Washington (AFP) – Juan “Chi Chi” Rodriguez, who rose from poverty in Puerto Rico to golf’s Hall of Fame, has died at age 88, the PGA Tour said Thursday.
“A vibrant, colorful personality both on and off the golf course, he will be missed dearly by the PGA TOUR and those whose lives he touched in his mission to give back,” said PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan.
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During his three decades as a professional, Rodriguez had 37 victories — including eight on the PGA Tour and 22 on the senior circuit. Born into a poor Puerto Rican family, Rodriguez taught himself to play with rudimentary clubs carved from guava tree branches, striking crushed tin cans on baseball fields.
His father worked as a sugar cane cutter, and at age seven, he joined him to work at the plantations as a water carrier. One day, he wandered onto a golf course frequented by wealthy tourists and discovered caddies there earned more money. He joined them and only left caddying at age 19 to join the US Army.
He was always regarded as an entertainer, celebrating birdies by waving his putter like a swashbuckling swordsman. Rodriguez played local Puerto Rican tournaments before joining the PGA Tour in 1960. He won his first tour title in 1963, and his final PGA Tour Champions title was in 1993.
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