Bob Rosburg, one of two players to win a PGA Championship and a PGA Professional National Championship, was best remembered for his skills and popularity as an on-course reporter of televised golf events. Rosburg passed away May 14, following injuries sustained from a fall outside a restaurant in Indio, Calif. He was 82.
Rosburg, a resident of La Quinta, Calif., died less than three months short of celebrating the 50th anniversary of his capturing the 1959 PGA Championship. Rosburg became a major champion on Aug. 2, 1959 at Minneapolis Golf Club in St. Louis, Park, Minn., posting a closing 66 that edged Jerry Barber and Doug Sanders in the 41st PGA Championship by one stroke.
Rosburg claimed that he won the Championship without ever hitting a practice shot that week, except for a few chips and putts. Later that year, Rosburg finished runner-up in the U.S. Open to Billy Casper, and in 1969 finished in a three way tie for second at the 1969 U.S. Open, one stroke behind Orville Moody.
"Bob Rosburg represented the best in golf as a player, champion, gentleman and as the voice who brought viewers the best insight on what it was like for his fellow professionals to perform inside the ropes," said PGA of America President Jim Remy. "We will dearly miss being able to help Bob celebrate this summer the 50th anniversary of winning the PGA Championship and our thoughts and prayers go out to his family. He will forever be in our hearts as a true Champion."
Rosburg had done periodic golf broadcasting stints in the 1960s while covering the former "Big Three" golf series featuring Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer and Gary Player. Following his ending his Tour career in the mid-1970s, Rosburg became a full-time on-course roving reporter in the 1970s for ABC Sports.
Rosburg perfected the art of the roving reporter and went on to serve more than 30 years behind the microphone. He is remembered as one of the game's modern-era best storytellers. He worked for nearly two decades with the late Dave Marr, also a PGA Champion, who popularized the phrase when seeking Rosburg's on-air advice: "You got a line on that one, Rossie?"
Born Oct. 21, 1926, in San Francisco, Calif., Rosburg played junior golf at the Olympic Club, and at the age of 12, he faced the then-retired baseball hall of famer, Ty Cobb, in the first flight of the club championship, and defeated Cobb 7 and 6.
Rosburg was a standout baseball player at Stanford University during the 1940s, and almost chose baseball as a career over golf. He graduated from Stanford in 1949, and turned professional in 1953.
Rosburg was one of the most consistent performers on the PGA Tour, capturing the Vardon Trophy in 1958 for the lowest average score (70.11) on Tour. Rosburg's triumphant 1959 season including finishing seventh on the money list and earning a berth on the 1959 U.S. Ryder Cup Team.
After leaving the Tour, Rosburg went on to win the 1969 PGA Professional National Championship in Scottsdale, Ariz. In 1971, legendary Sam Snead joined Rosburg as the only players to win a PGA Championship and PGA Professional National Championship.
Rosburg is survived by his wife, Becky, and children Robert, Deborah and Bruce. There were no immediate plans for a memorial service.
