Juan Rodriguez, otherwise known as "Chi Chi" was one of the most entertaining golfers to ever step onto the course. That is to say, fans will never forget his celebrations and exuberant persona, remembered by many as a legendary golfer on and off the green, he was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 1992.
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The death was announced by Puerto Rican Senator Carmelo Javier Ríos Santiago who posted the news on social media (when translated from Spanish), stating that he "has gone to live with the Lord," while also referring to him as a "great human being."
A gifted player, entertainer and humanitarian, World Golf Hall of Famer Juan "Chi Chi" Rodriguez of Puerto Rico died on Thursday at 88.
A 30x @PGATOUR and @ChampionsTour winner, he played on the victorious 1973 @RyderCupUSA team and received the 1989 @USGA Bob Jones Award. pic.twitter.com/RzOvceTwcu
— Golf Hall of Fame (@GolfHallofFame) August 9, 2024
The PGA Tour confirmed that at 88 years old Rodriguez has passed away. In a statement released, commissioner Jay Monahan described the Puerto Rican golfer as "a vibrant, colorful personality both on and off the golf course."
"Chi Chi Rodriguez's passion for charity and outreach was surpassed only by his incredible talent with a golf club in his hand... he will be missed dearly by the PGA Tour and those whose lives he touched in his mission to give back. The PGA Tour sends its deepest condolences to the entire Rodriguez family during this difficult time."
Notably, during the 1970's he started an academy for children in the Tampa, Florida area which helps up to 600 at-risk kids who came from underprivileged backgrounds. Considering this, his efforts led him to being enshrined into the World Humanitarian Sports Hall of Fame (1994).
In a past interview, he shed light on why he always wanted to give back, "Why do I love kids so much? Because I was never a kid myself. I was too poor to really have a childhood," Rodriguez stated.
"A man never stands taller than when he stoops to help a child," he once said.
In view of his own humble beginnings, at seven years old Chi Chi worked on a plantation as a water carrier, and only discovered his future vocation by accidentally wandering onto a golf course as a kid, which ended up giving him the idea to become a caddy in order to make money.
After teaching himself how to play the sport, by taking a guava tree branch and utilizing it as a club, ultimately, Chi Chi learned that he himself was a natural prodigy, for by the age of 12 he already scored a 67 in an 18-hole golf game.
Over the course of his career, which started when he turned pro in 1960 at 25 years old, he accumulated 30 wins, eight of which came on the PGA Tour, while the rest came on the Champions Tour (1985-2002).
His greatest achievement may have been winning the Bob Jones Award in 1989, which is awarded to the player who exemplifies sportsmanship, it is regarded as USGA's highest honor.
Juan Antonio "Chi Chi" Rodriguez has passed away at the age of 88. He was apart of the winning U.S. Ryder Cup team in 1973, an 8-time PGA Tour winner, 22-time Champions Tour winner, and was inducted into the @GolfHallofFame in 1992.
— NUCLR GOLF (@NUCLRGOLF) August 9, 2024
What Chi Chi is most known for is his celebrations, as whenever he made a birdie or eagle, he would put his hat over the hole. However, he had to change it up after his competitors didn't necessarily like this, so he adapted his signature "matador dance," which entailed him pretending that the ball was a "bull" and that his putter was a sword.
A one-of-a-kind celebration.
Chi Chi Rodriguez explains his signature “sword dance.”
He will be missed. pic.twitter.com/XTsN9tzjCe
— PGA TOUR Champions (@ChampionsTour) August 9, 2024
"You've got to be different," he said in an interview with Golf.com. "You've got to be yourself in the world. That's what I always wanted to be."
All in all, there will never be another player like him, as he will go down as many fans' favorite golfer, for no one had more showmanship on the course than the iconic "Chi Chi" Rodriguez.
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