(Patriot.Buzz) – The Hall of Fame golfer known for his lively personality and inspiring journey, popular athlete Juan “Chi Chi” Rodriguez passed away at the age of 88.
Senator Carmelo Javier Rios from Rodriguez’s native Puerto Rico announced the golfer’s death, even though the cause has not been revealed.
Recounting the athlete’s journey, PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan said, “Chi Chi Rodriguez’s passion for charity and outreach was surpassed only by his incredible talent with a golf club in his hand.”
“A vibrant, colorful personality both on and off the golf course, he will be missed dearly by the PGA Tour and those whose lives he touched in his mission to give back…” he added.
Rodriguez learned to play golf by hitting tin cans with a stick from a guava tree. He began his career as a caddie and claimed he could shoot a 67 by the age of 12.
After serving in the U.S. Army from 1955 to 1957, the late golfer joined the PGA Tour in 1960. Over his 21-year career, he won eight tournaments, including his first victory at the Denver Open in 1963. He continued to win, with his last tour victory coming in 1979 at the Tallahassee Open.
Rodriguez also enjoyed success on the Champions Tour, with 22 victories from 1985 to 2002, and earned more than $7.6 million in total career earnings. He was inducted into the PGA World Golf Hall of Fame in 1992.
Furthermore, Rodriguez was famous for his on-course antics, including twirling his club like a sword, known as his “matador routine,” and performing a celebratory dance after making a birdie putt.
In October 1998, Rodriguez was hospitalized after experiencing chest pains. He was diagnosed with a heart attack and underwent emergency surgery. “It scared me for the first time,” Rodriguez said in a 1999 interview.
After recovering, the super athlete continued competing for a few years before shifting his focus to community and charity work. He was involved with the Chi Chi Rodriguez Youth Foundation in Clearwater, Florida, which he founded in 1979.
In recent years, Rodriguez lived mostly in Puerto Rico. He was involved in a golf community project, hosted a local radio talk show, and appeared at various events.
At the 2008 Puerto Rico Open, he made a memorable appearance in a black leather coat and dark sunglasses, shaking hands and posing for photos, but did not play.
Copyright 2024, Patriot.Buzz
