Herman Barron (December 23, 1909 – June 11, 1978) was an American professional golfer, best known for being the first Jewish golfer to win a PGA Tour event.
Early life Barron was born in Port Chester, New York.
Professional career Barron was one of barely a dozen professional golfers who earned their living as touring professionals in the 1930s and 1940s. His first professional win came at the 1934 Philadelphia Open Championship. On February 8, 1942, Barron became the first Jewish golfer to win an official PGA Tour event by winning the Western Open by two strokes over Henry Picard at Phoenix Golf Club in Phoenix, Arizona.
Barron was consistently among the Tour's top money winners. His best year came in 1946. In June he won the Philadelphia Inquirer Open, finished tied for fourth in the U.S. Open the following week, and in late July won the All American Open at the Tam O'Shanter Golf Course in Chicago.
Barron played on America's victorious 1947 Ryder Cup team, but was soon forced into retiring as a touring professional due to failing health. For the next 15 years, he held the position of teaching pro at the Fenway Golf Club in Westchester County, New York.
Barron returned to the touring circuit in the early 1960s and won the 1963 Senior PGA Championship. He also worked as a teaching pro during this era. Barron also played a large role in the development of Israel's first golf course, in Caesarea.
Personal life In 1978, Barron died in Pompano Beach, Florida, at the age of 68.
Awards and honors
Barron is enshrined in the Westchester Hall of Fame He was inducted into the PGA Metropolitan Section Hall of Fame in New York Barron was inducted into the International Jewish Sports Hall of Fame.
Professional wins (14) PGA Tour wins (4) No.DateTournamentWinning scoreMargin ofvictoryRunner-upRef1Feb 8, 1942Western Open−8 (69-69-71-67=276)2 strokes Henry Picard2Jun 10, 1946Philadelphia Inquirer Open−3 (72-68-68-69=277)Playoff Lew Worsham3Jul 28, 1946All American Open−8 (68-71-69-72=280)1 stroke Ellsworth Vines4May 9, 1948Goodall Round Robin +38 points6 points Bobby Locke
Other wins (8) 1934 Philadelphia Open Championship 1937 Metropolitan PGA 1938 Westchester PGA Championship 1941 Westchester PGA Championship 1943 Westchester PGA Championship 1951 Westchester PGA Championship 1954 Westchester Open 1955 Westchester PGA Championship
Senior wins (2) No.DateTournamentWinning scoreMargin ofvictoryRunner-up1Feb 3, 1963PGA Seniors' Championship−16 (67-67-69-69=272)2 strokes John Barnum2Jul 7, 1963World Senior Championship3 & 2 George Evans
Results in major championships Tournament19291930193119321933193419351936193719381939Masters TournamentNYFNYFNYFNYFNYFWDWDWDU.S. OpenT28T15T31T13T23T14T11CUTCUTThe Open ChampionshipPGA ChampionshipR16QFR32R64R64R64R32 Tournament1940194119421943194419451946194719481949Masters TournamentT36NTNTNTT25T17T25T13U.S. OpenT5NTNTNTNTT4T277T27The Open ChampionshipNTNTNTNTNTNTPGA ChampionshipNTR16R16R32R16
Tournament1950195119521953195419551956195719581959Masters TournamentT46U.S. OpenCUTCUTCUTCUTT50CUTThe Open ChampionshipPGA ChampionshipT35CUT
Tournament1960196119621963Masters TournamentU.S. OpenThe Open ChampionshipCUTPGA ChampionshipCUT
NYF = tournament not yet founded NT = no tournament WD = withdrew CUT = missed the half-way cut (3rd round cut in 1959 PGA Championship) R64, R32, R16, QF, SF = round in which player lost in PGA Championship match play "T" indicates a tie for a place
See also List of Jewish golfers
References