Former Gators golfer and 20-time PGA Tour winner Doug Sanders was known for his colorful golfing attire. (Photo: Courtesy of PGA Tour archives)
Carter's Corner: Former UF Golfer Sanders Left Indelible Mark
Monday, April 13, 2020 | General, Men's Golf, Scott Carter
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Before he became known on the PGA Tour as "The Peacock of the Fairways" for his colorful wardrobe, Doug Sanders grew up fast and fierce in rural Cedartown, Ga., a town made famous years later by outlaw country music legend Waylon Jennings.
By the time Sanders arrived at the University of Florida in 1953 to play for the Gators men's golf team, he had traveled some distance between high school and was a couple of years older than most of his teammates. Folks in Cedartown recalled Sanders as cocky and confident, a kid who picked up the game by caddying barefoot at the local golf course.
Sanders died on Sunday in Houston at age 86. He lived a life that the New York Times paid tribute to Monday with its own obituary.
Former Gators coach Andy Bracken knew talent when he saw it and lured Sanders to play for the Gators. He quickly became their star player and despite not having his best tournament, helped Florida win the Southern Intercollegiate title in May 1955, which also earned UF its first Southeastern Conference championship.
"He's the most mature amateur golfer around,'' Bracken told the Orlando Sentinel in August 1955. "When he's clicking, he's as sure a bet as Native Dancer was."
Sanders was good and knew it. In the spring of '54 as the Southern Intercollegiate approached, Bracken booted Sanders from the team for disciplinary reasons. He earned his way back the following season and after two years with the Gators, left to play professionally.
Sanders had his mind made up early in his sophomore season as he dominated most events, including winning the Georgia Washington Birthday tournament at Tallahassee Country Club in February of '55.
"I'm not cut out to be a student,'' he told Tallahassee Democrat columnist Bill McGrotha. "The way I look at it, I'm going after the one thing that I have a good chance to do good at, and that's golf. You can say I'm going to play golf."
True to his word, Sanders made a statement immediately on the PGA Tour, becoming the first amateur to win the Canadian Open in 1956, ripping balls down the middle of the fairway with his unorthodox short backswing.
Over the next two decades, Sanders won 20 PGA events and gained additional fame as one of the tour's most flamboyant players, best dressers and a quote machine for the press. He often chatted with members of the gallery and performed trick shots when play slowed.
In an interview with the Florida Times-Union in 2016, Sanders joked, "The only time I left the fairway was to get a phone number."
Most avid golf fans best remember Sanders for missing an opportunity to win the 1970 British Open at St. Andrews. Needing only a 3-foot par putt to secure the title on the 18th hole, Sanders missed. That dropped him into an 18-hole playoff the next day against Jack Nicklaus, who won by a shot.
Sanders' last PGA Tour victory was the 1972 Kemper Open but he continued to play golf for many years after his prime. He once had a memorable round at the Bob Hope Desert Classic Pro-Am in 1970 when he made national headlines by getting hit in the head by an errant shot from U.S. Vice President Spiro Agnew.
Rest in Peace to George Douglas Sanders, one of a kind.
By the time Sanders arrived at the University of Florida in 1953 to play for the Gators men's golf team, he had traveled some distance between high school and was a couple of years older than most of his teammates. Folks in Cedartown recalled Sanders as cocky and confident, a kid who picked up the game by caddying barefoot at the local golf course.
Sanders died on Sunday in Houston at age 86. He lived a life that the New York Times paid tribute to Monday with its own obituary.
Former Gators coach Andy Bracken knew talent when he saw it and lured Sanders to play for the Gators. He quickly became their star player and despite not having his best tournament, helped Florida win the Southern Intercollegiate title in May 1955, which also earned UF its first Southeastern Conference championship.
"He's the most mature amateur golfer around,'' Bracken told the Orlando Sentinel in August 1955. "When he's clicking, he's as sure a bet as Native Dancer was."
Sanders was good and knew it. In the spring of '54 as the Southern Intercollegiate approached, Bracken booted Sanders from the team for disciplinary reasons. He earned his way back the following season and after two years with the Gators, left to play professionally.
Sanders had his mind made up early in his sophomore season as he dominated most events, including winning the Georgia Washington Birthday tournament at Tallahassee Country Club in February of '55.
Doug Sanders is quoted as saying, "Some days I can go a full five minutes without thinking about that putt" pic.twitter.com/QZa5Fxfcdo
— TheGolfDivoTee™ (@TheGolfDivoTee) March 28, 2020
"I'm not cut out to be a student,'' he told Tallahassee Democrat columnist Bill McGrotha. "The way I look at it, I'm going after the one thing that I have a good chance to do good at, and that's golf. You can say I'm going to play golf."
True to his word, Sanders made a statement immediately on the PGA Tour, becoming the first amateur to win the Canadian Open in 1956, ripping balls down the middle of the fairway with his unorthodox short backswing.
Over the next two decades, Sanders won 20 PGA events and gained additional fame as one of the tour's most flamboyant players, best dressers and a quote machine for the press. He often chatted with members of the gallery and performed trick shots when play slowed.
In an interview with the Florida Times-Union in 2016, Sanders joked, "The only time I left the fairway was to get a phone number."
Most avid golf fans best remember Sanders for missing an opportunity to win the 1970 British Open at St. Andrews. Needing only a 3-foot par putt to secure the title on the 18th hole, Sanders missed. That dropped him into an 18-hole playoff the next day against Jack Nicklaus, who won by a shot.
Sanders' last PGA Tour victory was the 1972 Kemper Open but he continued to play golf for many years after his prime. He once had a memorable round at the Bob Hope Desert Classic Pro-Am in 1970 when he made national headlines by getting hit in the head by an errant shot from U.S. Vice President Spiro Agnew.
Rest in Peace to George Douglas Sanders, one of a kind.
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