The golf world mourns the loss of Doug Sanders. The ex-professional died at the age of 86. A 90-centimeter putt had made him famous at the 1970 British Open.
Former star golfer Doug Sanders died of natural causes 50 years after his legendary failure on the last green of the British Open at the age of 86. The PGA Tour confirmed this on their homepage.
Wins 20 major tournaments
The American Sanders, known for expensive, extravagant clothing, won a total of 20 major tournaments. But this one blow haunted him all his life. A 90-centimeter putt would have earned him his first and only major win at the 1970 British Open, but he pushed the ball past the hole on the right – the win went to Jack Nicklaus. Sanders finished a major three times more in second place, twice he was third.
“If you gave me a birdie, four pars and a bogey to use anywhere, I would have five major wins,” Sanders said once. When asked if he still thought about this putt often, he answered years later: “Only once every four or five minutes.”
– .
