Lloyd Mangrum

Lloyd Eugene Mangrum (August 1, 1914 – November 17, 1973) was an American professional golfer. He was known for his smooth swing and his relaxed demeanour on the course, which earned him the nickname "Mr. Icicle."

Career 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.

Mangrum joined the PGA Tour in 1937 and went on to win 36 events on the Tour. He might have won more if his career had not been interrupted by service in World War II.

While serving in the U.S. Army and training for deployment in the European Theater, Mangrum was offered the professional's job at the Fort Meade golf course in Maryland, which would have kept him out of combat, but he declined. He was assigned to the 90th Infantry Division Reconnaissance Troop and was injured in a jeep accident near Falaise on August 21, 1944. He recuperated for six months in England and returned to his unit in February 1945. He was awarded a Purple Heart after being wounded by shrapnel in Germany. He returned to competitive golf winning a U.S. Army European Theater Golf Tournament at St. Cloud, France in July 1945. He later played at the Old Course in St Andrews, Scotland in the Daily Mail 1500 Guineas Tournament and was victorious in the U.S. Army Inter-Theater Tournament in Biarritz, France in October 1945. He was discharged from the Army as a corporal in January 1946.

Mangrum's best years on tour came after the war: he led the PGA Tour money list in 1951 and won the Vardon Trophy for the lowest scoring average on the tour in both 1951 and 1953.

Mangrum's only major title came at the U.S. Open in 1946, though he was runner-up in three majors and third in six more (including twice losing in the semi-finals in the PGA Championship when it was a match-play event). He lost a playoff for the 1950 U.S. Open at Merion to Ben Hogan and his famous one-iron. Mangrum finished in the top ten at the Masters Tournament ten consecutive years. He shot 64 in the opening round in 1940, a Masters record that stood for 46 years, until Nick Price's 63 in the third round in 1986.

Mangrum played on four Ryder Cup teams in 1947, 1949, 1951, and 1953. On the last occasion, he was a playing captain. The house was used as the Flying Crown Ranch in the television series Sky King. Mangrum lived in the house until his death.

Death and legacy Mangrum died at age 59 in Apple Valley, California in 1973. At the 1996 Masters, Nelson conducted a test. "I asked three young pros if they ever heard of Lloyd Mangrum, and they never had." Nelson commented, "Lloyd's the best player who's been forgotten since I've been playing golf." A quarter century after his death, he was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 1998.

Awards and honors

In 1951, Mangrum won the PGA Tour's money list. In 1951 and 1953, Mangrum earned the Vardon Trophy for the lowest scoring average on the PGA Tour. In 1998, Mangrum was inducted he World Golf Hall of Fame.

Professional wins PGA Tour wins (36) 1940 (1) Thomasville Open 1941 (1) Atlantic City Open 1942 (3) New Orleans Open, Seminole Victory Golf Tournament, Inverness Invitational Four-Ball (with Lawson Little) 1946 (1) U.S. Open 1947 (2) National Capital Open, Albuquerque Open 1948 (7) Bing Crosby Pro-Am, Lower Rio Grande Open, Greater Greensboro Open, Columbus Invitational, All American Open, World Championship of Golf, Utah Open 1949 (4) Los Angeles Open, Tucson Open, Motor City Open (co-winner with Cary Middlecoff), All American Open 1950 (5) Fort Wayne Open, Motor City Open, Eastern Open, Kansas City Open, Palm Beach Round Robin 1951 (4) Los Angeles Open, Tucson Open, Wilmington Azalea Open, St. Paul Open 1952 (2) Phoenix Open, Western Open 1953 (4) Los Angeles Open, Bing Crosby Pro-Am Invitational, Phoenix Open, All American Open 1954 (1) Western Open 1956 (1) Los Angeles Open

Major championship is shown in bold.

Source:

Other wins (9) 1938 Pennsylvania Open Championship 1939 Central New York Open, Santa Anita Open 1940 Santa Anita Open 1946 Argentine Open 1952 California State Open, Philippine Open, Adelaide Advertiser Special Tournament (Australia), Ampol Tournament (Nov)

Source:

Major championships Wins (1) YearChampionship54 holesWinning scoreMarginRunners-up 1946 U.S. Open 1 shot deficit −4 (74-70-68-72=284) Playoff 1 Vic Ghezzi, Byron Nelson 1 Defeated Ghezzi and Nelson in a playoff. All three shot 72 (E) in first 18-hole playoff. Second 18-hole playoff: Mangum 72=144 (E), Ghezzi 73=145 (+1), Nelson 73=145 (+1).

Results timeline

NT = no tournament CUT = missed the half-way cut R64, R32, R16, QF, SF = Round in which player lost in PGA Championship match play "T" indicates a tie for a place

Summary Most consecutive cuts made – 30 (1942 PGA Championship – 1957 Masters) Longest streak of top-10s – 8 (1950 Masters – 1952 U.S. Open)

U.S. national team appearances Ryder Cup: 1947 (winners), 1949 (winners), 1951 (winners), 1953 (winners) Lakes International Cup: 1952 (winners) Hopkins Trophy: 1955 (winners)