George Bayer

George Bayer (September 15, 1925 – March 16, 2003) was an American professional golfer who played on the PGA Tour and the Senior PGA Tour.

Bayer was born in Bremerton, Washington.cite web | title=George Bayer obituary from findagrave.com | url=http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=7286462 | accessdate=2007-11-03] He attended the University of Washington and was a member of the football team from 1946–1949; he played in the 1949 East-West Shrine Game.cite web | title=notes from Bayer findagrave.com obituary | url=http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=flf&GRid=7286462&FLgrid=7286462& | accessdate=2007-11-03] After college, he was drafted by the Washington Redskins in the 20th round and played tackle for them in six games.cite web | title=George Bayer passes away | url=http://www.4malamute.com/zb9.html | date=March 22, 2003 | accessdate=2007-11-03] Bayer did not begin playing golf until he was 29 years old; he started in golf as a caddie at Kitsap Golf and Country Club, which is located between Silverdale, Washington and his hometown of Bremerton.cite web | title=Bayer, also ex-Redskins lineman, dies of heart attack | publisher=espn.com | date=March 19, 2003 | url=http://espn.go.com/classic/obit/s/2003/0319/1526151.html | accessdate=2008-01-11]

At 6-foot-5-inches tall and 230 pounds, the power that Bayer could generate was astonishing. He was known for booming 300-yard drives. Bayer won three times on the PGA Tour in a four-year period made remarkable by the fact that he played in an era of inconsistently wound balls; and laminated maple or persimmon clubs that were made for players of average height (5'9" tall) and build (160 pounds). His achievements came in an era when golf equipment was simply not available for extremely tall or extremely short people. [cite web | title=The tall and short of it | author=Penner, Andrew | publisher=Golf Instruction | url=http://www.golfinstruction.com/features/tall-short-golf-354.htm | accessdate=2007-11-03]

Bayer also played on the Senior PGA Tour. His best year on that circuit was 1984, when he finished 21st on the money list with $64,491 in earnings. His last appearance in competitive golf was at the 2002 Liberty Mutual Legends of Golf. Bayer died of a heart attack in Palm Springs, California while dining with his wife and golfer Bob Goalby. [cite web | title=Tour winner Bayer dead at 77 | publisher=pga.com | url=http://www.pga.com/news/industry/Bayer-dead-at-77.cfm | accessdate=2007-11-03]

PGA Tour wins (3)

*1957 Canadian Open
*1958 Mayfair Inn Open
*1960 St. Petersburg Open

Other wins

*1963 Par-3 contest at The Masters
*1973 Michigan Open

enior wins

*1997 Liberty Mutual Legends of Golf – Demaret Division (with Jim Ferree)

References

External links

* [http://www.pgatour.com/players/00/10/67/ Results and stats at PGA Tour's official site]
*findagrave|7286462