Hubert Green facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Hubert Green |
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|---|---|
| Personal information | |
| Full name | Hubert Myatt Green |
| Nickname | Hubie |
| Born | December 28, 1946 Birmingham, Alabama, U.S. |
| Died | June 19, 2018 (aged 71) |
| Height | 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) |
| Weight | 165 lb (75 kg; 11.8 st) |
| Nationality |  United States |
| Residence | Mountain Brook, Alabama |
| Spouse | Becky Blair |
| Career | |
| College | Florida State University |
| Turned professional | 1969 |
| Former tour(s) | PGA Tour Champions Tour |
| Professional wins | 29 |
| Number of wins by tour | |
| PGA Tour | 19 |
| European Tour | 3 |
| Japan Golf Tour | 2 |
| Champions Tour | 4 |
| Other | 3 |
| Best results in Major Championships (Wins: 2) |
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| The Masters Tournament | T2: 1978 |
| U.S. Open | Won: 1977 |
| The Open Championship | 3rd: 1977 |
| PGA Championship | Won: 1985 |
| Achievements and awards | |
| World Golf Hall of Fame | 2007 |
Hubert Myatt Green (born December 28, 1946 – died June 19, 2018) was an American professional golfer. He won 29 professional golf tournaments during his career. This included two major championships: the U.S. Open in 1977 and the PGA Championship in 1985. Hubert Green was added to the World Golf Hall of Fame in 2007.
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Growing Up and Early Golf
Hubert Green was born in Birmingham, Alabama. He played golf for Shades Valley High School in Birmingham. Later, he went to Florida State University (FSU) in Tallahassee, Florida. While at FSU, he won the Southern Amateur golf tournament in 1966. He also became the Alabama Amateur golf champion in 1967 and won again in 1968.
Green also won other college tournaments, like the Cape Coral Inter-Collegiate Tournament and the Miami Invitational. In 1968, he finished fourth in the U.S. Amateur tournament. This earned him an invitation to play in the Masters in 1969 as an amateur. Green finished college in 1968 with a degree in marketing. In 1969, he won the Southern Amateur again. After this, he decided to become a professional golfer.
Hubert Green's Golf Career
Hubert Green played on the PGA Tour for 26 years. He won 19 tournaments, including two major championships. These were the U.S. Open in 1977 and the PGA Championship in 1985. He often finished in the top 25 in the PGA Tour events he played. Green also played on the Ryder Cup team three times (1977, 1979, and 1985). He was never beaten in his single matches during these events.
In 1971, Green won the Houston Champions International. He was also named the PGA Tour's Rookie of the Year. He won many tournaments throughout the 1970s. He was especially successful in the later part of that decade. In March 1976, he won three PGA Tour events in a row.
Facing a Threat at the U.S. Open
At the 1977 U.S. Open, something very unusual happened. As Green was walking to the 15th hole in the final round, he was told about a phone call. Someone had anonymously called in a threat against his life. The police gave him choices, but Green bravely decided to keep playing. He went on to win the tournament by just one stroke.
A month later, at the Open Championship in 1977, Green finished third. The top two golfers, Tom Watson and Jack Nicklaus, were far ahead of everyone else. Green famously joked, "I won the other tournament," because their scores were so much better than the rest of the field.
Green was ranked third in the world in 1977. He also won the Irish Open that year. He often played well at the Masters. He finished in the top 10 six times between 1974 and 1980.
Winning the PGA Championship
In 1985, Hubert Green won his second major title, the PGA Championship. He won by two strokes over Lee Trevino. This was his 19th and final victory on the PGA Tour.
After turning 50, Green joined the Senior PGA Tour (now called PGA Tour Champions). In 1998, he won the Bruno's Memorial Classic in his hometown of Birmingham, Alabama. He played incredibly well in the final round, making an eagle and four birdies on the last six holes to win.
Green also helped design golf courses. He worked on courses like TPC Southwind and Greystone Golf & Country Club. He stopped playing professional golf tours in 2009.
Battling Cancer
In 2003, Hubert Green was diagnosed with oral cancer. His dentist noticed something unusual and sent him to a specialist. Green went through difficult treatments like radiation and chemotherapy. By the end of 2003, his cancer was gone. He recovered well and gained back his weight.
Awards and Recognition
Hubert Green received many honors during his life.
- In 1977, he was the first golfer to be added to the Florida State Seminoles Hall of Fame.
- He was inducted into the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame in 1987.
- In 2002 and 2004, he received the Champions Tour Comeback Player of the Year award.
- He also received the American Cancer Life Inspiration Award in 2004.
- At the 2005 Masters Tournament, he was given the Ben Hogan Award. This award is for golfers who continue to play despite serious illness.
- In 2007, he was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame.
Death
Hubert Green passed away on June 19, 2018, at the age of 71. He died from problems related to throat cancer.
Amateur Wins
- 1966 Southern Amateur
- 1967 Alabama Amateur
- 1968 Alabama Amateur, Cape Coral Invitational, Miami Invitational
- 1969 Southern Amateur
Professional Wins (29)
Hubert Green won 29 professional golf tournaments throughout his career.
- PGA Tour wins (19): He won 19 times on the PGA Tour, including his two major championships.
- European Tour wins (3): He won 3 times on the European Tour.
- Japan Golf Tour wins (2): He won 2 times on the Japan Golf Tour.
- Other wins (1): He won one other tournament.
- Senior PGA Tour wins (4): After turning 50, he won 4 times on the Senior PGA Tour.
- Other senior wins (2): He won two other senior events, including the Liberty Mutual Legends of Golf with Gil Morgan in 1999 and the Bass Pro Shops Legends of Golf with Allen Doyle in 2017.
Major Championships
Hubert Green won two major championships:
- 1977 U.S. Open
- 1985 PGA Championship
He also had strong finishes in other major tournaments:
- Masters Tournament: He finished second once and in the top 10 six times.
- The Open Championship: He finished third once and in the top 10 four times.
- PGA Championship: He finished third once and in the top 10 twice.
