Rodríguez, Chi Chi (1935-2024), a Puerto Rican golfer, was one of the most popular players on the American professional men’s golf tour. Rodríguez often entertained fans at tournaments with his humorous remarks and his “sword” dance, in which he waved his golf club like a sword after making a birdie. Each hole on a golf course has a designated par—that is, a standard that represents the number of strokes that will be taken if the hole is played well. A birdie is one stroke under par.
Rodríguez was born on Oct. 23, 1935, in Río Piedras (now part of San Juan), Puerto Rico. His real name was Juan Antonio Rodríguez. He was nicknamed Chi Chi as a boy after the Puerto Rican baseball player Chi Chi Flores. Rodríguez grew up in extreme poverty. He began caddying for golfers before the age of 10 and soon began playing golf himself.
Rodríguez joined the Professional Golfers’ Association of America (PGA) tour in 1960. He won 8 tournaments during his 21 years on the tour but had greater success on the Senior PGA Tour (now PGA Tour Champions), open to golfers at least 50 years old. Rodríguez joined the Senior PGA Tour in 1985 and won 22 tournaments, including a record 4 straight victories in 1987.
Rodríguez was active in children’s charities. The Chi Chi Rodríguez Youth Foundation is dedicated to helping disadvantaged children through golf. In 1989, Rodríguez received the Bob Jones Award for distinguished sportsmanship in golf. Rodríguez died on Aug. 8, 2024.
