Gay Brewer facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Gay Brewer
Personal information
Full name	Gay Robert Brewer, Jr.
Born	(1932-03-19)March 19, 1932 Middletown, Ohio
Died	August 31, 2007(2007-08-31) (aged 75) Lexington, Kentucky
Height	6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)
Weight	185 lb (84 kg; 13.2 st)
Nationality	United States
Children	Erin, Kelly
Career
Turned professional	1956
Former tour(s)	PGA Tour Champions Tour
Professional wins	17
Number of wins by tour
PGA Tour	10
Champions Tour	1
Other	5 (regular) 1 (senior)
Best results in Major Championships (Wins: 1)
The Masters Tournament	Won: 1967
U.S. Open	5th/T5: 1962, 1964
The Open Championship	T6: 1968
PGA Championship	T7: 1972

Gay Robert Brewer, Jr. (born March 19, 1932 – died August 31, 2007) was an American professional golfer. He was famous for playing on the PGA Tour. He also won the important 1967 Masters Tournament.

Early Life and Amateur Golf

Gay Brewer was born in Middletown, Ohio. He grew up in Lexington, Kentucky. As a young golfer, he was very successful. He won the Kentucky State Boys Golf Championship three times in a row. This was from 1949 to 1951.

In 1949, he also won the U.S. Junior Amateur. This is a very important event for young golfers under 18. In 1952, Brewer won the Southern Amateur golf tournament.

Brewer went to the University of Kentucky. He had a scholarship for football, not golf. The school's football coach, Bear Bryant, used him to hold the ball for kickers. Brewer studied there for two years.

Becoming a Professional Golfer

Brewer became a professional golfer in 1956. He quickly started to do well. His first big win on the PGA Tour was the Hawaiian Open in 1965.

At the 1966 Masters Tournament, he almost won. He tied for the lead but lost in a playoff to Jack Nicklaus. The next year, he came back strong. He won the 1967 Masters Tournament by one shot. This was a huge moment for him. It was also the first time a golf tournament in the U.S. was shown live on TV in Europe. Brewer said winning the Masters was "the biggest thrill" of his golf career.

Career Highlights and Records

In 1967, Brewer was part of the U.S. team that won the Ryder Cup. He played well in his matches. That same year, he set a new PGA Tour record. He scored 25-under par 191 at the Pensacola Open. This record for a par-72 course still stands today.

Brewer was known for his friendly personality. He also had a unique golf swing. He finished in the top 10 on the Tour's money list three times. These years were 1961, 1966, and 1967.

In 1966, Golf Digest magazine named him the Most Improved Golfer. In 1967, he was featured on the cover of Sports Illustrated magazine. He won the Canadian Open. He was also part of the U.S. team that won the 1973 Ryder Cup.

Overall, Gay Brewer won 10 PGA Tour events. He later joined the Senior PGA Tour. In 1984, he won the Liberty Mutual Legends of Golf with Billy Casper. In 1995, at age 63, he won the MasterCard Champions Championship. His last competitive round was at the 2001 Masters Tournament.

Legacy and Later Life

In 2006, Brewer was honored by the University of Kentucky. He was voted into their Athletics Hall of Fame. In 2007, a golf course in Lexington, Kentucky, was renamed after him. It is now called the "Gay Brewer Jr. Course at Picadome." This was the course where he learned to play golf.

Gay Brewer passed away at his home in Lexington, Kentucky, in 2007. He died from lung cancer. He is buried at Lexington Cemetery.

Amateur Wins

• 1949 Kentucky State Boys, U.S. Junior Amateur
• 1950 Kentucky State Boys
• 1951 Kentucky State Boys
• 1952 Southern Amateur

Major Championships Summary

Gay Brewer won one major championship, the Masters. Here's a quick look at how he did in the biggest golf tournaments:

• Most consecutive cuts made – 7 (1965 U.S. Open – 1967 U.S. Open)
• Longest streak of top-10s – 3 (1972 PGA – 1973 Open Championship)