Bob Rosburg
A tough-as-nails PGA Tour winner who later became the voice of 'ABC's Wide World of Sports,' famously predicting shots from the rough.
1926–2009 (age 83)·American professional golfer·Birthday: October 21·The Greatest Generation
Biography
Bob Rosburg played golf with a kind of street-smart resilience that defined his era. Turning professional after World War II service, 'Rossie' carved out a solid career on the PGA Tour, known for his compact swing and gritty short game. His crowning achievement came in 1959 when he won the PGA Championship, a major victory that cemented his place among the game's best. But for a generation of television viewers, Rosburg became something else entirely: the pioneering on-course reporter for ABC Sports. With a microphone in hand and a blunt, no-nonsense delivery, he revolutionized golf broadcasting. He would stride ahead of the players, assess their difficult lies from the rough or behind trees, and famously declare, 'He's got no shot,' only to often be proven wrong by a miraculous recovery. This persona made him a beloved and familiar figure, bridging the gap between the game's golden age and its television boom.
The Greatest Generation
1901–1927
Grew up during the Depression, fought World War II, and built the postwar economic boom. Defined by shared sacrifice, institutional trust, and a belief that hard work and loyalty would be rewarded.
Bob was born in 1926, placing them squarely in The Greatest Generation. The events that shaped this generation — world wars, depression, and rapid industrialization — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Bob Was Born
The biggest hits of 1926
#1 Movie
Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ
Bob's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1926Born
Robert Goddard launches the first liquid-fueled rocket
President: Calvin Coolidge"Baby Face" — Jan Garber
1931Started school
The Empire State Building opens as the world's tallest
Gas: $0.17/galPresident: Herbert Hoover"Minnie the Moocher" — Cab CallowayBest Picture: Cimarron
1939Became a teenager
World War II begins; The Wizard of Oz premieres
Gas: $0.19/galMin wage: $0.30/hrPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"Over the Rainbow" — Judy GarlandBest Picture: Gone with the Wind
1942Could drive
Battle of Midway turns the tide in the Pacific
Gas: $0.20/galHome: $3,175Min wage: $0.30/hrPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"White Christmas" — Bing CrosbyBest Picture: Mrs. Miniver
1944Could vote
D-Day: Allied forces land at Normandy
Gas: $0.21/galHome: $3,400Min wage: $0.30/hrPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"Swinging on a Star" — Bing CrosbyBest Picture: Going My Way
1947Turned 21
India gains independence; the Dead Sea Scrolls found
Gas: $0.23/galHome: $6,600Min wage: $0.40/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Near You" — Francis CraigBest Picture: Gentleman's Agreement
1956Turned 30
Elvis Presley appears on The Ed Sullivan Show
Gas: $0.30/galHome: $10,050Min wage: $1.00/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"Heartbreak Hotel" — Elvis PresleyBest Picture: Around the World in 80 Days
1966Turned 40
Star Trek premieres on television
Gas: $0.32/galHome: $14,200Min wage: $1.25/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"The Ballad of the Green Berets" — SSgt Barry SadlerBest Picture: A Man for All Seasons
1976Turned 50
Apple Computer founded; US bicentennial
Gas: $0.59/galHome: $29,300Min wage: $2.30/hrPresident: Gerald Ford"Silly Love Songs" — WingsBest Picture: Rocky
1986Turned 60
Challenger disaster; Chernobyl nuclear meltdown
Gas: $0.86/galHome: $66,600Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"That's What Friends Are For" — Dionne & FriendsBest Picture: Platoon
1996Turned 70
Dolly the sheep cloned
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $99,700Min wage: $4.75/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Macarena" — Los del RioBest Picture: The English Patient
2006Turned 80
Twitter launches; Pluto reclassified as dwarf planet
Gas: $2.59/galHome: $174,700Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Bad Day" — Daniel PowterBest Picture: The Departed
2009Died at 83
Michael Jackson dies; Bitcoin created
Gas: $2.35/galHome: $148,500Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Boom Boom Pow" — The Black Eyed PeasBest Picture: The Hurt Locker
Key Achievements
- Won the 1959 PGA Championship, one of golf's major tournaments, at the Minneapolis Golf Club.
- Secured six total victories on the PGA Tour during his playing career.
- Served as a pioneering on-course reporter for ABC's golf coverage for nearly three decades, helping define the role.
Did You Know?
He was a standout multi-sport athlete at Stanford University, also playing basketball and baseball.
His catchphrase as a reporter, "He's got no shot," became famous for its frequent inaccuracy.
He won the PGA Championship using a putter he had bought from a fellow pro for just $25.
“He's got no shot from there... well, maybe he does.”
