Bob Duden

Bob Duden
Personal information
Full nameRobert W. Duden
Born(1920-09-05)September 5, 1920
DiedMarch 22, 1995(1995-03-22) (aged 74)
Sporting nationality United States
Career
StatusProfessional
Former tour(s)PGA Tour
Professional winsAt least 30
Best results in major championships
Masters TournamentDNP
PGA ChampionshipT54: 1977
U.S. OpenT46: 1954
The Open ChampionshipDNP

Robert W. Duden (September 5, 1920 – March 22, 1995) was an American professional golfer who played on the PGA Tour in the 1950s and 1960s.

A lifelong resident of Portland, Oregon, Duden compiled a remarkable record in sectional golf competition. He won over 50 tournaments in a 40-year career that included 23 major Pacific Northwest Section events including a record 7 wins of the Pacific Northwest Senior PGA Championship;[1] he won the Oregon Open a record eight times.[2][3] In competition on the PGA Tour, Duden's best showings were three 2nd place ties between 1959 and 1964.[1][3] His best finish in a major championship was T-46 at the 1954 U.S. Open.[4]

Duden invented and patented the croquet style putter, which he named "The Dude".[1][5] When other well-known professionals like Sam Snead adopted this revolutionary putting technique, its popularity began to surge; however, the USGA banned it when traditionalists like Bobby Jones objected.[5]

Duden had 22 holes-in-one during his career. In his later years, he worked as a teaching pro at Glendoveer Golf Course, where an annual tournament bears his name.[3] Duden was inducted into the Pacific Northwest Section PGA Hall of Fame in 1993[1] and the Oregon Sports Hall of Fame in 1995.[5]

  1. ^ a b c d "Biographical information from Pacific Northwest Section PGA Hall of Fame". Archived from the original on August 15, 2007. Retrieved November 20, 2007.
  2. ^ "Oregon Open history". Pacific Northwest Section PGA. Archived from the original on October 17, 2007. Retrieved November 20, 2007.
  3. ^ a b c "Bob Duden - Golf". Oregon Sports Hall of Fame. Archived from the original on October 2, 2011. Retrieved June 28, 2011.
  4. ^ "Golf Major Championships". Retrieved January 23, 2008.
  5. ^ a b c "Biographical information from puttmagic.com". Retrieved November 20, 2007.