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Gene Sarazen

United States · born , Harrison, New York, USA · died

7major championships

Summary

  • First major 1922 PGA Championship
  • Last major 1935 The Masters
  • Ryder Cup 6 Cups · 7-2-3 · 8.5 points (70.8%)
  • Runner-up in majors 4 times

Wins

  1. 1922 PGA Championship Oakmont Country Club · won the final 4 & 3 against Emmet French
  2. 1922 U.S. Open Skokie C.C. · 288 (+8) · by 1 stroke from John Black and Bobby Jones
  3. 1923 PGA Championship Pelham Country Club · won the final won on 38th hole against Walter Hagen
  4. 1932 U.S. Open Fresh Meadow C.C. · 286 (+6) · by 3 strokes from Bobby Cruickshank and Phil Perkins
  5. 1932 The Open Prince's Golf Club · 283 · by 5 strokes from Macdonald Smith
  6. 1933 PGA Championship Blue Mound Country Club · won the final 5 & 4 against Willie Goggin
  7. 1935 The Masters Augusta National Golf Club · 282 (-6) · won a playoff against Craig Wood

Near misses

  1. 1928 The Open Royal St George's Golf Club · runner-up to Walter Hagen · 294
  2. 1929 The Open Muirfield · finished T8 · 304
  3. 1930 PGA Championship Fresh Meadow Country Club · runner-up to Tommy Armour · lost the final 1 up
  4. 1931 The Open Carnoustie Golf Links (Championship Course) · finished T3 · 298
  5. 1933 The Open Old Course, St Andrews · finished T3 · 293 (+1)
  6. 1934 U.S. Open Merion Cricket Club · runner-up to Olin Dutra
  7. 1936 The Open Royal Liverpool Golf Club · finished T5 · 291
  8. 1940 U.S. Open Canterbury G.C. · runner-up to Lawson Little · playoff: 18 holes, 70–73

Ryder Cup

6 Cups, 12 matches: 7 won, 2 lost, 3 halved, 8.5 points. Foursomes 3-1-2, four-ball 0-0-0, singles 4-1-1.

  1. 1927 Worcester Country Club USA · USA won 9.5–2.5 · 1-0-1, 1.5 points
  2. 1929 Moortown Golf Club USA · GB won 7–5 · 0-2-0, 0 points
  3. 1931 Scioto Country Club USA · USA won 9–3 · 2-0-0, 2 points
  4. 1933 Southport and Ainsdale Golf Club USA · GB won 6.5–5.5 · 1-0-1, 1.5 points
  5. 1935 Ridgewood Country Club USA · USA won 9–3 · 2-0-0, 2 points
  6. 1937 Southport and Ainsdale Golf Club USA · USA won 8–4 · 1-0-1, 1.5 points

Rivals

Beat him

Beaten in finals and playoffs

Emmet FrenchLost the 1922 PGA Championship final to Gene SarazenWillie GogginLost the 1933 PGA Championship final to Gene Sarazen

Ryder Cup partners

Ryder Cup opponents

Next in the chain: Tommy Armour's rivals →

Moments

  1. 1922 PGA Championship The final was square through 26 holes before Sarazen won the 27th, 28th and 29th holes and closed it out on the 33rd.
  2. 1922 PGA Championship Johnny Farrell knocked out two-time champion Jim Barnes 1 up in the 18-hole second round.
  3. 1923 PGA Championship Sarazen was 2 up with three holes to play but bogeyed two straight holes, and Hagen squared the match. It was the first PGA final to go to extra holes.
  4. 1923 PGA Championship On the 38th hole Hagen needed two swings to escape a greenside bunker, and Sarazen made birdie to win.
  5. 1932 Open Sarazen used his newly invented sand wedge in competition for the first time.
  6. 1932 Open His 283 broke Jones's 1927 record by two, and he led outright after every round.
  7. 1933 PGA Championship Johnny Revolta beat Alex Gerlak 12 & 11 in the first round, the joint-record margin for a 36-hole PGA match.
  8. 1933 PGA Championship Willie Goggin beat Al Espinosa 9 & 7 and Jimmy Hines 1 up to reach the final, where Sarazen beat him 5 & 4.
  9. 1935 Masters In the final round Sarazen holed a 4-wood from about 235 yards for a double eagle on the par-5 15th, catching Craig Wood and forcing a playoff.
  10. 1935 Masters Sarazen won the 36-hole Monday playoff by five strokes, completing the first career Grand Slam of the four professional majors.
  11. 1927 Ryder Cup George Duncan beat Joe Turnesa 1 up for GB's only singles win; Charles Whitcombe halved with Gene Sarazen for GB's only other singles half-point.
  12. 1937 Ryder Cup Gene Sarazen's approach at the 33rd bounced off a spectator onto the green and he holed the birdie putt to lead Percy Alliss, winning 1 up.

Records and firsts

  1. 1922 PGA Championship PGA Championship match-play finals (finals, won, lost): 4 · 3 · 1 (1922; 1923; 1930; 1933)
  2. 1922 PGA Championship Youngest PGA champions: 20 years 5 months 22 days
  3. 1923 PGA Championship Youngest PGA champions: 21 years 7 months 2 days

Results by championship

    Best day

    1923 PGA Championship

    Pelham Country Club, Pelham Manor, New York · won the final won on 38th hole against Walter Hagen

    Sarazen was 2 up with three holes to play but bogeyed two straight holes, and Hagen squared the match. It was the first PGA final to go to extra holes.

    On the 38th hole Hagen needed two swings to escape a greenside bunker, and Sarazen made birdie to win.

    Record: 21 years 7 months 2 days

    Chosen by rule: the major win our record tables single out. Year page: 1923.

    Career line, 1922–1940

    Masters
    1935 Masters: won
    PGA Championship
    1922 PGA Championship: won1923 PGA Championship: won1930 PGA Championship: runner-up to Tommy Armour1933 PGA Championship: won
    U.S. Open
    1922 U.S. Open: won1932 U.S. Open: won1934 U.S. Open: runner-up to Olin Dutra1940 U.S. Open: runner-up to Lawson Little
    The Open
    1928 The Open: runner-up to Walter Hagen1929 The Open: finished T81931 The Open: finished T31932 The Open: won1933 The Open: finished T31936 The Open: finished T5
    Ryder Cup
    1927 Ryder Cup (USA): 1-0-11929 Ryder Cup (USA): 0-2-01931 Ryder Cup (USA): 2-0-01933 Ryder Cup (USA): 1-0-11935 Ryder Cup (USA): 2-0-01937 Ryder Cup (USA): 1-0-1
    1925193019351940

    21 results. Hover or tap a mark; click it for the year.

    • Major win
    • Runner-up
    • Top 10
    • Ryder Cup, USA

    Gene Sarazen was born on February 27, 1902, in Harrison, New York, USA. Sarazen won 7 major championships: 1 Masters (1935), 3 PGA Championships (1922, 1923, 1933), 2 U.S. Opens (1922, 1932) and 1 Open Championship (1932). Sarazen played in 6 Ryder Cups for USA (1927, 1929, 1931, 1933, 1935, 1937), winning 7, losing 2 and halving 3 of 12 matches for 8.5 points.

    See Gene Sarazen in our rooms: The Masters, U.S. Open, The Open, Greatest Golfer by State and Every Ground.

    Cards you pull this visit stack here. Tap one to go back to it.

    The record

    Wins in the majors (7)

    1. 1922 PGA Championship Oakmont Country Club, Oakmont, Pennsylvania · won the final 4 & 3 against Emmet French
    2. 1922 U.S. Open Skokie C.C., Glencoe, IL · 288 (+8) · by 1 stroke from John Black and Bobby Jones
    3. 1923 PGA Championship Pelham Country Club, Pelham Manor, New York · won the final won on 38th hole against Walter Hagen
    4. 1932 U.S. Open Fresh Meadow C.C., Flushing, NY · 286 (+6) · by 3 strokes from Bobby Cruickshank and Phil Perkins
    5. 1932 The Open Prince's Golf Club · 283 · by 5 strokes from Macdonald Smith
    6. 1933 PGA Championship Blue Mound Country Club, Wauwatosa, Wisconsin · won the final 5 & 4 against Willie Goggin
    7. 1935 The Masters Augusta National Golf Club · 282 (-6) · won a playoff against Craig Wood (Sarazen 71-73=144; Wood 75-74=149)

    Near misses

    Top-10 finishes are listed for The Open, the one championship with a full top 10 every year.

    1. 1928 The Open Royal St George's Golf Club · runner-up to Walter Hagen · 294
    2. 1929 The Open Muirfield · finished T8 · 304
    3. 1930 PGA Championship Fresh Meadow Country Club · runner-up to Tommy Armour · lost the final 1 up
    4. 1931 The Open Carnoustie Golf Links (Championship Course) · finished T3 · 298
    5. 1933 The Open Old Course, St Andrews · finished T3 · 293 (+1)
    6. 1934 U.S. Open Merion Cricket Club · runner-up to Olin Dutra
    7. 1936 The Open Royal Liverpool Golf Club · finished T5 · 291
    8. 1940 U.S. Open Canterbury G.C. · runner-up to Lawson Little · playoff: 18 holes, 70–73

    U.S. Open top-10 finishes in his career: 14 (GNN U.S. Open room data).

    Ryder Cup

    Sarazen played 6 Ryder Cups for USA: 12 matches, 7 won, 2 lost, 3 halved, 8.5 points (70.8% of those available). By format: foursomes 3-1-2, four-ball 0-0-0, singles 4-1-1 (won-lost-halved).

    1. 1927 Worcester Country Club USA · USA won 9.5–2.5 · 1-0-1, 1.5 points
    2. 1929 Moortown Golf Club USA · GB won 7–5 · 0-2-0, 0 points
    3. 1931 Scioto Country Club USA · USA won 9–3 · 2-0-0, 2 points
    4. 1933 Southport and Ainsdale Golf Club USA · GB won 6.5–5.5 · 1-0-1, 1.5 points
    5. 1935 Ridgewood Country Club USA · USA won 9–3 · 2-0-0, 2 points
    6. 1937 Southport and Ainsdale Golf Club USA · USA won 8–4 · 1-0-1, 1.5 points

    Partners, with matches played together: Walter Hagen (2), Al Watrous (1), Ed Dudley (1), Johnny Farrell (1), Denny Shute (1).

    PGA Championship match play

    Every recorded match in our bracket file, 1916–1957: 54 won, 25 lost, including 3 of 4 finals.

    1. 1921 Round of 32 beat Harry Hampton 4 & 3
    2. 1921 Round of 16 beat Jock Hutchison 8 & 7
    3. 1921 Quarterfinal lost to Cyril Walker 5 & 4
    4. 1922 Round of 64 beat Tom Mahan 3 & 2
    5. 1922 Round of 32 beat Willie Ogg 2 & 1
    6. 1922 Round of 16 beat Frank Sprogell 9 & 7
    7. 1922 Quarterfinal beat Jock Hutchison 3 & 1
    8. 1922 Semifinal beat Bobby Cruickshank 3 & 2
    9. 1922 Final beat Emmet French 4 & 3
    10. 1923 Round of 64 beat Lloyd Gullickson 8 & 7
    11. 1923 Round of 32 beat D.K. White 11 & 10
    12. 1923 Round of 16 beat Alec Campbell 3 & 2
    13. 1923 Quarterfinal beat Jim Barnes 1 up
    14. 1923 Semifinal beat Bobby Cruickshank 6 & 5
    15. 1923 Final beat Walter Hagen won on 38th hole
    16. 1924 Round of 32 beat Fred McLeod 5 & 4
    17. 1924 Round of 16 lost to Larry Nabholtz 2 & 1
    18. 1925 Round of 32 lost to Jack Burke 8 & 7
    19. 1926 Round of 32 beat Jim Barnes 5 & 4
    20. 1926 Round of 16 lost to Johnny Golden 4 & 3
    21. 1927 Round of 32 beat J.G. Curley won on 37th hole
    22. 1927 Round of 16 beat Ed Dudley 4 & 3
    23. 1927 Quarterfinal lost to Joe Turnesa 4 & 2
    24. 1928 Round of 32 beat Bill Mehlhorn 3 & 2
    25. 1928 Round of 16 beat Jim Barnes 3 & 2
    26. 1928 Quarterfinal beat Ed Dudley 7 & 6
    27. 1928 Semifinal lost to Leo Diegel 9 & 8
    28. 1929 Round of 32 beat Jock Hendry 3 & 2
    29. 1929 Round of 16 beat Fred Morrison 3 & 2
    30. 1929 Quarterfinal lost to Leo Diegel 3 & 2
    31. 1930 Round of 32 beat Charles Schneider 1 up
    32. 1930 Round of 16 beat Bob Crowley 7 & 6
    33. 1930 Quarterfinal beat Al Espinosa 2 & 1
    34. 1930 Semifinal beat Joe Kirkwood 5 & 4
    35. 1930 Final lost to Tommy Armour 1 up
    36. 1931 Round of 32 beat Al Espinosa 9 & 8
    37. 1931 Round of 16 beat Paul Runyan 7 & 6
    38. 1931 Quarterfinal beat Horton Smith 5 & 4
    39. 1931 Semifinal lost to Tom Creavy 5 & 3
    40. 1933 Round of 32 beat Vincent Eldred 8 & 7
    41. 1933 Round of 16 beat Harry Cooper 4 & 3
    42. 1933 Quarterfinal beat Ed Dudley 6 & 5
    43. 1933 Semifinal beat Johnny Farrell 5 & 4
    44. 1933 Final beat Willie Goggin 5 & 4
    45. 1934 Round of 32 beat Herman Barron 3 & 2
    46. 1934 Round of 16 lost to Al Watrous 4 & 3
    47. 1935 Round of 64 beat George Christ 4 & 3
    48. 1935 Round of 32 lost to Alvin Krueger 2 & 1
    49. 1936 Round of 64 lost to Jack Patroni 1 up
    50. 1937 Round of 64 beat Eddie Schultz 3 & 2
    51. 1937 Round of 32 lost to Jim Foulis 1 up
    52. 1938 Round of 64 beat Leo Walper 4 & 3
    53. 1938 Round of 32 beat Harry Nettlebladt 6 & 5
    54. 1938 Round of 16 beat Jimmy Demaret won on 38th hole
    55. 1938 Quarterfinal lost to Henry Picard 3 & 2
    56. 1939 Round of 64 lost to Jack Ryan 1 up
    57. 1940 Round of 64 beat Stan Staszowski 4 & 3
    58. 1940 Round of 32 beat Ray Mangrum 2 & 1
    59. 1940 Round of 16 beat Henry Picard 1 up
    60. 1940 Quarterfinal lost to Sam Snead 1 up
    61. 1941 Round of 64 beat Joe Burch 5 & 4
    62. 1941 Round of 32 beat Toney Penna won on 19th hole
    63. 1941 Round of 16 beat Bruce Coltart 9 & 7
    64. 1941 Quarterfinal beat Denny Shute 7 & 6
    65. 1941 Semifinal lost to Byron Nelson 2 up
    66. 1945 Round of 32 lost to Byron Nelson 4 & 3
    67. 1947 Round of 64 beat Johnny Revolta 1 up
    68. 1947 Round of 32 beat Sam Snead 2 & 1
    69. 1947 Round of 16 lost to Ky Laffoon 4 & 3
    70. 1948 Round of 64 beat Harvey Raynor 4 & 3
    71. 1948 Round of 32 beat Jackson Bradley 2 & 1
    72. 1948 Round of 16 lost to Ben Hogan 1 up
    73. 1949 Round of 64 lost to Henry Williams Jr. 2 & 1
    74. 1951 Round of 64 beat Charles Harter 2 & 1
    75. 1951 Round of 32 lost to Jack Burke 5 & 3
    76. 1953 Round of 64 lost to Felice Torza 2 & 1
    77. 1955 Round of 64 beat Clarence Doser 6 & 4
    78. 1955 Round of 32 lost to Shelley Mayfield 4 & 3
    79. 1956 Round of 16 lost to Sam Snead 5 & 4

    Records and firsts

    Rows from our record tables that name this player, worded as the tables word them.

    1. 1922 PGA Championship PGA Championship match-play finals (finals, won, lost): 4 · 3 · 1 (1922; 1923; 1930; 1933)
    2. 1922 PGA Championship Youngest PGA champions: 20 years 5 months 22 days
    3. 1923 PGA Championship Youngest PGA champions: 21 years 7 months 2 days

    Sources

    Elsewhere: Wikipedia.

    Every fact on this page comes from Golf Network News data sets compiled in October 2026 (Masters, PGA Championship, The Open, U.S. Women's Open, Ryder Cup, PGA Tour 2024–2026, major host sites, Champions Dinner menus, and the U.S. Open and state rooms). These are the sources those rows cite.

    1. golfcompendium.com: masters winners
    2. golfcompendium.com: us open winners
    3. golfcompendium.com: british open winners
    4. golfcompendium.com: pga championship winners
    5. Wikipedia: Gene Sarazen
    6. golfcompendium.com: pga tour career wins
    7. Wikipedia: Masters Tournament
    8. pga.com: list masters champions
    9. Britannica
    10. Golf Compendium PGA Tour wins
    11. where2golf
    12. WP: List of American Ryder Cup golfers
    13. PGA of America winners & venues
    14. Golf Compendium 1922
    15. The Golf News Net history table (2026)
    16. Today's Golfer purse history
    17. Trenham, Philadelphia PGA history 1921–1929
    18. Golf Compendium tournament records
    19. PGA of America 2013 media guide, p. 109
    20. GNN U.S. Open room (champions data)
    21. Golf Compendium 1923
    22. R&A 1932
    23. GC 1932
    24. R&A Journey 1932
    25. Golf Compendium 1933
    26. Trenham, Philadelphia PGA history 1930–1939
    27. golfcompendium.com: 1935 masters tournament
    28. Wikipedia: 1935 Masters Tournament
    29. golf.com: masters purse masters winners payouts alltime
    30. Wikipedia: 1934 Masters Tournament
    31. todays-golfer.com: how the masters prize money has changed over the years
    32. pgatour.com: what is the cut at the masters tournament augusta national (archived copy; the original link no longer works)
    33. todays-golfer.com: cut rules
    34. golfcompendium.com: 1957 masters
    35. nbcsports.com: by the numbers jumpsuit numbers for every masters champions caddie
    36. liveabout.com: what are the yardages at augusta national during the masters 1564592
    37. golfcompendium.com: 1934 masters tournament
    38. R&A 1929
    39. R&A 1931
    40. R&A 1933
    41. R&A 1936
    42. Golf Compendium 1921
    43. Golf Compendium 1924
    44. Golf Compendium 1926
    45. Golf Compendium 1927
    46. Golf Compendium 1928
    47. Golf Compendium 1929
    48. Golf Compendium 1930
    49. The R&A, Tommy Armour
    50. Golf Compendium 1931
    51. Golf Compendium 1934
    52. Golf Compendium 1938
    53. Golf Compendium 1940
    54. Golf Compendium 1941
    55. PGA of America, Nelson 1945
    56. Sports Illustrated Vault, Nelson 1945 (1995) — link no longer works (checked October 17, 2026): https://vault.si.com/vault/1995/07/24/major-hurdle-to-overcome-a-history-of-failure-in-the-pga-championship-byron-nelson-had-to-beat-a-man-with-a-past
    57. Golf Compendium 1947
    58. Golf Compendium 1948
    59. Golf Compendium 1953
    60. Golf Compendium 1956
    61. GC: 1927 ryder cup
    62. Wikipedia: 1927 Ryder Cup
    63. GC: 1929 ryder cup
    64. Wikipedia: 1929 Ryder Cup
    65. GC: 1931 ryder cup
    66. Wikipedia: 1931 Ryder Cup
    67. GC: 1933 ryder cup
    68. Wikipedia: 1933 Ryder Cup
    69. GC: 1935 ryder cup
    70. Wikipedia: 1935 Ryder Cup
    71. GC: 1937 ryder cup
    72. Wikipedia: 1937 Ryder Cup