Four-time PGA Tour winner Jacky Cupit, who famously dueled with Arnold Palmer on a windy day at the 1963 U.S. Open, died on March 4. He was 88.
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Cupit, Palmer and Julius Boros tied for the lead after the final hole of the country’s most prestigious open golf tournament. Gale-force winds at The Country Club led to the highest winning score in the last 89 years.
Cupit and Palmer finished as runners-up to Boros. It didn’t matter as the young Texan announced his presence as one of the best golfers in the country.
By the time he retired in 1974, Cupit won four PGA Tour events: the 1961 Canadian Open, the 1962 Western Open, the 1964 Tucson Open Invitational and the 1966 Cajun Classic Open Invitational.
Cupit’s 1961 Canadian Open victory also earned him PGA Tour Rookie of the Year. It came at the expense of his brother, Buster, who finished second. They remain the only brothers to finish first and second in a PGA Tour event.
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The Cupit brothers finished second to Jack Nicklaus and Arnold Palmer at the 1966 PGA National Two Ball Tournament.
Cupit’s time on tour ended prematurely due to back problems after playing 272 events. He briefly returned to the Champions Tour at age 50 in 1988.
Before turning professional, Cupit played on three NCAA championship teams at the University of Houston, won 39 amateur tournaments, and was a two-time All-American.
“We mourn the passing of Houston Golf great Jacky Cupit earlier this week,” the University of Houston golf team wrote on its X account March 6. “Houston Golf offers its condolences to all who knew and loved him.”
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