Cary Middlecoff
The dentist who traded his practice for the fairways, becoming one of golf's most dominant and deliberate champions in the post-war era.
1921–1998 (age 77)·American professional golfer·Birthday: January 6·The Greatest Generation
Biography
Cary Middlecoff brought a surgeon's precision to the golf course, and it showed in his results. A qualified dentist from the University of Tennessee, he initially split his time between pulling teeth and hitting drives. But the lure of competition proved too strong. At 26, he abandoned dentistry entirely, a gamble that paid off with almost immediate success on the PGA Tour. Middlecoff was not a flamboyant player; he was methodical, thoughtful, and famously slow, often driving fast-playing rivals like Ben Hogan to distraction. His swing was a model of power and control, and his putting stroke was pure. This technical mastery translated into 40 tour wins, a tally that still places him among the all-time greats. His major victories—two U.S. Opens and a Masters—were triumphs of nerve and skill, particularly his 1955 Masters win where he held off Hogan. Middlecoff's career bridged the Hogan and Palmer eras, a period where his consistent excellence and unique background made him one of the game's most respected figures.
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.
Cary was born in 1921, 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 Cary Was Born
The biggest hits of 1921
#1 Movie
The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse
Cary's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1921Born
First commercial radio broadcasts
President: Warren G. Harding"My Man" — Fanny Brice
1926Started school
Robert Goddard launches the first liquid-fueled rocket
President: Calvin Coolidge"Baby Face" — Jan Garber
1934Became a teenager
Gas: $0.19/galPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"Stars Fell on Alabama" — Jack TeagardenBest Picture: It Happened One Night
1937Could drive
Hindenburg disaster; Golden Gate Bridge opens
Gas: $0.20/galPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"A-Tisket, A-Tasket" — Ella FitzgeraldBest Picture: The Life of Emile Zola
1939Could vote
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
1942Turned 21
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
1951Turned 30
First color TV broadcast in the US
Gas: $0.27/galHome: $7,925Min wage: $0.75/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Too Young" — Nat King ColeBest Picture: An American in Paris
1961Turned 40
Yuri Gagarin becomes the first human in space
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $12,500Min wage: $1.15/hrPresident: John F. Kennedy"Tossin' and Turnin'" — Bobby LewisBest Picture: West Side Story
1971Turned 50
Voting age lowered to 18 in the US
Gas: $0.36/galHome: $18,100Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"Joy to the World" — Three Dog NightBest Picture: The French Connection
1981Turned 60
MTV launches; first Space Shuttle flight; AIDS identified
Gas: $1.31/galHome: $52,300Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Bette Davis Eyes" — Kim CarnesBest Picture: Chariots of Fire
1991Turned 70
Soviet Union dissolves; World Wide Web goes public
Gas: $1.14/galHome: $82,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"(Everything I Do) I Do It for You" — Bryan AdamsBest Picture: The Silence of the Lambs
1998Died at 77
Google founded; Clinton impeachment
Gas: $1.06/galHome: $107,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Too Close" — NextBest Picture: Shakespeare in Love
Key Achievements
- Won three major championships: the U.S. Open in 1949 and 1956, and the Masters Tournament in 1955.
- Accumulated 40 PGA Tour victories, which ranks tied for tenth on the all-time list.
- Finished as the PGA Tour's leading money winner in 1955.
- Was a member of three U.S. Ryder Cup teams (1953, 1955, 1959).
Did You Know?
He served as a dentist in the U.S. Army during World War II before turning professional.
He was known for his exceptionally slow pace of play, which was a frequent topic of discussion among peers and fans.
He worked as a golf analyst for CBS television after his playing career ended.
He authored an instructional book titled 'The Golf Swing' in 1974.
“The only thing a golfer needs is more daylight.”
