Roberto de Vicenzo, Open champion in 1967, has passed away at 94
By Keith Jackson
Last Updated: 01/06/17 8:58pm
Former Open champion Roberto de Vicenzo, the first South American player to win a major championship, has died at the age of 94.
De Vicenzo captured The Open almost 50 years ago after holding off Jack Nicklaus on the final day at Hoylake, but he is best known for his misfortune at the Masters the following year.
The Argentine fired a superb final-round 65 at Augusta National and was preparing for a play-off against Bob Goalby when it emerged he had made a huge error when signing his scorecard.
His playing partner, Tommy Aaron, had inadvertently marked down a four on his card at the 17th when De Vicenzo had actually made a birdie three, and he failed to notice the mistake when he submitted his scorecard to officials.
The higher score stood and he finished a shot behind the champion, prompting De Vicenzo to deliver one of the most famous quotes in golfing history - "What a stupid I am!"
De Vicenzo won more than 232 professional tournaments in his career, most of them in his homeland, and his victory at Royal Liverpool in 1967 at the age of 44 was the highlight as he pipped Nicklaus to victory by two shots. The Open did not return to Hoylake until 2006.
He won eight PGA Tour titles and also enjoyed success on the Champions Tour, being crowned the inaugural winner of the US Senior Open in 1980 - six years after winning the PGA Seniors' Championship.
De Vicenzo was the recipient of the prestigious Bob Jones Award in 1970, and he was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 1989.
His death was announced in Argentina just weeks after he suffered injuries in a fall at his home.
