grow up in a inadequate family line inPuerto Rico , Juan " Chi Chi " Rodriguez commence his long road to golf game renown and fortune at the eld of nine by swinging at canister behind with a branch from a strawberry guava tree .
Ed Dudley , the pro at the local form , gave Rodriguez a job as a shoeshine boy , then as caddie master , and nurture the enthusiastic tyke ’s development as a player .
At 17 , Rodriguez , who took his nickname from his favoritebaseballplayer , finished second in the Puerto Rico Open . He then joined theU.S. Armyand begin savingmoneyfor a scene at the PGA Tour .
Rodriguez made it to the Tour in 1960 , at age 24 , and score his first victory three years subsequently . Though he stood 5 - 7 and count 130 quid , Rodriguez take a ferocious jive and dispatch the lump sensibly far off the tee . He was also one of the game ’s finest shot - makers , able to puzzle out the ball left - to - right or right wing - to - go away at will and to get out of trouble with a change of imaginative shot .
Chi Chi also became screw for harbor the galleries with his crack and antics , which included putting his chapeau over the hole after urinate a putt and wield his putter like a blade in celebration . He toned down his bit somewhat after a few precede pros persuaded him that it was sometimes distracting to fellow players , but he remain a fan favourite .
Rodriguez finished his Tour life history with eight victories , enjoy his best year in 1964 when he had two wins and was 9th on the money list . He ranked among the top 50moneywinners in every twelvemonth but one from 1963 - 74 .
Rodriguez ’s game blossomed on the Senior Tour , which he became eligible for late in 1985 . He led the money list in 1987 when he won seven tournament , including the PGA Seniors Championship , and stop in the top three 14 times . In his first six senior seasons , he won 20 times .
Rodriguez is also known for his piece of work for charitable movement , particularly the Chi Chi Rodriguez Youth Foundation .
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