George Archer facts for kids
Quick facts for kids George Archer |
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Archer in 1972
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| Personal information | |
| Full name | George William Archer |
| Born | October 1, 1939 San Francisco, California, U.S. |
| Died | September 25, 2005 (aged 65) Incline Village, Nevada, U.S. |
| Height | 6 ft 5+1⁄2 in (1.97 m) |
| Weight | 200 lb (91 kg; 14 st) |
| Spouse | Donna Garman Archer |
| Children | 2 |
| Career | |
| College | none |
| Turned professional | 1964 |
| Former tour(s) | PGA Tour Champions Tour |
| Professional wins | 43 |
| Number of wins by tour | |
| PGA Tour | 13 |
| Champions Tour | 19 |
| Other | 7 (regular) 4 (senior) |
| Best results in Major Championships (Wins: 1) |
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| The Masters Tournament | Won: 1969 |
| U.S. Open | T5: 1971 |
| The Open Championship | WD: 1969 |
| PGA Championship | T4: 1968 |
| Achievements and awards | |
| Senior PGA Tour Player of the Year |
1991 |
| Senior PGA Tour Comeback Player of the Year |
1997 |
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George Archer
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| Allegiance |  United States |
| Service/ |
 U.S. Army |
| Years of service | early 1960s |
| Battles/wars | Cold War |
George William Archer (born October 1, 1939 – died September 25, 2005) was an American professional golfer. He won 13 events on the PGA Tour, which is a major golf circuit. His biggest win was a major championship, the Masters, in 1969.
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George Archer's Early Life
George Archer was born in San Francisco, California. He grew up just south of the city in San Mateo. George was very tall, standing at 6 ft 5+1⁄2 in (1.97 m) feet. When he was a boy, he dreamed of playing basketball. However, he started playing golf while working as a caddy at a local club. He even got kicked off his high school basketball team because he spent too much time on the golf course!
George Archer's Golf Career
George Archer became a professional golfer in 1964. He earned his first win on the PGA Tour the very next year. He went on to win 13 tournaments in total on this tour.
Winning the Masters Tournament
The most important win of his career was the Masters in 1969. In the first round, he played incredibly well, shooting a score of 67. This put him in second place. He continued to play strongly, and his final score gave him a one-stroke victory. He beat famous golfers like Billy Casper and Tom Weiskopf.
Major Tournament Performances
Besides his Masters win, George also had great results in other major golf tournaments. He finished in the top 10 at the U.S. Open twice. He also placed fourth at the PGA Championship in 1968.
Overcoming Injuries and Senior Tour Success
Throughout his career, George Archer faced many challenges due to injuries. He had several surgeries on his wrist, back, and shoulder. In 1996, he had his right hip replaced. Amazingly, two years later, he became the first golfer to win on the Senior PGA Tour (now called the PGA Tour Champions) after having a hip replacement. He won 19 times on the Senior Tour between 1989 and 2000. He is also the only player to win a tournament in each of the first three decades of the PGA Tour Champions.
Putting Skills and Nickname
George Archer was known as one of the best putters in golf history. Putting is when you hit the ball into the hole on the green. At one point, he held the PGA Tour record for the fewest putts over four rounds. He only took 94 putts in a tournament in 1980, which is about 1.3 putts per hole! This record stood for nine years. George was also known as the "Golfing Cowboy." This nickname came from a summer job he had on a ranch when he was younger.
A Family Affair: Daughter as Caddy
In 1983, George Archer made history at the Masters. He had his 19-year-old daughter, Elizabeth, as his caddy. A caddy carries the golfer's clubs and helps them on the course. This was the first year that golfers were allowed to have their own caddies at Augusta National, where the Masters is held. Elizabeth was a student at Stanford University and a track athlete. She had already caddied for her father in many other tournaments.
George Archer's Passing
George Archer passed away in Incline Village, Nevada in 2005. He died from a type of cancer called Burkitt's lymphoma, just six days before his 66th birthday. He was survived by his wife, Donna, and his two daughters, Elizabeth and Marilyn.
A Hidden Challenge and Lasting Legacy
Six months after George Archer's death, his wife, Donna, shared a very personal detail about his life. She revealed that George had faced a significant learning challenge throughout his life. This challenge made reading and writing very difficult for him. Despite this, he worked hard and achieved great success in golf. He lived with the worry that this secret might be discovered.
In 2008, Donna created the George Archer Memorial Foundation for Literacy. This organization helps people who have trouble with reading and writing. The foundation works to find ways to help people learn, train teachers, and provide support for students. They also help develop new tools for teaching reading and writing. The main event for raising money for the foundation is a golf tournament. It is held every October at the Peninsula Golf and Country Club in San Mateo, California. This is the same club where George Archer first started his golf career.
Major Championship Summary
| Tournament | Wins | 2nd | 3rd | Top-5 | Top-10 | Top-25 | Events | Cuts made |
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| Masters Tournament | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 8 | 24 | 16 |
| U.S. Open | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 12 | 10 |
| The Open Championship | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| PGA Championship | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 15 | 14 |
| Totals | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 4 | 15 | 52 | 40 |
- Most consecutive cuts made – 13 (1969 PGA – 1973 PGA)
- Longest streak of top-10s – 3 (1968 PGA – 1969 U.S. Open)
See also
- List of golfers with most Champions Tour wins
