Gene Sarazen Biography

(born Feb. 27, 1902, Harrison, N.Y., U.S.—died May 13, 1999, Naples, Fla.) U.S. golfer, prominent in the 1920s and '30s. Born to a poor Italian immigrant family, Sarazen began caddying when he was eight. He became a professional golfer in 1920. Sarazen was the first to win the four tournaments that comprise golf's grand slam in modern times. Sarazen won the U.S. Open (1922, 1932), the British Open (1932), and the PGA Championship (1922–23, 1933) and completed the grand slam with his Masters victory in 1935. That Masters victory was highlighted by his famous double eagle, two strokes (three under par) on the par-five 15th hole.

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