Paul Runyan
2 Major Championships • 48th All-Time
Major Championship Wins
About Paul Runyan
Paul Runyan won 2 major championships during a 4-year span, with the first coming in 1934.
Learn more: Wikipedia
Career Highlights
- 1934 — Won first PGA Championship defeating Craig Wood in extra holes; also won tour money title with 16 victories in 1933-1934
- 1938 PGA Championship — Defeated Sam Snead 8 & 7 in the most lopsided PGA Championship final ever, despite being outdriven by 75 yards per hole
- Nine Wins in 1933 — One of only seven golfers to win nine or more times in a single PGA Tour season
- Ryder Cup — Represented United States in 1933 and 1935 Ryder Cup teams
- Longevity — Led U.S. Open after three rounds as late as 1951 at age 42; competed in 2000 Masters Par 3 contest at age 91
- Teaching Legend — Called the most influential short game instructor since late 1930s, teaching Gene Littler, Phil Rodgers, Mickey Wright, and many others
Did You Know?
- "Little Poison" Nickname: At 5'7" and 130 pounds, Runyan was nicknamed "Little Poison" — he believed he was the smallest player in golf history to achieve significant success
- Short Game Wizard: Realized early he couldn't compete on length, so he worked tirelessly on his short game from boyhood to compensate — his book "The Short Way to Lower Scoring" became hugely influential
- World Golf Hall of Fame: Inducted in 1990 and received the Harvey Penick Lifetime Teaching Award for his revolutionary instruction methods