July 16th, 2006
Golf Trivia
In 1980, the inaugural Senior Open was conducted for golfers 55 and older, with a handicap limit of eight strokes for amateurs.
Roberto De Vicenzo, a national hero in his native Argentina, won with a score of 285, one over par. He was four strokes ahead of Campbell, the runner-up.
In 1981, the USGA lowered the age minimum to 50 to make the championship more competitive. The USGA also believed that lowering the minimum age would place the Senior Open in the mainstream of other senior competitions.
The second Senior Open was won by another national hero, Arnold Palmer, 51, at Oakland Hills Country Club in Birmingham, Mich. www.ussenioropen.com
Did Arnold Palmer’s age have anything to do with lowering the minimum age?