Lloyd Mangrum
Lloyd Eugene Mangrum (August 1, 1914 – November 17, 1973) was an American professional golfer. He knew for his smooth swing and his relaxed demeanor on the course, which earned him the nickname “Mr. Icicle.”
Early Life and Family
Mangrum was born on August 1, 1914, in Trenton, Texas, he became a professional golfer at age fifteen, working as an assistant to his brother Ray, the head professional at Cliff-Dale Country Club in Dallas.
Career
Lloyd Mangrum won 38 major professional golf titles during his illustrious career. Among his major victories was the 1946 U.S. Open at Canterbury Country Club in Cleveland. When the PGA tournament was decided by match play Mangrum was twice a semifinalist and two times a quarterfinalist. A two-time Vardon Trophy winner (1951 & 1953), he won the Los Angeles Open four times, the Western Open twice, the All-American three times, and the Phoenix Open twice. He was a member of the Ryder Cup team four times (1941, 1947, 1949, 1951) and served as a captain twice (1953, 1955). In 1951, he was the tour’s leading money winner. Mangrum inducted into the Texas Sports Hall of Fame in 1966.
Later Life
Mangrum died at the age of 59 in Apple Valley, California in 1973.[2] The cause of death was a heart attack, the 12th he had suffered.[1] Sportswriter Jim Murray called Mangrum “the forgotten man of golf”. Although only 12 men have won more PGA Tour events, his reputation has been eclipsed by other stars of his era who had long, extraordinary careers, such as Sam Snead and Texas’ Ben Hogan Jimmy Demaret, and Byron Nelson.[6] At the 1996 Masters, Nelson completed the test. “I asked three young men if they had ever heard of Lloyd Mangrum, and they never had.” “Lloyd is the best golfer I’ve ever played golf,” Nelson said. A quarter of a century after his death, he inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 1998.
When Was Lloyd Mangrum a Ryder Cup Captain?
He was a member of the Ryder Cup team four times (1941, 1947, 1949, 1951) and served as a captain twice (1953, 1955). In 1951, he was the tour’s leading money winner. Mangrum inducted into the Texas Sports Hall of Fame in 1966.