Sam Parks Jr.
1 Major Championship • 90th All-Time
1
Wins
0
2nd Place
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First Win Age
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Last Win Age
Major Championship Wins
About Sam Parks Jr.
Sam Parks Jr. won 1 major championship during their career.
Learn more: Wikipedia
Career Highlights
- 1935 U.S. Open — Won at Oakmont Country Club at age 25, using his local knowledge to navigate the treacherous course
- Home Course Advantage — Only player to break 300 strokes at Oakmont's furrowed bunkers and shaved greens, finishing at 299 (+11)
- 1935 Ryder Cup — Made historic Ryder Cup debut, matched against Alf Perry (British Open champion) — first time U.S. Open and British Open champions of same year met in Ryder Cup
- Dramatic Ryder Cup Finish — Made 30-foot birdie putt on 36th hole to tie his match with Perry, keeping both champions undefeated
- University of Pittsburgh — Helped found the school's golf team in the 1920s as a student-athlete
Did You Know?
- Ultimate Local Hero: Parks was the professional at nearby South Hills Country Club and was considered little-known nationally, making his victory one of the biggest upsets in U.S. Open history
- Recent Convert: He was a comparatively recent convert from college and amateur ranks when he won the U.S. Open, having turned professional just two years earlier in 1933
- Oakmont Specialist: His intimate knowledge of Oakmont Country Club, one of the most difficult courses in America, proved to be the decisive factor in his surprise victory