Paul Harney (July 11, 1929 – August 24, 2011) was an American professional golfer and golf course owner. He spent part of his career as a full-time PGA Tour player, but mostly was a club professional, part-time tour player, and owner-operator of his own course.
Early life Harney was born and raised in Worcester, Massachusetts. He attended the College of the Holy Cross, which is located in his hometown; and was captain of the golf team.
Professional career Harney played full-time on the PGA Tour from 1955 to 1962; and part-time from 1963 to 1973. During that time, he won six PGA Tour events. His first win came at the 1957 Carling Open; he won his second PGA Tour event just two weeks later at the Labatt Open. In 1963 at the prime of his career, he fulfilled a promise made to his wife, Patricia, that when their oldest child started school, he would only play the tour on a part-time basis. He took his first club pro job at Sunset Oaks in northern California, where he stayed a couple years. He then moved his family across the country to Sutton, Massachusetts, where he took the club pro's job at Pleasant Valley Country Club.
Harney had a great deal of success in major championships, placing in the top-10 six times. His best finish in a major was 4th at the 1963 U.S. Open; however, he also finished in the top-8 four times at The Masters in the 1960s.
As his competitive playing days were winding down, Harney used his prize money to open his own course in East Falmouth, Massachusetts, which he owned until his death. His daughter Erin is the general manager, and son Mike is the head pro.
Personal life Harney had six children with his wife Patricia. He died in Falmouth, Massachusetts at the age of 82.
Awards and honors In 1957, Harney received Golf Digests Most Improved Golfer award. In 1963, he was inducted into the Holy Cross Varsity Club Hall of Fame. In 1974, Harney earned "PGA Golf Professional of the Year" honors. In 1995, he became the first inductee into the New England Golf Hall of Fame. In 2005, Harney was enshrined into the PGA Golf Professional Hall of Fame.
Professional wins (11) PGA Tour wins (6) No.DateTournamentWinning scoreMargin ofvictoryRunner-up1Jun 23, 1957Carling Open Invitational−9 (70-69-68-68=275)3 strokes Dow Finsterwald2Jul 7, 1957Labatt Open−10 (69-69-70-70=278)1 stroke George Bayer3Mar 15, 1959Pensacola Open Invitational−19 (69-65-65-70=269)3 strokes Jay Hebert4Jan 6, 1964Los Angeles Open−4 (71-72-66-71=280)1 stroke Bobby Nichols5Jan 11, 1965Los Angeles Open (2)−8 (68-71-68-69=276)3 strokes Dan Sikes6Jan 30, 1972Andy Williams-San Diego Open Invitational−13 (68-71-66-70=275)1 stroke Hale IrwinPGA Tour playoff record (0–1)No.YearTournamentOpponentResult11963Thunderbird Classic Arnold PalmerLost to par on first extra hole
Source:
Other wins (5) 1967 Massachusetts Open 1968 Massachusetts Open 1969 Massachusetts Open 1970 Massachusetts Open 1977 Massachusetts Open
Playoff recordSenior PGA Tour playoff record (0–1)''' No.YearTournamentOpponentResult11980PGA Seniors' Championship Arnold PalmerLost to birdie on first extra hole
Results in major championships Tournament 1956 1957 1958 1959 1960 1961 1962 1963 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974Masters TournamentT256T15WDT5T11T8T6T40T22T24CUTU.S. OpenCUTT37T51T12T55T284T39T18T57T18T46T21PGA ChampionshipT14T18T11T7T23T33T15T55T40Note: Harney never played in The Open Championship.''
WD = withdrew CUT = missed the half way cut "T" indicates a tie for a place.
Summary Tournament Wins 2nd 3rd Top-5 Top-10 Top-25 Events Cuts madeMasters Tournament 0 0 0 1 4 9 12 10U.S. Open 0 0 0 1 1 5 13 12The Open Championship 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0PGA Championship 0 0 0 0 1 6 9 9Totals 0 0 0 2 6 20 34 31 Most consecutive cuts made – 18 (1963 U.S. Open – 1973 Masters) Longest streak of top-10s – 1 (six times)
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