José Jurado

José Jurado (1899–1971) was a professional golfer in the sport’s Golden Age. Born in Buenos Aires, he was the first Argentine to travel to major international championships and is thus often credited as the “Father of Argentine Professional Golf” or the “Godfather of Argentinean Golf.”[1] He is perhaps best known for his losing stroke to Tommy Armour at the 1931 Open Championship at Carnoustie.[2] Jurado was personal friends with the Prince of Wales, who was reportedly enraged by his double bogey that lost him the championship.[3]

For the footballer, see José Manuel Jurado.
Jurado in 1927, as portrayed on the cover of El Gráfico

Career
Backside of a José Jurado tobacco card, manufactured in 1931

Jurado began his career as a caddie at The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews.[4] At the age of 21, he won his first of seven championships at the Argentine Open, and was also a seven-time winner of the Argentine PGA Championship. In 1932, Jurado traveled to the US, justifying these journeys as the only way to progress his skill as a professional golfer.[5] After studying the operations of the American PGA, he undertook the organization of the AAPG (Asociación Argentina de Profesionales de Golf). Jurado also recruited international golf figures to teach Argentine enthusiasts the emerging and popular American-style swing. In 1931 he won an exhibition match against Aubrey Boomer in France. Jurado finished in the top ten in four majors: T8 at the British Open in 1926, T6 in the British Open in 1928, 2nd in the British Open in 1931 and 6th in the U.S. Open in 1932.

In literature

Jurado is referenced in The Book of Golfers: A Biographical History of the Royal & Ancient Game, by Daniel Wexler. The book is an encyclopedia of the most important golfers since the 15th century, and in it Jurado is described as “... a golfing pioneer in the truest sense, for while early British professionals ventured out to parts unknown with the psychological might of the world’s biggest empire (both golfing and otherwise) behind them, Jurado traveled thousands of miles to challenge the British golf monolith on its own turf.”[6]

Jurado is also referenced in the 2005 biography Sir Walter: Walter Hagen and the Invention of Professional Golf, by Thomas Clavin. The biography details the life and career of Walter Hagen, who won eleven major professional golf tournaments over his career. In the book, Jurado is described as having “demonstrated the tango” to a group of 1933 Ryder Cup golfers at a dancehall in Southport, UK. Jurado, who was there for the British Open, apparently “won the (dance) contest”.[7]

Tournament wins
this list may be incomplete
all tournaments in Argentina

Results in major championships
Tournament 1926 1927 1928 1929 1930 1931 1932
U.S. Open 6
The Open Championship T8 T6 T25 2

Note: Jurado never played in the Masters Tournament nor the PGA Championship.

  Top 10
  Did not play

"T" indicates a tie for a place

Team appearances

Suggested reading
  • The Book of Golfers: A Biographical History of the Royal & Ancient Game, by Daniel Wexler (Ann Arbor Media Group, 2005) ISBN 1-58726-190-1, ISBN 978-1-58726-190-9
  • Sir Walter: Walter Hagen and the Invention of Professional Golf, by Thomas Clavin (Simon and Schuster, 2005) ISBN 0-7432-0486-7, ISBN 978-0-7432-0486-6

References
  1. Barkow, Al "Hail Hispana" PGA Professionals Guide to Travel. June 7, 2008. Retrieved October 29, 2008 from http://www.pgaprofessionalsguide.travel/page/725-31174.htm?travel_article_id=6465&section=followingthetour%5B%5D
  2. "British Open" Time Magazine. June 15, 1931. Retrieved October 29, 2008 from http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,846900,00.html
  3. Darwin, Bernard. "Darkest Before Dawn" Golf Between Two Wars The Society of Hickory Golfers. Chatto & Windus, London 1944. Retrieved on October 29, 2008 from "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2009-03-29. Retrieved 2008-10-30.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  4. Retrieved on October 29, 2008 from "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2009-01-05. Retrieved 2008-10-30.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  5. Jurado Golf. Retrieved on October 29, 2008 from "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2009-01-07. Retrieved 2008-10-30.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link).
  6. Wexler, Daniel. The Book of Golfers: A Biographical History of the Royal & Ancient Game. Ann Arbor Media Group, 2005
  7. Clavin, Thomas. Sir Walter: Water Hagen and the Invention of Professional Golf. Simon and Schuster, 2005
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