Gene Sarazen
A self-made golf pioneer who invented the modern sand wedge and completed a career Grand Slam with a shot heard around the world.
1902–1999 (age 97)·American professional golfer·Birthday: February 27·The Greatest Generation
Biography
Born Eugenio Saraceni to Italian immigrant parents, Gene Sarazen took up caddying as a boy and forged himself into one of golf's most inventive and determined champions. Short and stocky, he was a powerhouse swinger known for his fierce competitive spirit. His career ignited in the 1920s, but his legacy was forged in the 1930s through two iconic moments. In 1932, facing a crucial shot from a hard-packed sand lie at the British Open, he benefited from a club he had recently perfected: the modern sand wedge, with a lowered and angled flange that revolutionized bunker play. Three years later, at the inaugural Masters Tournament, he struck what he called 'the most thrilling shot of my life'—a 4-wood from 235 yards on the par-5 15th that went in for a double eagle, propelling him to victory and completing the Career Grand Slam. Sarazen remained a vibrant ambassador for the game well into his nineties, a living bridge to golf's early days.
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.
Gene was born in 1902, 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 Gene Was Born
The biggest hits of 1902
Gene's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1902Born
The eruption of Mount Pelee kills 30,000 in Martinique
President: Theodore Roosevelt
1907Started school
Financial panic grips Wall Street
President: Theodore Roosevelt
1915Became a teenager
The Lusitania is sunk by a German U-boat
President: Woodrow Wilson
1918Could drive
World War I ends; Spanish flu pandemic kills millions
President: Woodrow Wilson
1920Could vote
Women gain the right to vote in the US
Home: $3,395President: Woodrow Wilson"Swanee" — Al Jolson
1923Turned 21
The Great Kanto earthquake devastates Tokyo
President: Calvin Coolidge"Yes! We Have No Bananas" — Billy Jones
1932Turned 30
Amelia Earhart flies solo across the Atlantic
Gas: $0.18/galPresident: Herbert Hoover"Night and Day" — Fred AstaireBest Picture: Grand Hotel
1942Turned 40
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
1952Turned 50
Queen Elizabeth II ascends the throne
Gas: $0.27/galHome: $8,350Min wage: $0.75/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Blue Tango" — Leroy AndersonBest Picture: The Greatest Show on Earth
1962Turned 60
Cuban Missile Crisis brings the world to the brink
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $12,800Min wage: $1.15/hrPresident: John F. Kennedy"Stranger on the Shore" — Acker BilkBest Picture: Lawrence of Arabia
1972Turned 70
Watergate break-in; last Apollo Moon mission
Gas: $0.36/galHome: $19,550Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face" — Roberta FlackBest Picture: The Godfather
1982Turned 80
Michael Jackson releases Thriller
Gas: $1.22/galHome: $55,200Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Physical" — Olivia Newton-JohnBest Picture: Gandhi
1999Died at 97
Columbine shooting; Y2K panic builds
Gas: $1.17/galHome: $113,900Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Believe" — CherBest Picture: American Beauty
Key Achievements
- Won all four major championships of his era (U.S. Open, PGA Championship, The Open Championship, Masters) to complete the Career Grand Slam.
- Invented and patented the modern sand wedge, fundamentally changing golf club design and short-game strategy.
- Scored a famous double eagle (albatross) on the 15th hole at Augusta National to win the 1935 Masters Tournament.
- Won seven major championships across a professional career that spanned five decades.
Did You Know?
He was only 5 feet 5 inches tall.
He won the PGA Championship in 1922 and again in 1923, when it was still a match-play event.
He was the first golfer to win the modern Career Grand Slam, though the term wasn't used until later.
He hosted a popular television show called 'The Gene Sarazen Show' in the 1950s.
He coined the term 'Grand Slam' for golf, borrowing it from the card game bridge.
“The more I practice, the luckier I get.”
