Cary Middlecoff
Emmett Cary Middlecoff (January 6, 1921 – September 1, 1998), known as "Doc," was an American professional golfer and dentist who rose to prominence on the PGA Tour during the 1950s, securing three major championships, 39 Tour victories, and the distinction of leading money winner in 1956.[1][2][3] Born in Halls, Tennessee, Middlecoff trained as a dentist at the University of Mississippi and served in the U.S. Army Dental Corps during World War II, later joining his father's practice in Memphis while honing his golf skills.[1][4][5] As an amateur, Middlecoff dominated Tennessee golf, capturing the state amateur championship four consecutive years from 1940 to 1943 and winning a collegiate tournament by 29 strokes at Ole Miss, where he became the school's first golf All-American in 1939.[6][5] He turned professional in 1947 at age 26, abandoning his dental practice to pursue the sport full-time, and quickly established himself with his precise, methodical style that earned him the nickname "The Memphis Dentist."[3][7][4] Middlecoff's professional pinnacle came in the majors: he claimed the U.S. Open in 1949 at Medinah Country Club, edging out Sam Snead and Clayton Heafner by one stroke, and repeated in 1956 at Oakmont Country Club after a playoff victory over Ben Hogan and Jack Burke Jr.[8][1] He also triumphed at the 1955 Masters Tournament, winning by seven strokes over Hogan with a final-round 70 that featured birdies on three back-nine holes, cementing his status among the era's elite alongside Snead and Hogan.[4][9][1][10] Additional accolades included the 1956 Vardon Trophy for lowest scoring average, participation in three Ryder Cup teams (1953, 1955, 1959), and the 1959 World Cup with partner Sam Snead.[2][1][11] After retiring from competitive play in 1961 due to chronic back issues, Middlecoff transitioned to broadcasting, serving as a network golf commentator for 15 years and authoring instructional books on the sport.[5][4] His legacy endures as one of the most successful players of his generation, with induction into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 1986, alongside honors in the Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame (1985) and Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame (1996).[2][6][5]Early life and education
Family background and childhood
Emmett Cary Middlecoff was born on January 6, 1921, in Halls, Tennessee, to Herman Farris Middlecoff, a dentist, and Lucille (née Hutchinson) Middlecoff.[4][12][13] The family relocated to Memphis, Tennessee, when Middlecoff was one month old, where his father established a dental practice that would later influence his son's career choice.[4][3] Growing up in Memphis, Middlecoff was introduced to golf at age seven by his father, a low-handicap player and club champion, and soon began frequenting local country clubs to hone his skills.[14][15] By age 14, he was playing up to 54 holes a day, developing a passion for the sport that shaped his early years.[16] At 17, Middlecoff achieved his first notable success by winning the 1938 Memphis City Golf Championship, marking the beginning of his competitive prowess.[4][17]College years at Ole Miss
Cary Middlecoff enrolled at the University of Mississippi in 1938, majoring in pre-dentistry to follow in the footsteps of his father and uncles while maintaining a rigorous balance between his studies and burgeoning golf talent.[5][17] Middlecoff joined the Ole Miss golf team upon arrival and competed through 1941, quickly establishing himself as a dominant force in collegiate golf. In 1939, as a sophomore, he became the first All-American in Ole Miss history, earning national recognition for his exceptional ball-striking ability and composure under pressure.[5][4] During his college tenure, Middlecoff secured key victories that highlighted his emerging prowess, including a standout performance at the 1940 Southern College Golf Tournament, where he won two matches by upsetting top competitors Skip Alexander of Duke and Argentine international player Julio Castillo. These successes showcased the development of his signature precise and powerful swing, characterized by a deliberate, methodical approach that sometimes led to slower play but consistently produced accurate shots.[18][19] Middlecoff's contributions elevated Ole Miss golf to new heights, and he is retrospectively honored as the greatest golfer in the program's history, a distinction affirmed by the university's athletic department for his unparalleled impact on the sport at the school.[20]Dentistry training and military service
Following in the footsteps of his father, a Memphis dentist, Cary Middlecoff pursued a career in dentistry after his undergraduate studies. He enrolled at the University of Tennessee College of Dentistry and earned his Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS) degree in 1944.[3][19] Upon graduation, Middlecoff was commissioned into the U.S. Army Dental Corps amid World War II, serving for 18 months as a military dentist. During this period, he filled 12,093 teeth, a statistic meticulously recorded by the Army.[21][3] His service, which extended into 1945 while the war continued, provided practical experience but also exposed him to the rigors of high-volume dental work under wartime conditions.[19] After his discharge in 1946, Middlecoff returned to Memphis and briefly joined his father's dental practice, where he balanced patient care with his growing amateur golf pursuits. This dual commitment lasted about a year, as he continued competing in tournaments while maintaining his professional dental obligations.[19][15] By 1947, at age 26, Middlecoff abandoned dentistry entirely to focus on a full-time golf career, hanging a sign on his office door that read "Doctor Out, Playing Golf."[15][3]Amateur golf career
State-level achievements
Middlecoff's dominance in state-level amateur golf began at a young age. In 1938, at just 17 years old, he won the Memphis City Golf Championship, showcasing early promise in local competition.[22][19] He quickly elevated his game to statewide prominence by capturing the Tennessee State Amateur Championship four consecutive times, from 1940 to 1943—a feat that remains the record for most successive titles in the event's history.[23] These victories highlighted his emerging skill set, including long, accurate drives that became hallmarks of his play in regional amateur circuits.[4] Middlecoff also claimed additional regional honors during this era, such as upsets in the 1940 Southern College Golf tournament, where he defeated notable competitors to advance twice in match play.[18] His consistent performances in these Tennessee and southern events built a strong reputation among amateur golfers for precision and power off the tee.[19] World War II interrupted his amateur career when he enlisted in the U.S. Army Dental Corps after earning his dental degree in 1944.[5][4]National amateur competitions
Middlecoff's amateur career gained national attention during the early 1940s, building on his regional success with four consecutive Tennessee State Amateur titles from 1940 to 1943. These victories established him as a dominant figure in Southern golf, showcasing his precision and consistency that would later define his professional play. In 1939, as a college player at the University of Mississippi, he became the school's first golf All-American and won a collegiate tournament by 29 strokes.[4][6] Following World War II service as an Army dentist, Middlecoff continued competition, winning the prestigious North and South Open in November 1945 as the first amateur victor in the tournament's history. He then qualified for the 1946 U.S. Amateur at Baltusrol Golf Club by tying for the medalist lead after 36 holes with scores of 71-68. He advanced to match play, defeating George Dawson 6 and 4 in the first round, demonstrating his competitive edge against top national amateurs. Although he did not progress further in the tournament—won by Ted Bishop—his performance highlighted his potential on the larger stage.[24][25][26] In 1947, Middlecoff earned an invitation to the Masters Tournament as a prominent amateur, where he posted rounds of 71-69-76-80 for a total of 296, tying for 30th place overall. This strong showing among professionals and fellow amateurs solidified his reputation as one of the leading U.S. players, prompting him to turn professional later that year. By this point, his amateur record included national-level contention and a status as a top contender.[27][19]Professional golf career
Turning professional and early successes
After strong performances in amateur competitions, including his victory in the 1945 North and South Open as an amateur, Cary Middlecoff turned professional in late 1947.[1][28] He had been selected for the U.S. Walker Cup team earlier that year but withdrew upon deciding to pursue a full-time professional career, forgoing his planned return to dentistry practice.[28][6] Transitioning to the PGA Tour presented challenges for Middlecoff, particularly in adapting to the rigors of professional travel and managing competition-induced nerves that affected his deliberate playing style.[4] Despite these hurdles, he achieved success quickly, securing his first PGA Tour victory at the 1947 Charlotte Open in only his third professional start.[1][15] In 1948, he added wins at the Hawaiian Open and the Miami International Four-Ball, demonstrating his growing consistency on tour.[1] Middlecoff's breakthrough came in 1949 with multiple triumphs, including the Reading Open, a co-win at the Motor City Open alongside Lloyd Mangrum after an 11-hole playoff halted by darkness, and the Rio Grande Valley Open.[1][29] His U.S. Open victory that year at Medinah Country Club marked his first major championship and solidified his status as an emerging star.[30] By 1950, he continued his momentum with wins at the St. Louis Open, Jacksonville Open, and Houston Open, while early signs of chronic back issues—stemming from a congenital extra lumbar vertebra—began to influence his physical demands on tour.[1][15] These early accomplishments highlighted his technical precision and helped him establish a strong foundation amid the professional circuit's pressures.Peak years in the 1950s
The 1950s marked the pinnacle of Cary Middlecoff's professional golf career, during which he established himself as one of the dominant figures on the PGA Tour. He was the leading money earner over the decade, amassing more prize money than any other player during this period. Middlecoff secured 28 PGA Tour victories during this period, the highest total of any golfer, showcasing his consistency and prowess in a highly competitive era. His success was bolstered by his marriage to Edith Buck in 1947, an American Airlines flight attendant whose support enabled him to maintain the demanding travel schedule of the tour.[4] Among his standout non-major triumphs was the 1952 St. Paul Open, where he tied the course record with a 72-hole total of 266 to claim victory. Middlecoff's playing style contributed significantly to his dominance; as a tall athlete, he combined powerful drives with exceptional accuracy in iron play, allowing him to control courses effectively despite his reputation for deliberate pacing that drew criticism from peers and observers. In 1956, he earned the Vardon Trophy for the lowest scoring average on tour at 70.35, further underscoring his precision and consistency.[31][19][32][33][34] This era also included major championship successes that highlighted his ability to perform under pressure in elite fields. Overall, Middlecoff's blend of technical skill and mental fortitude made him the leading money winner and victor in the most events of the 1950s, solidifying his legacy as a tour powerhouse.[1]Later career and retirement
Following his peak in the mid-1950s, Middlecoff's performance began to decline around 1957, hampered by chronic back pain stemming from an extra lumbar vertebra and increasing anxiety that affected his short game, including putting.[15][33] He managed only three additional PGA Tour victories during this period: the 1958 Miller Open Invitational, the 1959 St. Petersburg Open Invitational, and his final win at the 1961 Memphis Open Invitational.[1] Middlecoff retired from full-time competition on the PGA Tour in 1961 at age 40, after accumulating 39 career wins, a total that tied for 10th on the all-time list at the time.[1][35] He continued sporadic play into the early 1960s, but health struggles limited his participation, culminating in back surgery in 1963 that effectively ended his competitive career.[36] His last major championship appearance came at the 1971 Masters Tournament, where he missed the cut at age 50 before withdrawing from further regular competition.[37][38] The combination of physical ailments and nerves prompted his full transition away from professional golf, marking the close of a career defined by earlier triumphs.[15][19]Major championships
U.S. Open victories
Cary Middlecoff secured his first major championship victory at the 1949 U.S. Open, held at Medinah Country Club's Course No. 3 in Medinah, Illinois, from June 9-11.[39] Playing in just his third year as a professional, Middlecoff posted round scores of 75, 67, 69, and 75 for a total of 286, two over par, edging out runners-up Clayton Heafner and Sam Snead by one stroke at 287.[30][40] The demanding layout, known for its length and hazards, tested the field amid typical early summer conditions in the Midwest, with Middlecoff's steady second and third rounds giving him a one-stroke lead entering the final day over Buck White.[30] Press coverage playfully highlighted his dentistry background, with a tournament photo captioned "Open wide now; this won't hurt a bit," tying into the event's name and his profession.[40] This win marked a pivotal early boost to his professional career, establishing him as a contender on the PGA Tour.[1] Middlecoff claimed his second U.S. Open title in 1956 at Oak Hill Country Club's East Course in Rochester, New York, from June 14-16, finishing with rounds of 71, 70, 70, and 70 for a 281 total, one over par.[39][41] He entered the final round with a two-stroke lead over Ben Hogan, Julius Boros, Ted Kroll, and Wes Ellis, maintaining control despite bogeys on the 16th and 17th holes, then parring the 18th to secure a one-stroke victory as Boros lipped out a tying birdie putt and Hogan missed a short par on the 71st.[41] The par-70 course, stretched to over 6,900 yards with firm greens and strategic bunkering, presented a stern test under variable June weather, including occasional wind that affected approach shots.[41] Middlecoff's precise putting, including seven one-putts in the final round, proved decisive against a star-studded field featuring former champions like Hogan.[42] This triumph solidified his status as one of golf's elite, coming seven years after his debut major win and amid a dominant 1950s stretch on Tour.[1]Masters Tournament win
Cary Middlecoff entered the 1955 Masters Tournament, his tenth appearance at Augusta National, in strong form as one of the PGA Tour's top performers during the early 1950s, having already secured multiple victories that season.[9] The event, held April 7-10, marked the 19th edition of the tournament and featured the debut of Arnold Palmer, who finished tied for 10th.[10] Middlecoff opened with a steady even-par 72 in the first round, featuring two birdies and two bogeys, placing him in contention but not at the lead. He seized control in the second round with a brilliant 65, seven under par, highlighted by a then-record 31 on the front nine and a birdie run on holes 10 through 12 on the back nine, followed by an eagle on the 13th via an 86-foot putt—the longest in a major since 1927—and a birdie on the 15th, offset by a three-putt bogey on 17. This performance gave him a four-stroke lead at 137 after 36 holes. In the third round, he maintained composure with another even-par 72, extending his advantage to four strokes over Ben Hogan entering the final day.[9][10] On Sunday, Middlecoff shot a two-under-par 70, with birdies on holes 2, 6, 7, 12, and 15, plus a bogey on 17, to finish at nine-under 279—a total that secured a commanding seven-stroke victory over Hogan (286) and eight over Sam Snead (287), setting a tournament record for largest margin at the time. His strategy emphasized precise approach shots and putting accuracy to navigate Augusta's undulating greens, allowing him to avoid major errors while capitalizing on scoring opportunities.[9][10][43] This triumph earned Middlecoff his only green jacket and second major championship, solidifying his status as a dominant force in professional golf during the decade and contributing to his recognition as the PGA Tour's leading money winner of the 1950s.[4]Performances in other majors
Middlecoff's performances in the PGA Championship highlighted his consistency in the 1950s, though he never captured the title. His best finishes were runner-up in both 1949 and 1955, where he fell short in match play. In 1955, he lost to Doug Ford 4 and 3 in the 36-hole final at Meadowbrook Country Club, after earning medalist honors in the stroke-play qualifying rounds. Despite these near-misses and several other top-10 results during the decade, the match-play format until 1958 proved challenging for a victory.[44] Middlecoff's participation in the British Open was limited by the era's transatlantic travel difficulties, resulting in only a handful of appearances. He debuted in 1950 at Royal Troon, finishing tied for 21st. His strongest showing came in 1957 at St Andrews, where he placed tied for fourth with a total of 289, four strokes behind winner Bobby Locke. These results demonstrated his adaptability to links golf, albeit without contending for the claret jug.[45] Across all majors from 1949 to 1961, Middlecoff compiled an impressive record of three wins (detailed in prior sections), eight top-5 finishes, and 17 top-10s in 38 starts, underscoring his status as one of the decade's premier players. Notable non-winning performances included a tied for fourth at the 1950 Masters and a tied for third at the 1956 PGA Championship. The following table summarizes select major finishes, excluding his victories:| Year | Tournament | Finish |
|---|---|---|
| 1948 | Masters Tournament | 2 |
| 1950 | Masters Tournament | T4 |
| 1950 | U.S. Open | T10 |
| 1956 | Masters Tournament | 3 |
| 1956 | PGA Championship | T3 |
| 1957 | U.S. Open | 2 |
| 1959 | Masters Tournament | 2 |
Professional wins
PGA Tour wins
Cary Middlecoff secured 39 PGA Tour victories between 1945 and 1961, including one as an amateur, a record that underscored his dominance during the post-World War II era of professional golf. His wins often featured commanding performances, such as the 1950 Houston Open where he finished three strokes ahead of Pete Cooper with a total of 277. These successes helped him become the leading money winner across the 1950s, amassing career earnings of over $250,000 before retiring from full-time competition.[48][33][2] In his peak decade of the 1950s, Middlecoff claimed 28 victories, highlighted by six wins in 1955 alone—a season that also included his Masters triumph (detailed separately). He demonstrated remarkable consistency with multiple wins in several years, including three in 1956 amid a Vardon Trophy-winning campaign for the tour's lowest scoring average. Representative examples include his 1954 Motor City Open victory by two strokes over a trio of challengers and his 1961 hometown win at the Memphis Open Invitational by five strokes.[1][48][2] The table below enumerates his non-major PGA Tour wins chronologically, with scores and victory margins or playoff outcomes where documented. Team events like four-ball competitions are noted accordingly. The 1945 win is included for completeness but was as an amateur.| Year | Tournament | Score | Margin/Playoff |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1945 | North & South Open | 280 (-8) | 5 strokes (amateur win) |
| 1947 | Charlotte Open | 277 (-11) | Playoff win over George Schoux |
| 1948 | Hawaiian Open | 274 (-10) | 3 strokes |
| 1948 | Miami International Four-Ball (w/ Jim Ferrier) | N/A | Team win |
| 1949 | Rio Grande Valley Open | 267 (-17) | 2 strokes |
| 1949 | Jacksonville Open | 274 (-14) | 2 strokes |
| 1949 | Miami International Four-Ball (w/ Jim Ferrier) | N/A | Team win |
| 1949 | Motor City Open | 273 (-11) | Co-winner w/ Lloyd Mangrum (playoff) |
| 1949 | Reading Open | 266 (-14) | 1 stroke |
| 1950 | St. Louis Open | N/A | Playoff win over Ed Oliver |
| 1950 | Jacksonville Open | 279 (-9) | 2 strokes |
| 1950 | Houston Open | 277 (-11) | 3 strokes |
| 1951 | Kansas City Open | 278 (-10) | Playoff win over Dave Douglas, Doug Ford |
| 1951 | St. Louis Open | N/A | Win |
| 1951 | Eastern Open | 279 (-9) | 1 stroke |
| 1951 | All American Open | 274 (-14) | 2 strokes |
| 1951 | Colonial National Invitational | 282 (+2) | 1 stroke |
| 1951 | Lakewood Park Open | N/A | Win |
| 1952 | Kansas City Open | 276 (-12) | Playoff win over Jack Burke Jr. |
| 1952 | St. Paul Open | N/A | Win |
| 1952 | Motor City Open | 274 (-14) | Playoff win over Ted Kroll |
| 1952 | El Paso Open | N/A | Win |
| 1953 | Carling Open | N/A | Playoff win over Ted Kroll |
| 1953 | Palm Beach Round Robin | N/A | Win |
| 1953 | Houston Open | 283 (-5) | Playoff win over Shelley Mayfield, Jim Ferrier et al. |
| 1954 | Motor City Open | 278 (-6) | 2 strokes |
| 1955 | Cavalcade of Golf | 276 (-4) | 2 strokes |
| 1955 | Miller High Life Open | 265 (-15) | 4 strokes |
| 1955 | Western Open | 272 (-16) | 2 strokes |
| 1955 | St. Petersburg Open | N/A | Win |
| 1955 | Bing Crosby Pro-Am Invitational | 209 (-7) | 4 strokes |
| 1956 | Phoenix Open | 276 (-8) | 3 strokes |
| 1956 | Bing Crosby National Pro-Am | 202 (-14) | 5 strokes |
| 1958 | Miller Open Invitational | 264 (-16) | 2 strokes |
| 1959 | St. Petersburg Open Invitational | N/A | Win |
| 1961 | Memphis Open Invitational | 266 (-14) | 5 strokes |