Roberto De Vicenzo
# Roberto De Vicenzo

Roberto De Vicenzo (14 April 1923 – 1 June 2017) was a professional golfer from Argentina. He won a record 229 professional tournaments worldwide during his career, including seven on the PGA Tour and most famously the 1967 Open Championship. He is perhaps best remembered for signing an incorrect scorecard that kept him out of a playoff for the 1968 Masters Tournament.

## Biography

De Vicenzo was born on 14 April 1923 in Villa Ballester, a northern suburb of Buenos Aires, Argentina. He was raised in the Villa Pueyrredón neighborhood of Buenos Aires, and acquired the game of golf as a caddie. He developed his skills at the Ranelagh Golf Club, and later relocated to the town of the same name.

De Vicenzo won his first Argentine tournament, the Abierto del Litoral, in 1942; his first World Cup in 1953; and a major tournament, The Open Championship, in 1967. De Vicenzo is best remembered for his misfortune in the 1968 Masters Tournament. On the par-4 17th hole, Roberto De Vicenzo made a birdie, but playing partner Tommy Aaron inadvertently entered a 4 instead of 3 on the scorecard. He did not check the scorecard for the error before signing it, and according to the Rules of Golf the higher score had to stand and be counted. If not for this mistake, De Vicenzo would have tied for first place with Bob Goalby, and the two would have met in an 18-hole playoff the next day. His quote afterwards became legendary for its poignancy: "What a stupid I am!"

In 1970 he was voted the Bob Jones Award, the highest honor given by the United States Golf Association in recognition of distinguished sportsmanship in golf.

De Vicenzo subsequently found great success in the early days of the Senior PGA Tour, winning the Liberty Mutual Legends of Golf two times and the inaugural U.S. Senior Open in 1980. He also won the 1974 PGA Seniors' Championship, and represented Argentina 15 times in the Canada Cup/World Cup, leading Argentina to victory in 1953.

De Vicenzo was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 1989, and officially retired on 12 November 2006, at age 83 with over 200 international victories. The Museum of Golf in Argentina in Berazategui was founded because of his hard work. It was named in his honor upon its completion in 2006.

De Vicenzo died 1 June 2017 at the age of 94.

## Books about his life

There are two books on the life of Roberto De Vicenzo, with similar names. The first of them is called "Roberto De Vicenzo. Gentleman, Sportsman, Winner", made by Luis Melnik, and the second has the title "Roberto De Vicenzo. Gentleman, Sportsman, Winner. Premium Edition", which was written by journalist Daniel Mancini, work that includes the definitive statistics of De Vicenzo's career together with Roberto's vision of each of his sporting experiences, plus the description of the great players he faced, the details of his beginnings, the specific references to his triumph at the British Open and what happened at the Masters in Augusta, a significant event that identifies all the protagonists of that historic outcome.

## Professional wins (229)

### PGA Tour wins (7)

* Legend
* Major championships (1)
* Other PGA Tour (6)

| No. | Date | Tournament | Winning score | Margin of victory | Runner(s)-up |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1 | 10 Jun 1951 | Palm Beach Round Robin | +40 points | 12 points | Jim Ferrier |
| 2 | 24 Jun 1951 | Inverness Invitational Four-Ball (with Henry Ransom) | +9 points | 3 points | Jim Ferrier and Sam Snead |
| 3 | 25 May 1957 | Colonial National Invitation | +4 (72-74-68-70=284) | 1 stroke | Dick Mayer |
| 4 | 5 Aug 1957 | All American Open | −15 (69-64-70-70=273) | 4 strokes | Gene Littler |
| 5 | 26 Apr 1966 | Dallas Open Invitational | −8 (71-69-69-67=276) | 1 stroke | Joe Campbell, Raymond Floyd, Harold Henning |
| 6 | 15 Jul 1967 | The Open Championship | −10 (70-71-67-70=278) | 2 strokes | Jack Nicklaus |
| 7 | 5 May 1968 | Houston Champions International | −10 (67-68-71-68=274) | 1 stroke | Lee Trevino |

### European circuit wins (9)

* 1948 (1) North British-Harrogate Tournament
* 1950 (3) Dutch Open, Belgian Open, Open de France
* 1960 (1) Open de France
* 1964 (2) Open de France, German Open
* 1966 (1) Spanish Open
* 1967 (1) The Open Championship

### Argentine Tour wins (132)

this list is incomplete

* 1942 (1) Abierto del Litoral
* 1943 (2) Center Open, Westinhouse Grand Prix
* 1944 (3) Argentine PGA Championship, Argentine Open, Cirio Grand Prix
* 1945 (3) Argentine PGA Championship, Cirio Grand Prix, Bahía Blanca Open
* 1946 (5) Palermo Grand Prix, Abierto del Litoral, South Open, La Plata Open, Masllorens Grand Prix
* 1947 (10) Argentine PGA Championship, Abierto del Litoral, South Open, Cirio Grand Prix, Ranelagh Open, Masllorens Grand Prix, Alvear Grand Prix, San Isidro Open, Mailly Grand Prix, America Cup
* 1948 (5) Argentine PGA Championship, Cirio Grand Prix, Masllorens Grand Prix, Ranelagh Open, La Plata Open
* 1949 (6) Argentine PGA Championship, Argentine Open, Abierto del Litoral, Ituzaingo Grand Prix, Masllorens Grand Prix, San Isidro Open
* 1950 (4) Masllorens Grand Prix, Ituzaingo Grand Prix, San Isidro Open, San Martin Grand Prix
* 1951 (5) Argentine PGA Championship, Argentine Open, Msllorens Grand Prix, Alvear Grand Prix, San Isidro Open
* 1952 (2) Argentine Open, San Isidro Open
* 1953 (1) Argentino Grand Prix
* 1954 (2) Alvear Grand Prix, San Martin Grand Prix
* 1958 (1) Argentine Open
* 1960 (3) Argentine PGA Championship, Charles of the Ritz Grand Prix, Siam Grand Prix
* 1961 (1) Ranelagh Open
* 1962 (6) Argentine Masters, North Open, Center Open, South Open, Branca Grand Prix, Suixtill Grand Prix
* 1963 (2) Branca Grand Prix, Tortugas Grand Prix
* 1964 (4) Argentine Masters, Argentine PGA Championship, Minerva Grand Prix, Jockey Club Rosario Open
* 1965 (6) Argentine PGA Championship, Argentine Open, Center Open, Rio Cuarto Open, Acantilados Grand Prix, Jockey Club Rosario Open
* 1966 (4) Argentine Masters, Argentine PGA Championship, North Open, Ranser Grand Prix
* 1967 (6) Argentine Open, Center Open, South Open, Ranelagh Open, Ranser Grand Prix, Pindapoy Grand Prix
* 1968 (4) Abierto del Litoral, Ranelagh Open, Acantilados Grand Prix, Peugeot Grand Prix
* 1969 (6) Argentine PGA Championship, Norpatagonico Open, Ranelagh Open, Glustora Grand Prix, Lomas Open, Kanmar Grand Prix
* 1970 (4) Argentine Open, Argentine Masters, Ranelagh Open, Old Smuggler Grand Prix
* 1971 (5) Argentine PGA Championship, Acantilados Grand Prix, La Cumbre Open, Pinamar Open, Santa Teresita Open
* 1972 (5) Argentine PGA Championship, Center Open, South Open, Ranelagh Open, Acantilados Grand Prix
* 1973 (4) Center Open, South Open, North Open, Lomas Open
* 1974 (8) Argentine PGA Championship, Argentine Masters, Argentine Open, Center Open, North Open, San Martin Grand Prix, Charles of the Ritz Grand Prix, Los Lagartos Grand Prix
* 1975 (2) Jockey Club Rosario Open, Charles of the Ritz Grand Prix
* 1976 (2) Velox Grand Prix, Metropolitano Open
* 1977 (3) Argentine PGA Championship, South Open, Velox Grand Prix
* 1978 South Open, San Martin Grand Prix, Sidesa Grand Prix
* 1979 (3) Acantilados Grand Prix, Sidesa Grand Prix
* 1983 (1) North Open
* 1985 (1) Argentine PGA Championship

### Latin America/Caribbean wins (60)

this list may be incomplete

* 1946 Chile Open (tie with Enrique Bertolino), Viña del Mar Open (Chile)
* 1947 Cali Open (Colombia)
* 1948 Uruguay Open
* 1949 Uruguay Open
* 1951 Cali Open (Colombia), Bogota Open (Colombia), Barranquilla Open (Colombia), Mexican Open
* 1952 Panama Open, Santo Domingo Open (Chile)
* 1953 Panama Open, Mexican Open, Peru Open
* 1954 Brazil Open, Peru Open, Barranquilla Open (Colombia) Bogota Open (Colombia)
* 1955 Mexican Open, PGA of Mexico, Medellin Open (Colombia)
* 1956 Jamaica Open, Barranquilla Open (Colombia), Bogota Open (Colombia), PGA of Mexico
* 1957 Brazil Open, Jamaica Open
* 1958 Peru Open, Medellin Open (Colombia), PGA of Mexico
* 1959 PGA of Mexico
* 1960 Brazil Open, Barranquilla Open (Colombia), Bogota Open (Colombia)
* 1961 Chile Open, Colombian Open, Barranquilla Open (Colombia)
* 1962 Barranquilla Open (Colombia)
* 1963 Brazil Open
* 1964 Brazil Open, Uruguay Open, Bogota Open (Colombia)
* 1965 Los Lagartos Open
* 1966 Los Lagartos Open
* 1968 Los Lagartos Open
* 1969 PGA of Mexico, Los Lagartos Open
* 1970 Itanhanga Open (Brazil)
* 1971 Panama Open
* 1972 Caracas Open, San Pablo Open (Brazil), Rio Grande Open (Brazil)
* 1973 Panama Open, Caracas Open, Brazil Open
* 1974 Panama Open, Raleigh Cup (Mexico)
* 1978 Santiago Open (Chile)
* 1979 Santo Tome Open, Oro Negro Open (Venezuela)

### Other wins (3)

| No. | Date | Tournament | Winning score | Margin of victory | Runner(s)-up |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1 | 3 Jun 1953 | Canada Cup (with Antonio Cerdá) | −1 (145-142=287) | 10 strokes | Canada − Bill Kerr and Stan Leonard |
| 2 | 11 Nov 1962 | Canada Cup International Trophy | −4 (71-68-69-68=276) | 2 strokes | Peter Alliss, Arnold Palmer |
| 3 | 15 Nov 1970 | World Cup International Trophy (2) | −19 (64-67-68-70=269) | 1 stroke | David Graham |

### Senior PGA Tour wins (2)

* Legend
* Senior major championships (1)
* Other Senior PGA Tour (1)

| No. | Date | Tournament | Winning score | Margin of victory | Runner-up |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1 | 29 Jun 1980 | U.S. Senior Open | −3 (74-73-68-70=285) | 4 strokes | William C. Campbell (a) |
| 2 | 15 Jul 1984 | Merrill Lynch/Golf Digest Commemorative Pro-Am | −8 (70-70-65=205) | 2 strokes | Gardner Dickinson |

Senior PGA Tour playoff record (0–1)

| No. | Year | Tournament | Opponent | Result |
| - | - | - | - | - |
| 1 | 1986 | Denver Post Champions of Golf | Gary Player | Lost to par on fourth extra hole |

### Other senior wins (16)

this list may be incomplete

* 1974 PGA Seniors' Championship, World Senior Championship
* 1979 Liberty Mutual Legends of Golf (with Julius Boros)
* 1983 Liberty Mutual Legends of Golf (with Rod Funseth), Doug Sanders Classic
* 1986 Conmmemorative Pro-Am (Super Senior)
* 1987 Argentine Senior Open, Pontevedra Classic (Super Senior), Digital Classic (Super Senior)
* 1988 Liberty Mutual Legends of Golf - Legendary Division (with Charlie Sifford), Vintage Championship Invitational (Super Senior), Pages Classic (Super Senior)
* 1989 Liberty Mutual Legends of Golf - Legendary Division (with Charlie Sifford), Vantage Championship (Super Senior)
* 1991 Liberty Mutual Legends of Golf - Legendary Division (with Charlie Sifford)
* 1992 Center Senior Argentine Open

## Major championships

### Wins (1)

| Year | Championship | 54 holes | Winning score | Margin | Runner-up |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1967 | The Open Championship | 2 shot lead | −10 (70-71-67-70=278) | 2 strokes | Jack Nicklaus |

### Results timeline

| Tournament | 1948 | 1949 |
| - | - | - |
| Masters Tournament | | |
| U.S. Open | | |
| The Open Championship | T3 | 3 |
| PGA Championship | | |
| Tournament | 1950 | 1951 | 1952 | 1953 | 1954 | 1956 | 1957 | 1958 |
| Masters Tournament | T12 | T20 | | | | T17 | | CUT |
| U.S. Open | | T29 | | | | T27 | T8 | CUT |
| The Open Championship | 2 | | | 6 | | 3 | T35 | |
| PGA Championship | | | R16 | | QF | | | |
| Tournament | 1960 | 1961 | 1962 | 1964 | 1965 | 1966 | 1967 | 1968 | 1969 |
| Masters Tournament | | T22 | T33 | | | T22 | T10 | 2 | CUT |
| U.S. Open | | | | | | | | T24 | |
| The Open Championship | T3 | | | 3 | 4 | T20 | 1 | T10 | T3 |
| PGA Championship | | | | | | | | | |
| Tournament | 1970 | 1971 | 1972 | 1973 | 1974 | 1975 | 1976 | 1977 | 1978 | 1979 |
| Masters Tournament | CUT | T9 | T22 | T51 | | CUT | | | | |
| U.S. Open | | | | | | | | | | |
| The Open Championship | T17 | T11 | | T28 | T51 | T28 | T32 | T48 | CUT | CUT |
| PGA Championship | | | | | | | | | | |

CUT = missed the half-way cut R16, QF, SF = Round in which player lost in PGA Championship match play "T" = tied

### Summary

| Tournament | Wins | 2nd | 3rd | Top-5 | Top-10 | Top-25 | Events | Cuts made |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Masters Tournament | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 9 | 15 | 11 |
| U.S. Open | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 5 | 4 |
| The Open Championship | 1 | 1 | 6 | 9 | 11 | 14 | 22 | 20 |
| PGA Championship | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Totals | 1 | 2 | 6 | 11 | 17 | 27 | 44 | 37 |

* Most consecutive cuts made – 14 (1948 Open Championship – 1957 Open Championship)
* Longest streak of top-10s – 3 (twice)

## Champions Tour major championships

### Wins (1)

| Year | Championship | Winning score | Margin | Runner-up |
| - | - | - | - | - |
| 1980 | U.S. Senior Open | −3 (74-73-68-70=285) | 4 strokes | William C. Campbell (a) |

## Team appearances

* World Cup (representing Argentina): 1953 (winners), 1954, 1955, 1962 (individual winner), 1963, 1964, 1965, 1966, 1968, 1969, 1970 (individual winner), 1971, 1972, 1973, 1974
* World Cup (representing Mexico): 1956, 1959, 1960, 1961
