Gene Sarazen

Pioneer of the Career Grand Slam and inventor of the modern sand wedge.

Gene Sarazen (; born Eugenio Saraceni, February 27, 1902 – May 13, 1999) was an American professional golfer, one of the world's top players in the 1920s and 1930s, and the winner of seven major championships. He was the first of five players (along with Ben Hogan, Gary Player, Jack Nicklaus, and Tiger Woods) to win each of the four majors at least once, known as the Career Grand Slam: U.S. Open (1922, 1932), PGA Championship (1922, 1923, 1933), Open Championship (1932), and Masters (1935).

Quick Facts

Full name

Eugenio Saraceni

Nickname

The Squire

Born

27 February 1902

Birthplace

Harrison, New York, U.S.

Died

13 May 1999

Place of death

Naples, Florida, U.S.

Residence

Brookfield
Connecticut
U.S.

Weight

162 lb / 73.5 kg

Lore & Background

Sarazen arrived in April 1922 at Highland Country Club near Pittsburgh, stocked the golf shop and gave a few lessons, but spent most of his time at Oakmont Country Club practicing with Emil Loeffler. At some point, the pair visited Skokie Country Club to practice on the course that would hold the U.S. Open; in July, he came from four shots behind to win the tournament.

Reader's Guide

Sarazen claimed to have invented the modern sand wedge, debuting the club at The Open Championship at Prince's Golf Club in 1932 (which he won). He called it the sand iron.