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SLAM! Sports Century in Review INTERACTIVE CONTESTS ALSO ON SLAM!  |
Thursday, December 30, 1999 Knudson competed with best in worldIf there was one golfer who proved to the Manitobans who followed that they could compete with the world's best, it was George Knudson. Knudson defied the odds by becoming a member of the PGA Tour, sometimes pairing with the likes of Arnold Palmer. In fact, the Canadian Professional Golfers Association named Knudson the golfer of the century for his accomplishments. The St. Charles Country Club graduate won five Ontario Opens, five Canadian Professional Golfers Association championships and eight major victories on the U.S. Tour, as well as countless international triumphs. And he finished in a three-way tie for second in the 1969 Masters. HALL OF FAME Knudson, who succumbed to cancer in 1989, went on to the Senior PGA Tour and is a member of the Canadian Sports Hall of Fame. Knudson was also a member of the Canada Cup team nine times, winning the individual honours in Tokyo in 1966. In 1968, he teamed with Al Balding to win the doubles championship in Rome. As a junior, Knudson won Manitoba junior titles in 1954 and '55, and went on to take the Canadian crown the latter year. From there, Knudson captured the Manitoba Open title three times. When his impressive career was over, Knudson imparted his knowledge of the game as both a teacher and an author. But most importantly, Knudson raised the bar in the sport in his home province and continues to inspire young Manitoba golfers. 
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