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Buick’s 10 MostMemorable Players

By Jack Saylor

JACK SAYLOR: BUICK’S 10MOST MEMORABLE PLAYERS-

AN ENCORE COLUMNAs the Buick Open approaches

each year, my mind turns towardthe late great Jack Saylor. I

remember tossing down a cold oneat the Airport Bar in Waterford in

the early 80’s and telling him I wasabout to start a new golf publica-tion, The Michigan Golfer. Sincewe were in the company of my

father and Harold Horn, a life longfriend of both, I knew his responsewould be tempered. He indicatedthat publishing was a tough busi-

ness, but that there was room for agolf publication and let me knowthat he would be willing to help

out the magazine got off theground. Almost 30 years later theMG continues to motor on and

part of its rich editorial heritage isthe content that still lives on in our

Michigan Golfer archiveshttp://www.michigangolfer.com/ne

ws.htmlWe have run this a couple of othertimes in the past and always get

some nice feedback. Please enjoy aSaylor classic.

1. Tony Lema, 1964.A latter-day Walter Hagen, whoexuded good cheer and appreciated agood victory and was willing toshare. Champagne corks popped inthe pressroom, a nickname was cele-brated and, best of all, he won againin ‘65. Alas, he left us far too soon.

2. Peter Jacobsen, 1980.It may have been the hybrid Buick-Goodwrench, but didn’t lessen theimpact on this talented, friendlycompetitor. The lasting memorywas Jake holding month-olddaughter Amy with one arm whileaccepting the trophy as Amybarfed all over Daddy’s shirt.

3. Hale Irwin, 1981.Although he usually prevailed onmore difficult tracks (i.e. three

U.S. Opens, two Memorials, etc.),this all-time great showed he couldgo birdie-to-birdie in a shoot out,too. He emerged from one of thetightest Buick finishes from a four-

Peter Jacobsen, 1980.

Hale Irwin, 1981

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way playoff with defending cham-pion Jacobsen, Gil Morgan andBobby Clampett.

4. Ben Crenshaw, 1986.Scored a popu-lar victory bypulling off oneof the bestshots in Buickhistory. At theshort, par-five13th, where apar usually lostyou ground tothe field, hissecond shotnestled against

the trunk on the wrong side of alittle pine tree for the right-handed

Crenshaw. No problemo. GentleBen turned lefty, flipped his wedgeto the reverse side and popped ashot within a couple of feet to savehis birdie-and perhaps the title.

5. Robert Wrenn, 1987.This likeable Virginian pickedWarwick Hills for his “15 minutesof fame,” which lasted a torrid fourdays in which shot an unbelievable26-under par 262 and missingtying Ben Hogan’s record by aSunday bogey at No. 14, one of thevery easiest holes. The victorytouched off seven financial-pro-ductive years, but no more winsbefore he exchanged clubs formicrophone.

6. Julius Boros, 1963.Nobody tired of watching Big Jay’srhythmic, easy-going, smooth swing,wondering how he generated suchpower, plus the equally effectivework around and on the greens. Agiant of the era, he beat perennialrunner-up Dow Finsterwald by oneshot. He loved fishing the ponds inhis spare time so he returned andwon again in ‘67.

7. Dave Hill, 1969. One of the hardest workers andgreatest strikers of the ball ever to

Ben Crenshaw, 1986

Robert Wrenn, 1987 Dave Hill, 1969

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trod the tour, Peck’s Bad Boyavenged brother Mike Hill’s loss of1968 (to Tom Weiskopf), with afine 11-under 277 that put him inthe books as the last Buick Openchamp as management pulled theplug on the event until coolerheads thankfully prevailed nineyears later.

8. Fred Couples, 1994.

Coming to Warwick after a longlayoff and fighting back problems,Couples seemed like a poor beteven to make the cut. But with hislazy, effortless Boros-like swing

style, Couples ignored inclementweather, even endured a 36-holeday and won going away with ablazing 18-under 270.

9. Chip Beck, 1990.

Never altering his smile whethermaking birdie or double-bogey andhad the groove this week to winanother exciting four-man playoffwith another fan favorite, FuzzyZoeller, along with U.S. Openplayoff rivals that year, Hale Irwinand Mike Donald. The companyliked Beck, too, and signed him asa Buick spokesman.

10. Billy Casper, 1958.

There was more chalk lines onWarwick Hills than on the localfootball field to mark unplayable,free-drop areas on the new andquite rough golf course, but the$100,000 purse was crisp (SamSnead said they’d play downWoodward Ave. for that money).The field was classy and so wasthe winner as Buffalo Billy nickedArnold Palmer, along with TedKross, by one shot. It started agreat Michigan tradition.http://michigangolfer.com/aug00/buick_top10.htmlMG

Other Saylor Archives“How low can they go?’ 2002 articleby Jack Saylorhttp://www.michigangolfer.com/aug02/buickopen.html

“Jack Saylor: Golf’s Piano Man, by Art McCaffertyhttp://www.michigangolfer.com/jan04/index.html

“ A Tribute to Jack Saylor”Michigan Golfer Televisionhttp://michigangolfer.tv/2004shows/saylor/

Chip Beck, 1990

Billy Casper, 1958

Fred Couples, 1994

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