One of the most captivating, well-liked, and benevolent individuals in the annals of golf, Chi Chi Rodriguez, has passed away. Juan “Chi Chi” Rodriguez, indisputably the finest golfer ever produced by Puerto Rico, passed away at the age of 88. The Puerto Rico Golf Association announced his demise, although no cause was provided. Rodriguez, who hailed from a modest upbringing in Rio Piedras, discovered golf by using a guava tree stick to hit tin cans. After serving in the Army for two years and working as a caddie, he turned professional in 1960. He achieved his first of eight PGA Tour victories at the Denver Open Invitational in 1963.
He went on to triumph in the 1964 Lucky International Open, the 1964 Western Open, the 1967 Texas Open Invitational, the 1968 Sahara Invitational, the 1972 Byron Nelson Golf Classic, the 1973 Greater Greensboro Open, and the 1979 Tallahassee Open. “Chi Chi Rodriguez’s dedication to philanthropy and outreach was unmatched, only surpassed by his incredible skill with a golf club,” stated PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan. “A vibrant and colorful personality both on and off the golf course, he will be greatly missed by the PGA Tour and those whose lives he touched through his mission to give back. The PGA Tour extends its deepest condolences to the entire Rodriguez family during this challenging time.”
Standing at a mere 5-foot-7 and weighing 135 pounds, Rodriguez was adored for his larger-than-life, ahead-of-his-time showmanship, epitomized by his iconic “sword dance.” Occasionally, he would annoy his fellow golfers by placing his fedora over the hole after sinking birdie putts. “People come out and pay good money to watch golf,” Rodriguez explained, according to the PGA Tour’s website. “I believe they deserve something extra, and I’m happy to provide it.”
Chi Chi’s flamboyance on the golf course was only surpassed by his philanthropy in the community. The Chi Chi Rodriguez Youth Foundation, headquartered in Clearwater, Florida, paved the way for countless at-risk youth to succeed. Even now, the foundation brings 600 economically disadvantaged children to its public course each year to develop life skills. Rodriguez received numerous accolades for his charitable work, including the Bob Jones Award and induction into the World Humanitarian Sports Hall of Fame. (Rodriguez also spoke highly of Tiger Woods, whose foundation also supports underprivileged youth.)
Chi Chi became one of the most accomplished players on the senior circuit, amassing 22 victories on the PGA Tour Champions from 1986 to 1993. In 1991, Rodriguez narrowly lost an 18-hole playoff to Jack Nicklaus at the U.S. Senior Open. “In life, you must have goals. And I have accomplished most of mine. I may not have become the greatest golfer in the world, but I became the greatest Puerto Rican golfer of all time,” Rodriguez told Golf.com in 2016. In 1992, Chi Chi Rodriguez was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame.
Photo from PGA of America (X) Account
