Juan "Chi Chi" Rodriguez, a Hall of Fame golfer whose antics on the greens and inspiring life story made him among the sport's most popular players during a long professional career, died Thursday. He was 88.
Rodriguez's death was announced by Carmelo Javier Rios, a senator in Rodriguez's native Puerto Rico. He didn't provide a cause of death.
"Chi Chi Rodriguez's passion for charity and outreach was surpassed only by his incredible talent with a golf club in his hand," PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan said in a statement. "A vibrant, colourful personality both on and off the golf course, he will be missed dearly by the PGA Tour and those whose lives he touched in his mission to give back. The PGA Tour sends its deepest condolences to the entire Rodriguez family during this difficult time."
He was born Juan Antonio Rodriguez, the second oldest of six children, in Rio Piedras, Puerto Rico, when it was blanketed with sugar cane fields and where he helped his father with the harvest as a child. The area is now a dense urban landscape, part of San Juan, the capital of the U.S. island territory.
Rodriguez said he learned to play golf by hitting tin cans with a guava tree stick and then found work as a caddie. He claimed he could shoot a 67 by age 12, according to a biography provided by the Chi Chi Rodriguez Management Group in Stow, Ohio.
No one from Puerto Rico had ever made it to the PGA Tour and Rodriguez was determined to not only get there but to beat the best. "They told me I was a hound dreaming about pork chops," he once told Sports Illustrated.
He served in the U.S. Army from 1955-57 and joined the PGA Tour in 1960 and won eight times during his 21-year career, playing on one Ryder Cup team.
The first of his eight tour victories came in 1963, when he won the Denver Open. He followed it up with two the next year and continued through 1979 with the Tallahassee Open. He had 22 victories on the Champions Tour from 1985-2002, and had total combined career earnings of more than $7.6 million. He was inducted into the PGA World Golf Hall of Fame in 1992.
His playing record doesn't look like Hall of Fame material. He contributions to the game with his showmanship and charity and devotion to youth development was gigantic.
He started an academy for children in the Tampa, Florida, area in the 1970s, focusing on those who were at risk. "Why do I love kids so much? Because I was never a kid myself. I was too poor to really have a childhood," Rodriguez once said.
And his humour never left him. He had a passion for baseball, and when the U.S. Senior Open went to Canterbury outside Cleveland in 1996, he was asked why he was why he gave up the sport. "I used to steal bases," Rodriguez said as the room erupted in laughter.
Rodriguez was perhaps best known for fairway antics that included twirling his club like a sword, sometimes referred to as his "matador routine," or doing a celebratory dance, often with a shuffling salsa step, after making a birdie putt. He often irritated fellow players in what he insisted was meant as good-natured fun.
In recent years, he spent most of his time in Puerto Rico, where he was a partner in a golf community project that struggled amid the recession and housing crisis, hosted a talk show on a local radio station for several years, and appeared at various sporting and other events.
Chi Chi's Humble Beginnings
Rodriguez's life story is a testament to the power of hard work, determination, and a positive outlook. Growing up in poverty, he had to learn to play golf using whatever means he could find. His passion for the sport was evident from a young age, and he quickly became known for his unique style of play. His success on the PGA Tour and Champions Tour cemented his legacy in the world of golf.
A Legacy of Giving Back
Rodriguez was not only a talented golfer, but also a passionate philanthropist. He founded the Chi Chi Rodriguez Youth Foundation in 1979 to provide counseling, education, and vocational training for underprivileged children. His dedication to giving back to the community was deeply rooted in his own childhood experiences. Rodriguez understood the importance of education and opportunity, and he wanted to provide those resources to children who might otherwise not have access to them.
The "Showman" of Golf
Rodriguez's flamboyant personality and entertaining antics on the golf course made him a fan favorite. His trademark sword dance, a playful routine that he would perform after making a birdie putt, became an iconic part of his persona. While some of his fellow players found his antics irritating, Rodriguez always insisted that they were intended as good-natured fun. He understood the importance of entertaining the crowds and making golf more enjoyable for everyone.
A Lasting Impact
Chi Chi Rodriguez's legacy goes beyond his achievements in golf. His story is an inspiring example of resilience, perseverance, and the importance of giving back to the community. He was a true original, a player who defied expectations and left an indelible mark on the sport. His passion for golf, his unwavering spirit, and his dedication to making a difference in the lives of others will continue to inspire generations to come.
A Life Well-Lived
Juan "Chi Chi" Rodriguez's life was a testament to the human spirit's ability to overcome adversity and achieve greatness. His story reminds us that anything is possible with hard work, determination, and a kind heart. He will be deeply missed, but his legacy will live on through the countless lives he touched and the countless smiles he brought to the faces of golf fans around the world.
