10 Golf Players Who Died in May 2020

 10 Golf Players Who Died in May 2020

Doug Sanders

George Douglas Sanders, known affectionately as the “Peacock of the Fairways,” was born on July 24, 1933, in Cedartown, Georgia, and rose from humble beginnings—picking cotton and teaching himself golf on a nearby nine-hole course—to become one of the most colorful and successful players on the PGA Tour, with 20 official Tour victories and a reputation for flamboyant course attire and an exceptionally short, flat swing shaped in part by a chronic neck condition . After an amateur triumph at the 1956 Canadian Open—the only amateur winner of that event until 1985—he turned professional later that year and quickly established himself among the game’s elite, peaking in 1961 when he won five times and finished third on the PGA Tour money list . Sanders compiled four agonizing runner-up finishes in major championships: T2 at the 1959 PGA Championship, T2 at the 1961 U.S. Open, and twice at The Open Championship in 1966 and 1970; his most infamous near-miss came at St Andrews in 1970, when he missed a roughly 30-inch putt on the 72nd hole to win, then lost the 18-hole playoff the next day to Jack Nicklaus by a single stroke, an episode that cemented his legend in golf lore . In addition to his individual victories, Sanders represented the United States on the 1967 Ryder Cup team, contributing to the squad’s success . Off the course, his sartorial flair earned him accolades such as being named one of America’s Ten Best Dressed Jocks by Esquire in 1972, and he capitalized on his persona by authoring books like “Compact Golf” (1964) and an autobiography “Come Swing with Me” (1974), while later founding a corporate golf entertainment company and sponsoring junior and celebrity golf events in Houston, Texas, where he had settled . Sanders’s legacy endures both for his significant contributions to American golf—24 professional wins including 20 PGA Tour titles—and for the indelible image of a golfer who played brilliantly yet often fell just short of major glory, all while dazzling fans and fellow players with his vibrant wardrobe and unshakable good humor . He passed away of natural causes in Houston on April 12, 2020, at the age of 86, leaving behind a rich tapestry of anecdotes, near-misses, and colorful memories that continue to resonate within the sport .

Peter Alliss

Peter Alliss, born 28 February 1931 in Berlin while his father Percy served as club professional at Wannsee Golf Club, emerged as one of Britain’s most accomplished golfers before forging an even more celebrated broadcasting and design career. As a player between 1952 and 1969, he claimed 31 professional tournament victories, including three British PGA Championships, and represented Great Britain & Ireland in eight Ryder Cup matches—contributing to the victorious 1957 side—and England in 10 World Cups, finishing in the top 10 on multiple occasions in The Open Championship with his best 5th-place ties in 1954, 1961, 1962, and 1969 . Upon retiring from tournament golf, Alliss transitioned seamlessly into television, debuting as a BBC commentator at the 1961 Open and rising to become known universally as “the Voice of Golf” after 1978, guiding audiences for over four decades through the drama of majors and international matches with his distinctive wit, insight, and candor . Parallel to his media role, he co-designed more than 50 courses—initially partnering with Dave Thomas to create venues such as The Belfry (host of multiple Ryder Cups) and later with Clive Clark to add further championship layouts to his portfolio—while authoring numerous books on golf and serving in leadership positions such as PGA captain and British Greenkeepers’ Association president . Honored with an honorary Doctor of Letters from Bournemouth University and Doctor of Laws from St Andrews, Alliss was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 2012 for lifetime achievement, underscoring his multifaceted contributions to the game . A recipient of the Golf Foundation’s “Spirit of Golf” award for his support of junior golf, he remained active into his later years—famously still shooting his age at nearly 80—while engaging in charitable work as patron of wildlife conservation efforts. Alliss died peacefully at his home in Hindhead, Surrey, on 5 December 2020 at age 89, prompting tributes that reflected his status not only as a sporting icon but also a cherished figure in British cultural life whose voice, spirit, and influence endure in golfing circles worldwide .

Mickey Wright

Mary Kathryn “Mickey” Wright, born February 14, 1935, in San Diego, California, emerged as one of the preeminent figures in women’s golf and is widely celebrated for possessing perhaps the finest swing ever witnessed in the sport. Turning professional in late 1954 and joining the LPGA Tour in 1955, she compiled an extraordinary record of 82 LPGA Tour victories—second only to Kathy Whitworth—and captured 13 major championships, including four U.S. Women’s Open titles and multiple LPGA Championships, Titleholders, and Women’s Western Opens, at one point holding all four major titles simultaneously, a feat unmatched in tour history. From 1961 through 1964, Wright topped the LPGA money list each season and continued to rank among the top earners through the late 1960s, showcasing consistent excellence over more than a decade. Her swing—praised by legends such as Ben Hogan and admired for its fluidity, power, and precision—became a model for generations of golfers and was often cited as the benchmark of technical mastery in both men’s and women’s golf. Beyond her statistics, Wright’s presence and performance in the early years of the LPGA were instrumental in elevating the tour’s profile and inspiring broader interest in women’s professional golf. Despite retiring from full-time competition at age 34 due to foot problems, she remained involved through occasional tournament appearances and exhibitions, and later overcame health challenges including breast cancer. Wright passed away on February 17, 2020, at the age of 85, after suffering a heart attack; her death prompted widespread tributes honoring not only her record-setting achievements but also her grace, sportsmanship, and enduring influence on the game. Her legacy is cemented through numerous hall of fame inductions, rankings among the greatest golfers of all time, and honors such as a U.S. Women’s Open Champion’s Medal named in her honor, ensuring that the impact of her remarkable career and transcendent swing continues to resonate within the golf community and beyond.

Pete Dye

Pete Dye, born Paul Dye Jr. on December 29, 1925, in Urbana, Ohio, emerged as one of the most influential and innovative golf course architects of the 20th century, transforming the game’s landscape through bold design choices and memorable strategic challenges . Growing up on a nine-hole course his father built on the family farm, Dye developed an early intimacy with course construction and play, later honing his competitive edge by winning the Ohio state high school golf championship and serving as a greenskeeper while in the U.S. Army during World War II . After a stint as a successful insurance salesman and accomplished amateur golfer—winning the 1958 Indiana Amateur and qualifying for the 1957 U.S. Open—he committed to course design in his mid-thirties, partnering with his wife, Alice Dye, herself an amateur champion and fellow architect, to launch a career defined by creativity, risk-taking, and an embrace of unconventional terrain . Dye’s study of classic links courses in Scotland inspired his signature use of small, often penal greens, deep pot bunkers reinforced by railroad ties, and bold routing across diverse landscapes; these features became hallmarks of his over 200 designs worldwide, from Crooked Stick Golf Club in Indiana to Teeth of the Dog in the Dominican Republic . His most iconic achievement, the island green par-3 17th at the Stadium Course of TPC Sawgrass, unveiled in 1982, epitomized his flair for visual drama and strategic risk-reward, rapidly becoming emblematic of modern course architecture . Throughout his career, Dye received the ASGCA Donald Ross Award, the PGA Tour Lifetime Achievement Award, the PGA Distinguished Service Award, and the Old Tom Morris Award, and was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 2008 in recognition of his lasting impact on the game . Colleagues and protégés, including Bill Coore, Tom Doak, and others, credit Dye’s mentorship and bold philosophy with shaping a generation of designers, while players worldwide experienced his commitment to strategic interest, visual intimidation, and naturalistic integration. In his later years, despite suffering from Alzheimer’s disease, Dye remained revered for his visionary contributions; he passed away on January 9, 2020, at age 94, leaving a legacy of courses celebrated for their challenge, artistry, and indelible place in golf history .

John Merchant

John F. Merchant was a trailblazing lawyer, civil-rights activist, and golf pioneer whose influence reshaped both legal and sporting landscapes. Born in Greenwich, Connecticut, Merchant overcame early racial barriers to become the first African American to graduate from the University of Virginia School of Law in 1958, a milestone reached amid the broader context of the Civil Rights Movement and the aftermath of Brown v. Board of Education . After serving as a lieutenant commander in the U.S. Navy—where he first discovered golf—Merchant returned to Connecticut and co-founded the state’s first Black law firm, practicing civil and criminal law for over five decades and teaching courses on race relations and business law at local colleges . His passion for justice and equity extended naturally into golf, a sport historically marred by exclusionary practices. In 1992, following his active engagement in local country clubs and advocacy after high-profile discrimination incidents, Merchant became the first African American appointed to the USGA Executive Committee. In that role, he devoted countless hours to organizing golf’s first minority symposium—garnering support from figures such as Earl Woods and Renee Powell—to foster inclusion and equity in the sport . He championed programs that would evolve into the First Tee, aimed at introducing golf to underrepresented youth, reflecting his belief that the values of fairness and sportsmanship in golf resonated deeply with civil-rights ideals . In 1995, Merchant became the first executive director of the National Minority Golf Foundation, further institutionalizing efforts to diversify golf. Concurrently, he served briefly as counsel to a young Tiger Woods, negotiating early endorsement deals worth tens of millions, until his departure from that role under contentious circumstances—an episode illustrating both Merchant’s commitment to ensuring minority benefit from golf’s growth and the complex dynamics within elite sports management . Beyond golf, he established the Walter N. Ridley Scholarship Fund to support African American students at UVA and was inducted into the National Black Golf Hall of Fame, cementing his legacy as a mentor and advocate. Merchant spent his later years in Newtown and Bridgeport, Connecticut, where he passed away on March 5, 2020, at age 87, leaving behind a profound legacy of breaking barriers in law and sport and inspiring future generations to pursue inclusion and excellence simultaneously.

John O’Leary

John Eudes O’Leary was a highly respected Irish professional golfer whose career spanned from the early 1970s into the late 1980s before he transitioned into a long and influential administrative role on the European Tour. Born in Dublin and introduced to golf as a junior at Foxrock Golf Club, he turned professional in 1970 and was among the original competitors on the nascent European Tour from its founding in 1972. During his playing days, O’Leary accumulated two official European Tour victories: the Greater Manchester Open in June 1976, when he finished three shots clear of John Fourie, and the Carroll’s Irish Open in August 1982, when he held off Maurice Bembridge by a single stroke to become only the third Irishman at that time to win his national open—a distinction that would stand for 25 years . In addition to these triumphs, he notched other professional wins such as the 1975 Holiday Inns Invitational in South Africa and team events like the 1975 Sumrie-Bournemouth Better-Ball. O’Leary represented Great Britain and Ireland in the 1975 Ryder Cup at Laurel Valley, competing in all four sessions though without victory, and he donned Irish colors in the World Cup on three occasions (1972, 1980, 1982) as well as in events like the Double Diamond International . Known for consistency, he maintained a presence in the top 60 on the European Tour Order of Merit through much of the late 1970s and early 1980s and made 331 tour starts overall. After retiring from tournament play following the 1989 season, he joined the European Tour’s Board of Directors in 1985 and served continuously until 2019, helping to guide the Tour through significant expansion in tournaments, prize funds, and global reach; he also served on Ryder Cup committees and was widely regarded as a mentor and friend to players, particularly emerging Irish talents . Following a short illness, O’Leary passed away in Esher, Surrey, on 26 March 2020 at the age of 70, leaving behind a legacy both on the course and behind the scenes as a “people’s champion” whose contributions to European golf endured well beyond his playing years.

Gordon J. Brand

Gordon John Brand, born on 6 August 1955 in Cambridge, England, turned professional in 1976 and went on to carve out a distinguished career on the European Tour, finishing inside the top 30 on the Order of Merit on seven occasions and placing inside the top 100 sixteen times, with his best season in 1986 when he finished fifth overall and secured a runner-up finish at The Open Championship at Turnberry, second only to Greg Norman—a performance punctuated by a memorable hole-in-one on the 16th during the 1981 Open and his victory of the Tooting Bec Cup that same year with a round of 65, which he repeated en route to his Open runner-up in 1986 . His sole European Tour title came at the 1989 Volvo Belgian Open, won by four shots at Royal Waterloo Golf Club, Brussels; he was also notably successful on the African Safari Circuit with seven victories, including three wins at the Open de Côte d'Ivoire, and claimed the Safari Circuit Order of Merit three times . Brand represented Europe in the 1983 Ryder Cup and England in team events such as the World Cup (1983) and the Dunhill Cup (1986, 1987), contributing to the 1987 Dunhill Cup victory alongside Nick Faldo and Howard Clark; notably, his win over Sam Torrance was instrumental in securing that title . After a long stint as a European Tour tournament referee until 2005, he transitioned to the European Senior Tour where he amassed five victories, most memorably at the 2008 PGA Seniors Championship, in which he and Scotland’s Gordon Brand Jnr (to whom he was not related) played a record-equalling six-hole playoff before Brand clinched the title with a par putt on the sixth extra hole; a week later he won the Travis Perkins Senior Masters to finish second on the Senior Tour Order of Merit behind Ian Woosnam . After battling a short illness, Brand passed away on 11 August 2020 at the age of 65, leaving behind his wife Lyn—a former Ladies European Tour player whose putting advice he credited for his senior success—and two children, with tributes pouring in from the golfing community recognizing his consistent competitiveness, sportsmanship, and contributions as both a player and official .

Daniel Meggs 

Daniel Meggs was a promising young golfer whose life and career were tragically cut short by an aggressive battle with stage-four colon cancer. A former standout at Wake Forest University, Meggs turned professional and served as Director of Instruction at TPC Piper Glen in Charlotte, North Carolina, where he was highly regarded for his teaching acumen and dedication to helping members improve their games . His cancer diagnosis came at a pivotal moment: in 2017, just three weeks before his wedding to his high-school sweetheart Jordan, at age 27, he learned he had stage-four colon cancer, a revelation that shifted the trajectory of both his personal life and professional aspirations . Despite grueling treatments and frequent setbacks—including hospitalizations during key family milestones—Daniel remained steadfast in his protective nature, often downplaying his own suffering to shield loved ones from additional pain, a testament to his character noted in his obituary . His fight resonated across the golf community when PGA Tour star Tiger Woods, moved by the severity of Meggs’s condition and his story shared by mutual friend Harold Varner III, recorded an inspirational video message during Masters week, which went viral and provided a profound morale boost for Meggs and his supporters . That message galvanized broader awareness of his struggle, leading to fundraisers to offset mounting medical costs and widespread encouragement from fellow golfers and fans alike. Meggs’s death on February 21, 2020, at age 29, occurred just weeks before the expected birth of his first child, magnifying the poignancy of his legacy; his resilience and positivity under extreme adversity continue to inspire many in the golf world and beyond, reminding us of the profound human spirit that transcends athletic accomplishments.

Edean Ihlanfeldt

Edean Anderson Ihlanfeldt, pronounced “island-felt,” was born on April 15, 1930, in Helena, Montana, and passed away on April 27, 2020, in Wenatchee, Washington, at the age of 90 . Beginning golf at age 13, she quickly emerged as a prodigy by winning the Montana State Women’s Amateur six consecutive times from age 14 to 19 (1944–1949) . After high school, she attended Oregon State University in Corvallis, where she practiced alongside fellow golfer Grace DeMoss and was a member of Alpha Phi . In her early amateur career, she captured numerous regional championships, including five Pacific Northwest Women’s Amateur titles, four Washington State Women’s Amateur crowns, the 1952 Canadian Women’s Amateur, the Women’s Trans-Mississippi Amateur, and multiple Washington and Montana state titles throughout the 1950s and early 1960s . Notably, in 1962 she achieved the Pacific Northwest “grand slam” by winning the Seattle City Women’s title, PNGA Women’s Amateur, and Washington State Women’s Amateur in the same year—a feat unmatched to date . Beyond her playing accomplishments, in 1974 she founded the University of Washington women’s varsity golf program, coaching the team for eight years without accepting a salary and reinvesting any funds back into the program; under her guidance, the team earned three AIAW national postseason berths and produced individual qualifiers who later achieved national prominence . Her legacy at UW is honored through an annual fall tournament at Sahalee Country Club and a trophy awarded to the low qualifier in the Seattle City Women’s Amateur bearing her name . In 1982, at age 52, she won the U.S. Senior Women’s Amateur Championship, further cementing her status among the foremost senior amateurs . She was inducted into the Pacific Northwest Golf Association Hall of Fame in 1985 and the University of Washington Hall of Fame in 1989 in recognition of both her competitive achievements and her foundational role in collegiate women’s golf . Remembered for her passion, generosity, and mentorship, Edean Ihlanfeldt’s impact endures in the Northwest golf community and through the countless women players she inspired throughout her life .

Guy Wimberly

Guy Wimberly, affectionately known as “Mr. New Mexico Golf,” was born on November 8, 1938, in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and moved to New Mexico at a young age, where he would leave an indelible mark on the game of golf in the state through nearly five decades of service and leadership . After excelling as an amateur—winning the Highland High School state golf championship in 1956 and capturing the Western Athletic Conference title in 1963 as a University of New Mexico student and two-time NCAA All-American—Wimberly served four years in the U.S. Air Force, where he met his future wife, Alice Dicks; they married in 1959 and together raised two sons, Guy Jr. and Brian . Turning professional in 1964 and elected to PGA membership in 1971, he swiftly became a catalyst for growth: in 1969, alongside PGA Professional Bob Meiering, he took over Albuquerque’s Arroyo del Oso Golf Course, transforming it into a premier municipal facility recognized by Golf Digest among the “Top 50 Municipal Facilities to Play,” and ultimately expanding operations into New Mexico Golf Ltd., which grew from one to four public facilities employing over 100 PGA professionals and assistants . In 1974, Wimberly helped found the Sun Country PGA Section—separating New Mexico’s professionals from the Phoenix-centric Southwest Section—and served as its president from 1980 to 1982; he later represented District 12 on the PGA Board from 1982 to 1985 . Among his proudest accomplishments was delivering the PGA Professional Golf Management program to New Mexico State University in 1987—the third such program in the nation—as co-director with his brother Herb, thereby nurturing future generations of PGA professionals . Wimberly also championed golf tourism, guided formation of the Sun Country Amateur Golf Association and the Junior PGA Tour in New Mexico, and earned numerous honors: co-recipient of the 1979 PGA Merchandiser of the Year for Public Facilities, recipient of the 1988 Horton Smith Award for contributions to PGA education, Sun Country PGA Lifetime Achievement Award in 2001, and induction into the PGA of America Hall of Fame in 2011 . He served later as PGA Director of Golf at Sierra del Rio Golf Club (2006–2008) and continued mentoring colleagues and juniors long after formal roles concluded. Wimberly passed away on May 1, 2020, at age 81 in Las Cruces, New Mexico; the PGA of America and New Mexico’s golf community mourned the loss of a visionary leader whose selfless dedication fundamentally shaped the landscape and opportunities for golf in the “Land of Enchantment”.