8 Golf Players Who Passed Away 2019
Alice Dye
Alice Holliday Dye (née O’Neal), born February 19, 1927, in Indianapolis, Indiana, emerged as one of the most influential figures in both competitive and architectural realms of golf before passing away on February 1, 2019, in Gulf Stream, Florida, at age 91 . An accomplished amateur player, she captured eleven Indianapolis Women’s City titles and nine Indiana Women’s Golf Association Amateur crowns before winning the prestigious North & South Women’s Amateur in 1968 and then back‑to‑back U.S. Senior Women’s Amateur championships in 1978 and 1979 . While still a college student at Rollins College, she met fellow golfer Paul “Pete” Dye Jr., whom she married in 1950; together, they founded Dye Designs and went on to create more than 100 courses worldwide, including the iconic 17th “island green” at TPC Sawgrass — a feature inspired by Alice herself . Beyond her design prowess, Dye was a tireless advocate for women’s golf: she pioneered the introduction of forward tees and reduced yardages to make the game more accessible and enjoyable for female players . Breaking further ground, she became the first woman president of the American Society of Golf Course Architects and the first female independent director of the PGA of America . Dye’s legacy endures through the courses she shaped, the opportunities she forged for women in golf, and the countless players she inspired.
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Legendary Scottish golfer Gordon Brand Jnr, born August 19, 1958, in Kirkcaldy, Scotland, turned professional in 1981 and swiftly made his mark by claiming two European Tour titles in his rookie season, earning Sir Henry Cotton Rookie of the Year honors in 1982. Over the next decade he compiled eight European Tour victories—spanning the Coral Classic, Celtic International and GA European Open—while setting a Tour record with four eagles in a single round at the 1986 Jersey Open. Brand’s consistent excellence saw him twice finish inside the top 10 on the European Tour Order of Merit, peaking at fourth in 1987, and he represented Europe in the Ryder Cup in both 1987—helping secure the first Stateside victory—and 1989, finishing with a 2–4–1 match record. After turning 50 he joined the European Senior Tour, adding two more titles to his resume at the 2010 Matrix Jersey Classic and the 2013 WINSTONgolf Senior Open. On July 31, 2019, at age 60, Brand suffered a fatal heart attack in an ambulance near Maidstone, Kent, following a practice round for the Staysure PGA Senior Championship; tributes poured in from across the golfing world. He is survived by his wife, Sheena, and their children, who carry forward his enduring legacy as one of Scotland’s most accomplished and beloved professionals.
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Brian Barnes
Brian Barnes, born on September 14, 1945, in Kingston, Jamaica, and raised in Scotland, was a charismatic professional golfer whose career spanned three decades until his death on September 9, 2019, at the age of 74. A nine-time winner on the European Tour between 1973 and 1985, Barnes became renowned for blending stylish ball‑striking with a bold, attacking mindset that thrilled spectators across the continent. His Ryder Cup record was equally impressive: selected to represent Europe (then Great Britain & Ireland) in six consecutive biennial matches from 1973 to 1983, he amassed a reputation as his team’s stalwart performer. Forever etched in Ryder Cup lore are Barnes’s two head‑to‑head victories over Jack Nicklaus during the 1975 contest at Laurel Valley, an achievement that underscored his ability to excel under immense pressure and cemented his status as a Scottish golfing hero. Off the course, Barnes was admired for his warm personality, ready wit, and generosity toward younger players seeking guidance, qualities that earned him deep affection within the golfing fraternity. In later years, despite battling injuries, he remained engaged with the sport as a commentator and mentor. His legacy lives on in the European golfing community he helped galvanize during a transformative era. Barnes is survived by his wife, Louise, and their two children, and is fondly remembered by countless friends and admirers who recall both his exploits on the leaderboard and his indomitable spirit.
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Marilynn Smith
Marilynn Smith, one of the pioneering figures of women’s professional golf and a driving force behind the formation of the Ladies Professional Golf Association, passed away on April 9, 2019, at the age of 89. Born in Topeka, Kansas, on April 13, 1929, Smith first picked up a club as a teenager, displaying early talent that would carry her to the heights of her sport. In 1950, she entered the fledgling LPGA Tour as one of its original 13 founders, alongside contemporaries such as Patty Berg and Babe Zaharias, committing herself to growing opportunities for women in golf. Over a career that spanned more than three decades, she secured 23 official LPGA Tour victories, including back‑to‑back major championships at the Titleholders Championship in 1963 and 1964, where her steady putting and unflappable demeanor under pressure stood out. Known for her trademark smile and gracious sportsmanship, Smith also represented the United States in three victorious Curtis Cup teams and served as LPGA president from 1958 to 1960, promoting sponsorships and television coverage that laid the groundwork for the Tour’s future prosperity. Off the course, she authored two instructional books—Marilynn Smith’s Golf Clinic and The Women’s Golf Book—and later co‑founded the Women’s Senior Golf Tour, ensuring her influence spanned generations. In 2006, her contributions were immortalized with induction into the World Golf Hall of Fame.
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Arie Irawan
Muhammad Arie Irawan Ahmad Fauzi was a rising Malaysian golf talent whose career spanned the Asian Development Tour, Asian Tour and PGA Tour China. Born August 21, 1990 in Selangor, Malaysia, Irawan distinguished himself early by winning the 2008 Malaysian Amateur Stroke Play Championship before accepting a golf scholarship at the University of Tulsa, where he earned Academic All‑American honors and majored in Management Information Systems . Turning professional in April 2013, he claimed back‑to‑back victories on the Asian Development Tour in early 2015—including the Sime Darby Harvard Championship and the ICTSI Eagle Ridge Invitational—becoming the highest‑ranked Malaysian golfer at that time . He also notched two wins on the Professional Golf of Malaysia Tour and narrowly missed full Asian Tour status on multiple occasions. In 2019, Irawan competed in the PGA Tour Series‑China’s Sanya Championship; after missing the 36‑hole cut, he remained onsite at the Sheraton Sanya Resort. On the morning of April 7, his roommate discovered him unresponsive in their hotel room. Despite 45 minutes of CPR by fellow competitors and medical staff, he was pronounced dead, with early indications pointing to natural causes ﹘though the coroner’s report was incomplete at publication ﹘a tragedy that stunned the tight‑knit China circuit and prompted an outpouring of condolences to his wife, Marina, and his family back home.
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Margaret Todd
Margaret Todd, one of Canada’s most accomplished amateur golfers, passed away on July 15, 2019, at the remarkable age of 101. Born Margaret Agnes Sutcliffe on May 31, 1918, in Montreal, she later settled in Victoria, British Columbia, where her golfing legacy would take shape. A member of the Victoria Golf Club for over 80 years, Todd was a dominant force in women’s amateur golf during the mid-20th century. She won the British Columbia Women’s Amateur Championship three consecutive times from 1947 to 1949 and went on to win numerous regional titles, including eight Victoria & District Ladies’ championships and 11 Victoria Golf Club championships. As a senior, she continued her excellence by winning the Canadian Women’s Senior Championship twice, in 1976 and 1977, and the B.C. Senior title in those same years. She was also an international competitor, representing Canada in the Curtis Cup and Commonwealth matches, and later served as a national team captain. Off the course, Todd contributed extensively to golf administration, helping develop Canada’s course rating system and serving in leadership roles in the Canadian Ladies’ Golf Association. She was inducted into multiple halls of fame, including the Canadian Golf Hall of Fame (1997) and the B.C. Sports Hall of Fame (1973). Remembered for her pioneering spirit, competitive excellence, and tireless promotion of women’s golf, Margaret Todd leaves behind an enduring legacy in Canadian sport.
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Gene Littler
Gene Littler, affectionately known as “Gene the Machine” for his smooth, methodical swing, passed away on February 16, 2019, at the age of 88. Born on July 21, 1930, in San Diego, California, Littler’s golfing journey began in amateur ranks, where his precision and composure earned him the 1953 U.S. Amateur title. Turning professional that same year, he quickly established himself on the PGA Tour, amassing 29 victories over a career spanning four decades. His crowning achievement came in 1961, when he claimed the U.S. Open at Oakland Hills, overcoming a challenging field with calm under pressure and a textbook approach that typified his style. Beyond his Open triumph, Littler scored multiple wins in prestigious events such as the Bing Crosby National Pro-Am and the San Diego Open, and he represented the United States in four Ryder Cup teams between 1963 and 1975, compiling an impressive record against Europe’s best. In recognition of his contributions to the game, he was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 1990. Known for his gentlemanly demeanor, Littler mentored younger players and remained active in senior competition, securing five Senior PGA Tour victories after turning 50. Off the course, he was devoted to his wife, Beth, and their two children, with whom he shared a life of quiet dignity and sportsmanship. His passing was mourned by fans and fellow professionals alike, who remembered him not only for his elegant stroke and major championship pedigree but also for his unwavering integrity and the class he brought to the game of golf.
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Jo Ann Washam
Jo Ann Washam was a pioneering American golfer whose steady play and competitive spirit earned her three LPGA Tour victories during the 1970s. Born May 24, 1950 and raised in Auburn, Washington, she attended Washington State University on an Evans Caddie Scholarship, becoming the first WSU athlete to compete in national championships in both golf (1971) and basketball (1972) and securing induction into the WSU Athletic Hall of Fame in 1982 . Turning professional in 1973, Washam joined the LPGA Tour, where she captured titles at the 1975 Patty Berg Classic, the 1975 Portland Ladies Classic and added a memorable win in 1979, showcasing her precision and tenacity on courses across the country. Standing at just 5 ft 3 in, her low center of gravity and thoughtful shotmaking belied her diminutive stature, and she even made history as the first LPGA player to record two holes‑in‑one in a single event . Over a 16‑year career spanning from 1973 to 1989, she amassed five professional victories in total, including two outside the Tour, and twice finished inside the top six at major championships, placing third at the 1975 Women’s PGA Championship and tying for fifth in the 1979 U.S. Women’s Open . In her later years, Washam endured a series of health challenges—including diabetes, a heart bypass, back and neck surgeries, and a fracture with subsequent infection in the year before her passing—yet she remained beloved by peers for her warm nature and quiet resilience . She passed away at her home in King County, Washington, at age 69, leaving behind a legacy of trailblazing achievement and sportsmanship that continues to inspire golfers from the Pacific Northwest and beyond.
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