Legendary amateur golf Jay Sigel died on Saturday at the age of 81 following a battle with pancreatic cancer.
According to the United States Golf Association (USGA), Sigel was considered to be the best American amateur golfer since World War II. The legendary golfer won two U.S. Amateur titles and three U.S. Mid-Amateur championships. Additionally, Sigel competed on nine USA Walker Cup Teams and was captain of the U.S. team twice.
According to the USGA, Sigel also won the Northeast Amateur, the Porter Cup, and the Sunnehanna Amateur three times each and won the Pennsylvania Open four different times.
“He was a dear friend and somebody that we will remember forever, and take a lot of inspiration from,” USGA President-Elect and Chairman of the Championship Committee Kevin Hammer said. “Best amateur since Bobby Jones hands down.”
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“Not only was his career as an amateur – and as a professional [on the PGA Tour Champions] — incredibly successful and legendary, but he [also] participated alongside all of the members [at Delray Dunes Golf & Country Club in Boynton Beach, Fla.] in team matches, supported the club, helped the juniors and just was inspirational at every level,” Hammer added. “His legacy extends far beyond his playing credentials, which are extraordinary.”
According to the USGA, Sigel initially hoped to join professional golf after graduating from college; however, the legendary golfer injured his arm in an accident on his college campus during his sophomore year. The USGA explained that Sigel’s left hand was injured after it went through a pane of glass on a door and that he had 70 stitches put into his wrist and was hospitalized for nine days, leading him to reconsider his plans to become a professional golfer and instead launch an insurance business while competing as an amateur golfer.
“I always thought things happen for a reason,” Sigel said in a statement obtained by the USGA. “The hand injury was the best thing to happen to me.”
According to The New York Post, Sigel eventually joined professional golf at the age of 50 and won eight PGA Champions events.
The USGA shared a picture on Sunday of Sigel alongside one of his golf championship trophies in a post on X, formerly Twitter.
