Jimmy Demaret
Jimmy Demaret was a prominent American golfer, born on May 24, 1910, in Houston, Texas, and he rose to fame during the 1940s. Coming from a modest background as one of nine children, he initially approached golf primarily as a means to earn money rather than as a passion. His vibrant personality, characterized by a love for socializing and a penchant for colorful clothing on the course, made him a beloved figure among fans and fellow players alike. Demaret's exceptional skills, particularly in the short game, helped him dominate local Texas tournaments and led to significant national success.
He became a full-time professional golfer in 1938 and quickly made his mark by winning The Masters three times, with his first victory in 1940. Despite facing fierce competition from legendary players like Ben Hogan, Sam Snead, and Byron Nelson, Demaret maintained a reputation as one of the best golfers of his era, securing over forty tournament wins in his career. His relaxed demeanor and lack of intense competitiveness were notable traits, which sometimes hindered his performance in match play. After retiring from competitive golf, he co-founded the Champions Golf Club and continued to impact the sport until his death in 1983.
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Subject Terms
Jimmy Demaret
Entertainer
- Born: May 24, 1910
- Birthplace: Houston, Texas
- Died: December 28, 1983
- Place of death: Houston, Texas
Sport: Golf
Early Life
James Newton Demaret was born May 24, 1910, in Houston, Texas. He was one of nine children. Unlike many golfers who learn the game from their fathers, Jimmy was not in a position to take up hobbies. Early in life, he was faced with the need to earn enough money on which to live.
Occasionally people who rise to success from a difficult background are hard-driving and ruthless. Having known poverty, they will allow nothing to place them at risk of a return to that state. Jimmy had an entirely different attitude. He was a happy-go-lucky, friendly person who enjoyed parties and continually engaged in banter.
The Road to Excellence
Jimmy became interested in golf as a means of earning money, not as an activity valued for its own sake. Money was available through local tournaments and through gambling in rounds with wealthy amateurs. The game was not Jimmy’s main source of funds, however: He worked as a nightclub singer with a band.
The Texas courses had low, rolling areas near the green that demanded a delicate touch. Like his friend Jack Burke, Jimmy developed into an excellent wedge player. Because of the flat surfaces of the courses, a putter would often be used in shots to approach the green—the so-called “Texas wedge.” Jimmy added this technique to his repertoire, further enhancing his skill in the short game. He was also superb with long irons.
Jimmy’s ability and technique enabled him early to dominate Texas professional golf. He won a number of local tournaments, including the Texas Professional Golfers’ Association (PGA) Championship five times in succession. In 1938, he decided to turn full-time professional. He won the important Los Angeles Open in his first full year on the circuit, 1939.
The Emerging Champion
As Jimmy rose to national prominence in the late 1930’s, golf fans encountered a player the likes of whom they had never before seen. He specialized in colorful clothes—bright orange or blue trousers were favorites. To Jimmy, a golf cap was no mere article of convenience but an opportunity to display a riot of colors. Conservative golfers, who might otherwise have protested, only shook their heads. By his constant good-natured conversation on the course, he charmed both galleries and his fellow professionals. Throughout his career, Jimmy was among the best-liked players in the game.
Jimmy demonstrated that he was much more than a comedian on the course. He soon proved to be one of the best golfers in the country. In 1940, he won The Masters, establishing a tournament record in the process. In the final 18 holes of the tournament, he scored an incredibly low 60. The Masters was the most important of the seven tournaments—six of them in row—he won in 1940.
Jimmy’s ability reached its peak just before the United States entered World War II, and Jimmy served in the Navy during the years—the early 1940’s—in which he would have had the best chance of dominating the game. As always, however, he was not discouraged. He emerged from military service with both his personality and his golf game intact.
Jimmy immediately resumed his rank among the leaders. He won The Masters again in 1947, and in 1948, he finished second in the U.S. Open. He became the first three-time winner of The Masters in 1950. He won the tournament with a strong closing round of 69. In 1947, he was the leading money winner. His purses totaled $27,936, a very high amount for golfers in the 1940’s.
In spite of his success, two weaknesses plagued Jimmy’s game. He devoted little time to practice, and he preferred late-night parties and dancing, no doubt reflecting his earlier career as an entertainer. Sam Snead once suggested that Jimmy’s lack of practice made him play far below his potential.
Continuing the Story
Jimmy lacked the driving intensity characteristic of most champions: As long as he did well and enjoyed himself, he was content. His lack of aggressiveness made him especially vulnerable in match play. He was uninterested in struggling against an opponent face-to-face, and players more intent on victory could usually beat him. Once, after losing a match to Ben Hogan in the PGA Championship, he joked that the turning point of the match was Hogan’s appearance on the course. Nevertheless, his ability enabled him to reach the semifinals of the PGA Championship four times.
A further obstacle confronted Jimmy. He had the misfortune to play golf at the same time as three of the foremost players of all time: Snead, Byron Nelson, and Hogan. Owing to the unusually difficult competition, Jimmy was unable to win a major title besides The Masters. An illustration of the forces with which he had to contend is the outcome of the 1948 U.S. Open. Jimmy broke the previous course record for the U.S. Open by three strokes, but Hogan broke it by five. Jimmy’s best finish in the U.S. Open was his second place in the 1948 tournament; he finished fourth or better three times. Altogether, he won some forty tournaments in his career.
Jimmy did not resent having to play second fiddle to other golfers. He became Hogan’s closest friend in golf and won six tournaments playing with Hogan as his partner. These events, called “four-balls,” were matches in which the low scorer wins the hole for the two-person team. The two players were utterly opposed in temperament: Hogan was grim and taciturn and had a desire to win stronger than any other player of his time. Nevertheless, the two were fast friends.
After Jimmy’s tournament days were over, he developed the Champions Golf Club with his lifelong friend Burke. Jimmy suffered a fatal heart attack in Houston, Texas, on December 28, 1983.
Summary
Jimmy Demaret honed his exceptional short-game play on the Texas semiprofessional circuit. He attracted national attention by his colorful dress and pleasant personality, but these should not hide the fact that he was one of the best golfers of the 1940’s. Ben Hogan and others eclipsed him, but he did not mind. Had he required consolation, he could have looked to his three wins in The Masters.
Bibliography
Companiotte, John, and Ben Crenshaw. Jimmy Demaret: The Swing’s the Thing. Ann Arbor, Mich.: Clock Tower Press, 2004.
Golf Magazine’s Encyclopedia of Golf: The Complete Reference. New York: HarperCollins, 1993.
Purkey, Mike. “Jimmy Demaret.” Golf Magazine 35, no. 11 (November, 1993): 104-105.