8 Golf Players Who Died 2018 | Notable golf players deaths
Peter Thomson
Legendary Australian golfer Peter William Thomson, born on August 23, 1929 in Brunswick, Victoria, passed away on June 20, 2018 at the age of 88, leaving behind a legacy as one of the sport’s all‑time greats. Thomson burst onto the international scene by claiming his first Open Championship title at Royal Liverpool in 1954, and remarkably defended it in 1955 and 1956, before adding victories at Royal Lytham & St Anne’s in 1958 and Muirfield in 1965. Renowned for his masterful play on links courses, his rhythmic swing and unflappable temperament made him a formidable competitor in Britain’s coastal wind and rain. Beyond his five Open crowns—a record for any Australian—Thomson was instrumental in expanding the global game, helping to establish the Asia‑Pacific Golf Confederation and serving as a respected ambassador for the PGA Tour and the World Golf Hall of Fame, into which he was inducted in 1988. His contributions off the course, including mentoring aspiring players and promoting golf in developing markets, matched his on‑course triumphs. Thomson is survived by his wife, Lorraine, and their two children; his passing prompted moving tributes from peers who hailed not only his competitive brilliance but also his gentlemanly spirit, vision for golf’s growth, and enduring influence on the game worldwide.
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Bruce Lietzke
Bruce Alan Lietzke was an American professional golfer whose measured swing and affable demeanor belied a fierce competitiveness that yielded 13 PGA Tour victories and seven Champions Tour titles, highlighted by his triumph at the 2003 U.S. Senior Open . Born July 18, 1951 in Kansas City, Kansas, and raised in Beaumont, Texas, he honed his game locally before starring at the University of Houston. Turning pro in 1974, Lietzke broke through with his first Tour win at the 1977 Tucson Open . Over a career spanning more than three decades, he finished runner‑up at the 1991 PGA Championship, played on the victorious 1981 U.S. Ryder Cup team, and became known for capping his schedule to prioritize family time . His public battle with glioblastoma began in 2017, and he passed away at 67 in Athens, Texas, leaving behind his wife, Rose, son Stephen and daughter Christine . Tributes from across the golf world celebrated his integrity, unwavering sportsmanship and lasting impact on the game.
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Lally Segard
Dorothée Sonia “Lally” Segard (née Vagliano), born April 4, 1921, in Paris, was one of France’s greatest amateur golfers and a pioneering advocate for women’s international competition. The daughter of André Marino Vagliano—himself a two‑time French Amateur champion—and American mother Barbara Allen, she broke the Morfontaine ladies’ course record at just 16 and, after World War II, won the French Ladies’ Close Championship eight times and the open amateur titles of Spain, Italy, Switzerland, Benelux and Luxembourg. In 1950 she conquered Royal County Down to claim the British Ladies Amateur crown, defeating Jessie Valentine 3 & 2 in the final. Beyond her playing accolades, Segard co‑founded and captained France’s national teams in the Vagliano Trophy and, in 1964, masterminded the inaugural Espirito Santo Trophy, serving the World Amateur Golf Council until 1994 and helping secure its future as the premier women’s world team championship. A Vicomtesse by marriage, she navigated two unions and mourned both children before outliving them, yet remained devoted to golf governance—becoming in 2015 one of the first female honorary members of The R&A. She died in Paris on March 3, 2018, at age 96, leaving an enduring legacy on amateur golf and women’s sport.
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Doug Ford
Doug Ford, born August 6, 1922, in Miami, Florida, emerged as one of golf’s most consistent competitors in the 1950s and ’60s, amassing 19 PGA Tour victories over a three‑decade career. Turning professional in 1949 after a standout amateur tenure, he captured his first major title at the PGA Championship in 1955, edging Jay Hebert by a single stroke, and triumphed again two years later at the Masters Tournament, shooting a memorable 283 to become the first player to win both the PGA and the Masters in that era. Renowned for his steely temperament and pinpoint iron play—earning him the nickname “Long Ball Doug”—Ford represented the United States on three Ryder Cup teams (1955, 1957, 1959), contributing critical points to American victories. Off the course, he was beloved for his warm demeanor and dedication to junior golf development. In recognition of his impact on the game, he was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 2011. Ford passed away on May 14, 2018, at the age of 95, leaving behind a legacy of competitive excellence and sportsmanship that continues to inspire golfers worldwide.
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Carol Mann
Born February 3, 1941, in Buffalo, New York, Carol Mann grew up in Baltimore and Chicago, discovered golf at age nine and honed her game at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro before turning professional in 1960 and joining the LPGA Tour in 1961 . Towering at 6 ft 3 in, Mann captured 38 LPGA Tour victories—including two major championships, the 1964 Women’s Western Open and the 1965 U.S. Women’s Open—solidifying her place among the game’s greats . She led the tour in wins three times, claimed the Vare Trophy for lowest scoring average in 1968 and topped the money list in 1969 Texas Golf Hall of Fame. Beyond her playing career, Mann served as LPGA president from 1973 to 1976, guiding the organization through a pivotal era, and was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 1977 . After retiring in 1981, she lent her insights as a golf analyst for ABC, ESPN and NBC and was honored with the PGA’s “First Lady of Golf” Award in 2008 . Mann passed away at her home in The Woodlands, Texas, on May 20, 2018, at the age of 77, leaving an indelible legacy as a pioneer of women’s golf .
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Hubert Green
Legendary American golfer Hubert Green, born December 28, 1946, in Birmingham, Alabama, passed away on June 19, 2018, at age 71. Over a remarkable career spanning the late 1960s through the 1980s, Green amassed 19 PGA Tour victories, highlighted by two major championships: a dramatic playoff win at the 1977 U.S. Open at Southern Hills and a dominant performance to capture the 1985 PGA Championship at Cherry Hills. Renowned for his unflappable demeanor—famously completing his second round at the 1978 Masters despite receiving news of a death threat—Green combined steady ball striking with precise putting to consistently contend in golf’s biggest events. He also represented the United States in four Ryder Cups and twice in the World Cup, contributing to team triumphs with his calm under pressure. In recognition of his achievements and sportsmanship, Green was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 2007. After retiring from full‐time competition, he remained active in senior events and charitable endeavors. He is survived by his devoted wife, Katie, and their two daughters, Haley and Hannah, who remember him as both a fierce competitor and loving family man, leaving a lasting legacy on the game he helped define.
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Phil Rodgers
Legendary American golfer Phil Rodgers, born June 3, 1938, in San Diego, California, claimed five PGA Tour victories between 1961 and 1970, including titles at the Texas Open and the Hawaiian Open, and finished runner‑up to Bob Charles in the 1963 Open Championship after a dramatic 36‑hole playoff. Renowned for his mastery of the short game, Rodgers reinvented the wedge play of Jack Nicklaus—Nicklaus credited him with sharpening the irons that helped secure his fourth U.S. Open in 1980—and went on to be ranked among Golf Magazine’s Top 100 teachers for several years . After a stint on the Senior PGA Tour, he built a celebrated teaching career at his San Diego academy, guiding amateurs and professionals alike with his signature “low, soft” shot technique . Following a lengthy battle with leukemia, Rodgers passed away at his home near San Diego on June 26, 2018, at age 80, leaving a legacy both on tour and in the instruction realm that reshaped modern wedge play.
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Mark Hayes
Mark Hayes, the amiable Oklahoma State All‑American whose steady swing earned him a place in PGA Tour history, passed away on July 17 at the age of 69. Born in Stillwater, Oklahoma, on June 29, 1956, Hayes turned professional in 1974 and quickly made his mark by capturing the coveted Players Championship in 1977, becoming only the second golfer to win golf’s unofficial “fifth major” at the then–TPC Sawgrass. Over the course of a twelve‑year Tour career, he notched three PGA victories, including the 1979 Bay Hill Classic and the 1981 Tallahassee Open, and consistently finished in the top 10 of major championships, with a career‑best tie for fourth at the 1980 U.S. Open. Revered for his smooth temperament and generous spirit, Hayes mentored countless young golfers at his hometown academy and remained a beloved ambassador for the sport long after his competitive days ended. He is survived by his wife, Linda, two sons and a daughter, as well as a legion of friends and fans who will remember him for his warm smile, sportsmanship and enduring impact on the game.
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