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Chi Chi Rodriguez
The only Puerto Rican ever inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame, Juan "Chi Chi" Rodriguez is one of the most popular and recognizable figures in sports. A 25-year member of the PGA TOUR and a 22-year member of the Champions Tour, his successful career in professional golf began when he won his first professional event in 1963 and spans nearly half a century.
In addition to his participation on the 1973 U.S. Ryder Cup team, Chi Chi has represented Puerto Rico on 12 World Cup teams.
He is best known for his signature "Torero Dance", an act he developed in which he would make believe that an achieved birdie was a "bull" and his putter was a "sword." He would then use his putter to terminate the "bull."
A renowned humanitarian, Chi Chi has raised more than $5 million for the Chi Chi Rodriguez Foundation through his "Chi Chi and the Bear" and "Chi Chi and the Zinger" annual golf outings.
Founded in 1979, the Chi Chi Rodriguez Foundation serves at-risk, inner-city youths by assisting them to improve their self-esteem, character, work-ethic, social adjustment and academic performance.
| AWARDS, HONORS & RECORDS | |
| 1981 | Recipient of the "Ambassador of Golf Award" |
| 1986 | Recipient of the Champions Tour's "Byron Nelson Award" Recipient of the PGA TOUR's "Card Walker Award" Recipient of the "Hispanic Recognition Award" |
| 1987 | Recipient of the Champions Tour's "Byron Nelson Award" Recipient of the Champions Tour's "Arnold Palmer Award" Honored by former President Ronald Reagan with the "National Puerto Rican Coalition Life Achievement Award" |
| 1988 | Recipient of the "Fred Raphael Award" for services to the game Golf Course Superintendents Association "Old Tom Morris Award" Replica's "Hispanic Man of the Year" |
| 1989 | Recipient of the USGA's "Bob Jones Award" |
| 1992 | Inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame |
| 1994 | Inducted into the World Humanitarian Sports Hall of Fame Named Grand Marshal of the annual Tournament of Roses Parade in Pasadena, Calif. |
| 1992 | Golf World "Man of the Year" |
| Best Birdie Streak on Champions Tour 8 (1987 Silver Pages Classic - First Round) |
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| 4th Most Consecutive Years With at Least One Win on Champions Tour 8 (1986-1993) |
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| PGA TOUR VICTORIES (8) | |
| 1963 | Denver Open Invitational |
| 1964 | Lucky International Open Western Open |
| 1967 | Texas Open Invitational |
| 1968 | Sahara Invitational |
| 1972 | Byron Nelson Golf Classic |
| 1973 | Greater Greensboro Open |
| 1979 | Tallahassee Open |
| CHAMPIONS TOUR VICTORIES (22) | |
| 1986 | Senior Tournament Players Championship Digital Seniors Classic United Virginia Bank Seniors |
| 1987 | General Foods PGA Seniors' Championship Vantage At The Dominion United Hospitals Senior Golf Championship Silver Pages Classic Senior Players Reunion Pro-Am Digital Seniors Classic GTE Northwest Classic |
| 1988 | Doug Sanders Kingwood Celebrity Classic Digital Seniors Classic |
| 1989 | Crestar Classic |
| 1990 | Las Vegas Senior Classic Ameritech Senior Open Sunwest-Charley Pride Classic |
| 1991 | GTE West Classic Vintage Arco Invitational Las Vegas Senior Classic Murata Reunion Pro-Am |
| 1992 | Ko Olina Senior Invitational |
| 1993 | Burnet Senior Classic |
| INTERNATIONAL VICTORIES (6) | |
| 1978 | Brazilian Open |
| 1979 | Costa Rica Open |
| 1981 | Canadian PGA, Seiko Point Leader |
| 1982 | Seiko Point Leader |
| 1992 | Fuji Electric Grand Slam |
| NATIONAL TEAMS (1) | |
| 1973 | U.S. Ryder Cup |
