had 18 top-10 finishes as a PGA Tour player. O'Grady left the PGA Tour in 1989 as a result of back problems.
as both halves of the same team. He would have played one ball left-handed and the other right-handed.
At the 1984 USF&G Classic, O'Grady got into an altercation with a female tournament volunteer. Eventually O'Grady was fined $500 for it and the fine was taken out of winnings at the 1985 Bob Hope Desert Classic. O'Grady soon afterwards began a series of verbal attacks against Tour Commissioner Deane Beman
. At one point, O'Grady said "Deane Beman is a thief with a capital T." He was fined $5,000 and was made to serve a six event suspension late in the 1986 PGA Tour year
for conduct unbecoming a professional golfer.
Five years after he left the tour, O'Grady called for a crackdown on beta blockers. O'Grady saying "of the top 30 players worldwide I would be surprised if less than seven stepped to the first tee each week without the use of beta blockers to calm their nerves." Several top European players scoffed at O'Grady's allegations.
. His teachings and swing concepts were influenced by Homer Kelly's book "The Golfing Machine" whom O'Grady had studied with personally in his earlier years. Interestingly, on O'Grady's website, it states, "He was forced to retire in 1990 due to a congenital spine disorder known as Spondylolisthesis
." However he has been trying and in some cases, succeeding in qualifying for Champions Tour
events.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
professional golfer
Professional golfer
In golf the distinction between amateurs and professionals is rigorously maintained. An amateur who breaches the rules of amateur status may lose his or her amateur status. A golfer who has lost his or her amateur status may not play in amateur competitions until amateur status has been reinstated;...
and 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....
teaching professional who played 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...
in the 1970s and 1980s, known mainly for his eccentric behavior and brash statements, in addition to his attending PGA Tour qualifying school
Qualifying school
In professional golf the term qualifying school is used for the annual qualifying tournaments for leading golf tours such as the U.S. based PGA and LPGA Tours and the European Tour. A fixed number of players in the event win membership of the tour for the following season, otherwise known as a...
17 times before achieving his card.
Biography and career highlights
O'Grady was born in Minneapolis, MinnesotaMinneapolis, Minnesota
Minneapolis , nicknamed "City of Lakes" and the "Mill City," is the county seat of Hennepin County, the largest city in the U.S. state of Minnesota, and the 48th largest in the United States...
. He attended Santa Monica Junior College in Santa Monica, California
Santa Monica, California
Santa Monica is a beachfront city in western Los Angeles County, California, US. Situated on Santa Monica Bay, it is surrounded on three sides by the city of Los Angeles — Pacific Palisades on the northwest, Brentwood on the north, West Los Angeles on the northeast, Mar Vista on the east, and...
, and turned pro in 1972. He attempted to qualify for the PGA Tour through Q School 17 times before finally receiving his tour card. During this time, he legally changed his name from Phil McGleno to Phillip McClelland O'Grady, and then to Mac O'Grady. O'Grady won two events on the PGA Tour. His first win came at the 1986 Canon Sammy Davis Jr.-Greater Hartford Open; his second and final win came a year later at the MONY Tournament of Champions. His best finish in a major
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...
was a T-9 at the 1987 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...
. O'Grady had 18 top-10 finishes as a PGA Tour player. O'Grady left the PGA Tour in 1989 as a result of back problems.
Quirkiness and off the course issues
O'Grady, a right-handed player, is ambidextrous; he can also play left-handed at "scratch" level (no handicap). He has previously attempted to gain status as an amateur "lefty" and pro "righty". O'Grady once tried to enter the Chrysler Team ChampionshipChrysler Team Championship
The Chrysler Team Championship was an unofficial event on the PGA Tour from 1983 to 1990. It used a two-man better-ball format. It was played at Boca West Resort and Club and Broken Sound Country Club in Boca Raton, Florida from 1983 to 1986; at Palm Beach Polo Club, Wellington Club and Greenview...
as both halves of the same team. He would have played one ball left-handed and the other right-handed.
At the 1984 USF&G Classic, O'Grady got into an altercation with a female tournament volunteer. Eventually O'Grady was fined $500 for it and the fine was taken out of winnings at the 1985 Bob Hope Desert Classic. O'Grady soon afterwards began a series of verbal attacks against Tour Commissioner Deane Beman
Deane Beman
Deane R. Beman is an American professional golfer, golf administrator, and golf course architect.Beman was born in Washington, D.C. and graduated from the University of Maryland, College Park, where he played for the varsity golf team. Following graduation, Beman had a career in the insurance...
. At one point, O'Grady said "Deane Beman is a thief with a capital T." He was fined $5,000 and was made to serve a six event suspension late in the 1986 PGA Tour year
1986 PGA Tour
The 1986 PGA Tour season was played from January 8 to November 2. The season consisted of 45 official money events. Bob Tway won the most tournaments, four, and there were 11 first-time winners. The tournament results, leaders, and award winners are listed below.-Tournament results:The following...
for conduct unbecoming a professional golfer.
Five years after he left the tour, O'Grady called for a crackdown on beta blockers. O'Grady saying "of the top 30 players worldwide I would be surprised if less than seven stepped to the first tee each week without the use of beta blockers to calm their nerves." Several top European players scoffed at O'Grady's allegations.
Later years
The main focus of his career now is teaching the game of golf, recognized as one of the world's top instructors; he teaches at his Mac O'Grady Golf Schools and lives in Palm Springs, CaliforniaPalm Springs, California
Palm Springs is a desert city in Riverside County, California, within the Coachella Valley. It is located approximately 37 miles east of San Bernardino, 111 miles east of Los Angeles and 136 miles northeast of San Diego...
. His teachings and swing concepts were influenced by Homer Kelly's book "The Golfing Machine" whom O'Grady had studied with personally in his earlier years. Interestingly, on O'Grady's website, it states, "He was forced to retire in 1990 due to a congenital spine disorder known as Spondylolisthesis
Spondylolisthesis
Spondylolisthesis describes the anterior or posterior displacement of a vertebra or the vertebral column in relation to the vertebrae below. It was first described in 1782 by Belgian obstetrician, Dr. Herbinaux. He reported a bony prominence anterior to the sacrum that obstructed the vagina of a...
." However he has been trying and in some cases, succeeding in qualifying for 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...
events.
PGA Tour wins
| No. | Date | Tournament | Winning Score | Margin of Victory | Runner-up |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jul 6, 1986 1986 PGA Tour The 1986 PGA Tour season was played from January 8 to November 2. The season consisted of 45 official money events. Bob Tway won the most tournaments, four, and there were 11 first-time winners. The tournament results, leaders, and award winners are listed below.-Tournament results:The following... |
Canon Sammy Davis Jr.-Greater Hartford Open | Playoff |  Roger MaltbieRoger Maltbie Roger Lin Maltbie is an American professional golfer and on-course analyst for NBC Sports and ESPN.Maltbie was born in Modesto, California and grew up in San Jose. He attended James Lick High School where he was a teammate of former PGA Tour player Forrest Fezler... |
|
| 2 | Jan 10, 1987 1987 PGA Tour The 1987 PGA Tour season was played from January 7 to November 1. The season consisted of 46 official money events. Paul Azinger and Curtis Strange won the most tournaments, three, and there were 10 first-time winners. The tournament results, leaders, and award winners are listed below.-Tournament... |
MONY Tournament of Champions | 1 stroke | Rick Fehr Rick Fehr Richard Elliott Fehr is an American professional golfer who has played on the PGA Tour and the Nationwide Tour.Fehr was born in Seattle, Washington and grew up in the state of Washington. As a teenager, Fehr won the Washington State Junior and PGA National Junior tournaments in 1979... |