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Newsweek
21-04-2025
- Sport
- Newsweek
2-Time U.S. Amateur Champion, Golf Legend, Passes Away at 81
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. One of the most decorated amateur players in golf history, Jay Sigel, has passed away due to pancreatic cancer at the age of 81. The Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania native left a lasting legacy for fans of the sport. Sigel began his golf career as a child, excelling as a junior. He went on to play collegiate golf at Wake Forest University, where he graduated with a degree in sociology. Despite his extraordinary talent and skill, Sigel chose to remain an amateur after injuring an arm in an accident. In the years that followed, he became one of the country's top amateur stars. Although he never left the elite ranks of amateur golf during the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s, his greatest successes came when he had reached full maturity. In 1979, at the age of 36, he won his first major world tournament, the British Amateur. Three years later, he won the US Amateur for the first time. Jay Siegel hits a shot during the final round of the Toshiba Classic at the Newport Beach Country Club on March 8, 2009 in Newport Beach, California. Jay Siegel hits a shot during the final round of the Toshiba Classic at the Newport Beach Country Club on March 8, 2009 in Newport Beach, California. Getty Images/Jeff Gross In 1983, he achieved one of the greatest feats of his career by winning the US Amateur and the US Mid-Amateur, becoming only the third player in history to win two USGA titles in the same year (Chick Evans, Bobby Jones). His extraordinary results opened the doors to numerous editions of three of the four major championships. He demonstrated his exceptional quality by winning the low amateur prize in all of them. He did it three times at the Masters Tournament, in 1980 (T26), 1981 (T35) and 1988 (T39), at the US Open in 1984 (T43) and at the Open Championship in 1980 (T38). He also participated in 10 editions of the Walker Cup, winning eight times. Sigel was both player and captain in 1983 and 1985. When he turned 50 in 1993, he decided to start his professional career to play in the senior circuit (current PGA Tour Champions). This new phase of his career was equally successful, with eight victories between 1994 and 2003. "Best amateur since Bobby Jones hands down," Kevin Hammer, the USGA's president-elect, said after learning of Sigel's passing, according to Golf Digest. Outside of his golf career, Sigel was a successful insurance agent who built his own company in the Philadelphia area. He was also a well-known philanthropist for causes such as prostate cancer. More Golf: Joel Dahmen 'In Shock,' Misses Tap-In to Lose PGA Tour Event
Scottish Sun
21-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Scottish Sun
Golf legend Jay Sigel, who turned professional aged 50 and win eight tournaments, dies aged 81 from cancer
Fans have paid tribute on social media REST IN PEACE Golf legend Jay Sigel, who turned professional aged 50 and win eight tournaments, dies aged 81 from cancer JAY SIGEL has sadly died at the age of 81 from cancer. The golf legend rose to fame after turning pro when he was 50 years old. 4 Jay Sigel has died at the age of 81 of pancreatic cancer Credit: Getty 4 He started his pro gold career at the age of 50 Credit: Getty 4 He won eight tournaments during his career Credit: AP 4 He earned over £6.6m in prize money Credit: Getty In 1979, he won the British Amateur, which was played at the Hillside Golf Club in Southport. He won back-to-back US Amateurs in 1982 and 1983 while also claiming victory at the US Mid-Amateur in 1983, He also won two out of the next three US Mid-Amateurs. Sigel excelled on the course after turning pro, as he won eight tournaments. READ MORE ON GOLF STILL ROR DeChambeau lifts lid on McIlroy 'beef' after Masters champ 'didn't talk to him' He joined what is now recognised as the PGA Tour Champions with his most notable win in the Senior Tour Championship in 1996. During his pro career, he won over £6.6million. He has been hailed as one of the best amateurs of all time by the USGA's president-elect, Kevin Hammer. He said: "Best amateur since Bobby Jones hands down. "He was a dear friend and somebody that we will remember forever, and take a lot of inspiration from." Watch throwback moment Late Late Show host Patrick Kielty duelled child Rory McIlroy on the golf course 2025 US Walker Cup captain Nathan Smith said: "Incredible player. Incredible friend. Incredible mentor. "He was special. He was just an icon in amateur golf." Sigel died from pancreatic cancer on Saturday and the U.S. Golf Association announced it on Sunday. Fans have flocked to social media to pay tribute to the unique great. One posted: "Very sad news to hear that Jay Sigel, one of America's finest amateur golfers." A second commented: "Pennsylvania golf legend. RIP Jay Sigel." A third wrote: "RIP Jay Sigel. A Pennsylvania golf legend." A fourth added: "RIP to Jay Sigel, one of the great amateurs in the modern era." He featured in 11 Masters and made the cut in four of them.
The Sun
21-04-2025
- Entertainment
- The Sun
Golf legend Jay Sigel, who turned professional aged 50 and win eight tournaments, dies aged 81 from cancer
JAY SIGEL has sadly died at the age of 81 from cancer. The golf legend rose to fame after turning pro when he was 50 years old. 4 4 4 4 In 1979, he won the British Amateur, which was played at the Hillside Golf Club in Southport. He won back-to-back US Amateurs in 1982 and 1983 while also claiming victory at the US Mid-Amateur in 1983, He also won two out of the next three US Mid-Amateurs. Sigel excelled on the course after turning pro, as he won eight tournaments. He joined what is now recognised as the PGA Tour Champions with his most notable win in the Senior Tour Championship in 1996. During his pro career, he won over £6.6million. He has been hailed as one of the best amateurs of all time by the USGA's president-elect, Kevin Hammer. He said: "Best amateur since Bobby Jones hands down. "He was a dear friend and somebody that we will remember forever, and take a lot of inspiration from." Watch throwback moment Late Late Show host Patrick Kielty duelled child Rory McIlroy on the golf course 2025 US Walker Cup captain Nathan Smith said: "Incredible player. Incredible friend. Incredible mentor. "He was special. He was just an icon in amateur golf." Sigel died from pancreatic cancer on Saturday and the U.S. Golf Association announced it on Sunday. Fans have flocked to social media to pay tribute to the unique great. One posted: "Very sad news to hear that Jay Sigel, one of America's finest amateur golfers." A second commented: "Pennsylvania golf legend. RIP Jay Sigel." A third wrote: "RIP Jay Sigel. A Pennsylvania golf legend." A fourth added: "RIP to Jay Sigel, one of the great amateurs in the modern era." He featured in 11 Masters and made the cut in four of them.
Boston Globe
20-04-2025
- Sport
- Boston Globe
Jay Sigel, considered America's best amateur golfer since Bobby Jones, dies of cancer at 81
His intention was to turn pro when he starred at Wake Forest on an Arnold Palmer scholarship. But his left hand went through a pane window on a swinging door that required 70 stitches. Sigel decided to remain amateur and started a successful insurance business. 'I always thought things happen for a reason,' Sigel once said. 'The hand injury was the best thing to happen to me.' Advertisement At the age of 38, he defeated David Tolley, 8 and 7, at The Country Club to win his first US Amateur in 1982, and the following year became the first player to win the US Amateur and the US Mid-Amateur — for players at least 25 years old — in the same year. He also captured some of the nation's most prestigious titles, such as the Sunnehanna Amateur, the Northeast Amateur, and the Porter Cup — winning each three times. Sigel joined the PGA Tour Champions when he turned 50 in 1994 and won eight times, though his legacy was amateur golf. He was on eight winning Walker Cup teams, and played as the captain in 1983 and 1985. Advertisement
