1956  -  At Northland CC in Duluth, Minnesota, , 20 year old Barb McIntire nearly becomes the first amateur to win the U.S. Women's Open.  At the end of regulation play,  McIntire tied Kathy Cornelius, who shot a final round 79.  The next day, Cornelius beat McIntire, 75-82 in an 18-hole playoff for the crown.

1991  -  Jack Nicklaus defeats Chi Chi Rodriguez in an 18-hole playoff for the U.S. Senior Open at Oakland Hills CC and becomes the first player to complete the "Senior Slam."  Earlier that season, Nicklaus won the Tradition Championship and the Senior PGA.

1997  -  On July 27th, at the age of 84, golf icon Ben Hogan died in Fort Worth, Texas.  Known as the greatest ball-striker of all-time, Hogan won 64 times on the PGA Tour and captured 9 Major Championships.  He survived a near-fatal car crash in 1949 and was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 1974   

1999  -  Brent Geiberger wins the Canon Greater Hartford Open and becomes the first son of a former PGA Tour Champion (Al Geiberger) to win a Tour event since Guy Boros (Julius Boros) won the Vancouver Open in 1996.  Enroute to victory, Brent recorded the first ace of his career during the 3rd round of play.

THIS WEEK  -   A pair of Major Championships will be decided this week.  The U.S. Senior Open is being played at Sahalee CC in Seattle, Washington.  Fred Funk is the defending champ.  Overseas, the Ricoh Women's British Open is being held at Royal Birkdale in Southport, England.  Catriona Matthew is the defending champion.  On the PGA Tour, it's the inaugural Greenbrier Classic on the Old White Course in White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia.  On the PGA European Tour, it's the 3 Irish Open, at the Killarney Golf & Fishing Club in County Kerry, Ireland.  The field includes native sons, Rory McElroy, Padraig Harrington and last year's winner, Shane Lowry

BIRTHDAYS:   July 30th - Graeme McDowell, 31;  Justin Rose, 30;  August 1st - Nancy Lopez, 58