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{{short description|American professional golfer}}
{{use mdy dates|date=October 2021}}
{{Infobox golfer
{{Infobox golfer
| name = Lew Worsham
| name = Lew Worsham
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| imagesize = 255px
| imagesize = 255px
| caption = Worsham after winning the 1947 U.S. Open
| caption = Worsham after winning the 1947 U.S. Open
| fullname = Lewis Elmer Worsham, Jr.
| fullname = Lewis Elmer Worsham Jr.
| nickname =
| nickname =
| birth_date = {{Birth date|1917|10|5}}
| birth_date = {{Birth date|1917|10|5}}
| birth_place = [[Pittsylvania County, Virginia]]
| birth_place = [[Pittsylvania County, Virginia]], U.S.
| death_date = {{Death date and age|1990|10|19|1917|10|5}}
| death_date = {{Death date and age|1990|10|19|1917|10|5}}
| death_place = [[Poquoson, Virginia]]
| death_place = [[Poquoson, Virginia]], U.S.
| height = <!--{{height|ft=|in=}}-->
| height = <!--{{height|ft=|in=}}-->
| weight = <!--{{convert| |lb|kg st|abbr=on}}-->
| weight = <!--{{convert| |lb|kg st|abbr=on}}-->
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| retired = <!-- Year retired -->
| retired = <!-- Year retired -->
| extour = [[PGA Tour]]
| extour = [[PGA Tour]]
| prowins = 12
| prowins = 13
| pgawins = 6
| pgawins = 6
| otherwins = 6<!-- Number of Other wins -->
| otherwins = 7<!-- Number of Other wins -->
| majorwins = 1
| majorwins = 1
| masters = 6th: [[1949 Masters Tournament|1949]]
| masters = 6th: [[1949 Masters Tournament|1949]]
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|branch = {{flag|United States Navy}}
|branch = {{flag|United States Navy}}
|rank =
|rank =
|battles = <!--[[World War II]] -->
|battles = [[World War II]]
|unit = [[United States Naval Training Center, Bainbridge|USNTC Bainbridge]], [[Maryland]]
|unit = [[United States Naval Training Center Bainbridge]], [[Maryland]]
|serviceyears = 1943–1945
|serviceyears = 1943–1945
|awards =
|awards =
}}
}}
'''Lewis Elmer Worsham, Jr.''' (October 5, 1917 – October 19, 1990) was an American [[professional golfer]], the [[U.S. Open (golf)|U.S. Open]] champion {{nowrap|in [[1947 U.S. Open (golf)|1947]].<ref name=catpro>{{cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/sports/1997/06/11/congressional-pros-and-the-open/520a37ab-75cc-45cf-af82-b306bf7c15a4/ |work=Washington Post |last=Shapiro |first=Leonard |title=Congressional and the pros |date=June 11, 1997 |accessdate=June 14, 2018}}</ref><ref name=mapaleww>{{cite web|url=https://mapga.com/team-members/worsham-lew-1986/ |publisher=PGA: Middle Atlantic section |title=Lew Worsham |accessdate=June 14, 2018}}</ref>}}
'''Lewis Elmer Worsham, Jr.''' (October 5, 1917 – October 19, 1990) was an American [[professional golfer]], the [[U.S. Open (golf)|U.S. Open]] champion {{nowrap|in [[1947 U.S. Open (golf)|1947]].<ref name=catpro>{{cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/sports/1997/06/11/congressional-pros-and-the-open/520a37ab-75cc-45cf-af82-b306bf7c15a4/ |newspaper=Washington Post |last=Shapiro |first=Leonard |title=Congressional and the pros |date=June 11, 1997 |access-date=June 14, 2018}}</ref><ref name=mapaleww>{{cite web|url=https://mapga.com/team-members/worsham-lew-1986/ |publisher=PGA: Middle Atlantic section |title=Lew Worsham |access-date=June 14, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210128050054/https://mapga.com/team-members/worsham-lew-1986/ |archive-date=2021-01-28 |url-status=dead}}</ref>}}
⚫
Born in [[Pittsylvania County, Virginia]], Worsham won the U.S. Open in 1947 by defeating [[Sam Snead]] by a stroke in an 18-hole playoff at the [[St. Louis Country Club]] in [[Clayton, Missouri]]<!-- after the two men had finished tied at 282 in regulation-->.<ref name=NYTobit/><ref name=prcouap>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=7PYKAAAAIBAJ&sjid=GFADAAAAIBAJ&pg=6100%2C2606619 |work=Prescott Evening Courier |location=(Arizona) |agency=Associated Press |title=Lew Worsham downs Snead by stroke for Open crown |date=June 16, 1947 |page=1, part 2 }}</ref><ref name=piprup47>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=yFkbAAAAIBAJ&sjid=F00EAAAAIBAJ&pg=6262%2C142985 |work=Pittsburgh Press |agency=United Press |title=Worsham's nerve wins golf title |date=June 16, 1947 |page=16}}</ref><ref name=naoppodet>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=X8YwAAAAIBAJ&sjid=YmoDAAAAIBAJ&pg=2196%2C4107105 |work=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette |title=National Open playoff detail |date=June 16, 1947 |page=16}}</ref> This was the first U.S. Open to be televised locally and the winner's share was $2,000. In July 1947, Worsham appeared on the cover of ''Golfing'' magazine. In 1953, he led the [[PGA Tour]] money list with [[United States dollar|$]]34,002 in earnings. That same year he won the first golf tournament to be broadcast nationally in the United States and golf's first $100,000 tournament, the Tam O'Shanter [[World Championship of Golf]], in spectacular fashion. He holed out a wedge from 104 yards for an eagle-2 to win over [[Chandler Harper]] by {{nowrap|one shot.<ref name=NYTobit>{{cite news |title=Lew Worsham; Golfer, 73|date=October 22, 1990|newspaper=New York Times |url=https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9C0CE1D8103EF931A15753C1A966958260 |accessdate=February 23, 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Tam O'Shanter Golf Course |url=http://www.niles-parks.org/content/templates/npd_cnt_fac_tg.asp?articleid=61&zoneid=31 |accessdate=February 23, 2011 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110727123650/http://www.niles-parks.org/content/templates/npd_cnt_fac_tg.asp?articleid=61&zoneid=31 |archivedate=July 27, 2011 }}</ref>}}


==Life and career==
⚫
Worsham made his only [[Ryder Cup]] appearance in [[1947 Ryder Cup|1947]] and won both of his matches. Like most tour players of his generation, he earned his living primarily as a club professional, and was the longtime pro at [[Oakmont Country Club]], northeast of [[Pittsburgh]], {{nowrap|[[Pennsylvania]].<ref>{{cite magazine |title=Head Pro |last=Diaz |first=Jaime |magazine=Sports Illustrated |url=https://www.si.com/vault/1996/08/19/216217/head-pro-oakmonts-bob-ford-is-that-rarest-of-birds-a-club-professional-who-can-play-some-too<!--http://sportsillustrated.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1008590/index.htm-->|date=August 19, 1996 |page=G12}}</ref>}} He died at age 73 in [[Poquoson, Virginia]].<ref name=NYTobit/>
Worsham was born on October 5, 1917, in [[Pittsylvania County, Virginia]].{{citation needed |date=August 2022}} He grew up in [[Long Island, Virginia]]. Worsham attended [[Hampton High School (Virginia)|Hampton High School]] and was a member of the golf team from 1933 to 1935. He served in the [[United States Navy]] during [[World War II]].<ref name="death">{{Cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/107495336/lewis-e-worsham-jr-20-oct-1990/ |title=Lewis E. Worsham Jr. |date=1920-10-20 |newspaper=[[Daily Press (Virginia)|Daily Press]] |page=22 |via=[[Newspapers.com]] |access-date=2022-08-13}}{{Open access}}</ref>

⚫
Worsham won the U.S. Open in 1947 by defeating [[Sam Snead]] by a stroke in an 18-hole playoff at the [[St. Louis Country Club]] in [[Clayton, Missouri]]<!-- after the two men had finished tied at 282 in regulation-->.<ref name=NYTobit/><ref name=prcouap>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=7PYKAAAAIBAJ&sjid=GFADAAAAIBAJ&pg=6100%2C2606619 |work=Prescott Evening Courier |location=(Arizona) |agency=Associated Press |title=Lew Worsham downs Snead by stroke for Open crown |date=June 16, 1947 |page=1, part 2 }}</ref><ref name=piprup47>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=yFkbAAAAIBAJ&sjid=F00EAAAAIBAJ&pg=6262%2C142985 |work=Pittsburgh Press |agency=United Press |title=Worsham's nerve wins golf title |date=June 16, 1947 |page=16}}</ref><ref name=naoppodet>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=X8YwAAAAIBAJ&sjid=YmoDAAAAIBAJ&pg=2196%2C4107105 |work=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette |title=National Open playoff detail |date=June 16, 1947 |page=16}}</ref> This was the first U.S. Open to be televised locally and the winner's share was $2,000. In July 1947, Worsham appeared on the cover of ''Golfing'' magazine. In 1953, he led the [[PGA Tour]] money list with [[United States dollar|$]]34,002 in earnings. That same year he won the first golf tournament to be broadcast nationally in the United States and golf's first $100,000 tournament, the Tam O'Shanter [[World Championship of Golf]], in spectacular fashion. He holed out a wedge from 104 yards for an eagle-2 to win over [[Chandler Harper]] by {{nowrap|one shot.<ref name=NYTobit>{{cite news |title=Lew Worsham; Golfer, 73|date=October 22, 1990|newspaper=New York Times |url=https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9C0CE1D8103EF931A15753C1A966958260 |access-date=February 23, 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Tam O'Shanter Golf Course |url=http://www.niles-parks.org/content/templates/npd_cnt_fac_tg.asp?articleid=61&zoneid=31 |access-date=February 23, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110727123650/http://www.niles-parks.org/content/templates/npd_cnt_fac_tg.asp?articleid=61&zoneid=31 |archive-date=July 27, 2011 }}</ref>}}

⚫
Worsham made his only [[Ryder Cup]] appearance in [[1947 Ryder Cup|1947]] and won both of his matches. Like most tour players of his generation, he earned his living primarily as a club professional, and was the longtime pro at [[Oakmont Country Club]], northeast of [[Pittsburgh]], {{nowrap|[[Pennsylvania]].<ref>{{cite magazine |title=Head Pro |last=Diaz |first=Jaime |magazine=Sports Illustrated |url=https://www.si.com/vault/1996/08/19/216217/head-pro-oakmonts-bob-ford-is-that-rarest-of-birds-a-club-professional-who-can-play-some-too<!--http://sportsillustrated.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1008590/index.htm-->|date=August 19, 1996 |page=G12}}</ref>}}


Worsham was honored as the "Sportsperson of the Year" for 1953 by Pittsburgh's [[Dapper Dan Charities]]. He was inducted into the PGA of America Hall of Fame in 2017.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.pga.com/news/pga/gary-player-renee-powell-mickey-wright-lew-worsham-lead-inductees-pga-of-america-hall-of |title=Gary Player, Renee Powell, Mickey Wright, Lew Worsham lead inductees to PGA of America Hall of Fame |publisher=PGA of America |date=September 7, 2017}}</ref>
Worsham was honored as the "Sportsperson of the Year" for 1953 by Pittsburgh's [[Dapper Dan Charities]]. He was inducted into the PGA of America Hall of Fame in 2017.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.pga.com/news/pga/gary-player-renee-powell-mickey-wright-lew-worsham-lead-inductees-pga-of-america-hall-of |title=Gary Player, Renee Powell, Mickey Wright, Lew Worsham lead inductees to PGA of America Hall of Fame |publisher=PGA of America |date=September 7, 2017}}</ref>


==Personal life==
⚫
==Professional wins (12)==
Worsham married Virginia. He had one daughter and two sons: Lynda, Richard L and Thomas E.<ref name="death"/>

[[File:Grave of Lewis E. Worsham (1917-1990).jpg|thumb|right|Grave of Worsham and his wife in [[Columbia Gardens Cemetery]]]]
Worsham died on October 19, 1990, at age, 73 in [[Poquoson, Virginia]].<ref name=NYTobit/> He is buried at [[Columbia Gardens Cemetery]] in [[Arlington, Virginia]].<ref name="death"/>

⚫
==Professional wins (13)==
===PGA Tour wins (6)===
===PGA Tour wins (6)===
*1946 [[Atlanta Invitational]]
*1946 [[Atlanta Invitational]]
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[[Men's major golf championships|Major championship]] is shown in '''bold'''.
[[Men's major golf championships|Major championship]] is shown in '''bold'''.


===Other wins (6)===
===Other wins (7)===
*1942 [[Middle Atlantic PGA Championship]]
*1942 [[Middle Atlantic PGA Championship]]
*1945 [[Maryland Open]]
*1945 [[Maryland Open]]
*1946 [[Middle Atlantic PGA Championship]]
*1946 [[Middle Atlantic PGA Championship]]
*1947 [[Middle Atlantic PGA Championship]]
*1947 [[Middle Atlantic PGA Championship]]
*1948 [[Cavalier Specialists Invitational]]
*1952 [[Miami Beach International Four-Ball]] (with [[Ted Kroll]])
*1952 [[Miami Beach International Four-Ball]] (with [[Ted Kroll]])
*1961 [[Tri-State PGA Championship]]
*1961 [[Tri-State PGA Championship]]
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==Major championships==
==Major championships==
[[File:Lew Worsham with wife 1953.jpg|thumb|upright=1.2|Worsham with wife after winning the 1953 [[Greater Jacksonville Open]]]]
[[File:Lew Worsham with wife 1953.jpg|thumb|upright=1.2|Worsham with wife after winning the 1953 [[Greater Jacksonville Open]]]]

===Wins (1)===
===Wins (1)===
{|class="wikitable"
{|class="wikitable"
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===Results timeline===
===Results timeline===
{| cellpadding="3" cellspacing="0" border="1" style="font-size: 95%; border: #aaa solid 1px; border-collapse: collapse;text-align:center;"
{| class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%;text-align:center;"
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!Tournament
|- style="background:#eeeeee;"
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!align="left"|Tournament
!1938
!1938
!1939
!1939
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|}


{| cellpadding="3" cellspacing="0" border="1" style="font-size: 95%; border: #aaa solid 1px; border-collapse: collapse;text-align:center;"
{| class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%;text-align:center;"
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!Tournament
|- style="background:#eeeeee;"
⚫
!align="left"|Tournament
!1940
!1940
!1941
!1941
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|}
|}


{| cellpadding="3" cellspacing="0" border="1" style="font-size: 95%; border: #aaa solid 1px; border-collapse: collapse;text-align:center;"
{| class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%;text-align:center;"
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!Tournament
|- style="background:#eeeeee;"
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!align="left"|Tournament
!1950
!1950
!1951
!1951
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|}


{| cellpadding="3" cellspacing="0" border="1" style="font-size: 95%; border: #aaa solid 1px; border-collapse: collapse;text-align:center;"
{| class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%;text-align:center;"
⚫
!Tournament
|- style="background:#eeeeee;"
⚫
!align="left"|Tournament
!1960
!1960
!1961
!1961
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*Most consecutive cuts made – 12 (1946 U.S. Open – 1950 Masters)
*Most consecutive cuts made – 12 (1946 U.S. Open – 1950 Masters)
*Longest streak of top-10s – 3 (1948 U.S. Open – 1949 Masters)
*Longest streak of top-10s – 3 (1948 U.S. Open – 1949 Masters)

==See also==
*[[List of golfers with most PGA Tour wins]]


==References==
==References==
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{{U.S. Open champions}}
{{U.S. Open champions}}
{{1947 United States Ryder Cup team}}
{{1947 United States Ryder Cup team}}

{{Authority control}}
{{Authority control}}


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[[Category:American male golfers]]
[[Category:American male golfers]]
[[Category:PGA Tour golfers]]
[[Category:PGA Tour golfers]]
⚫
[[Category:Winners of men's major golf championships]]
[[Category:Ryder Cup competitors for the United States]]
[[Category:Ryder Cup competitors for the United States]]
⚫
[[Category:Winners of men's major golf championships]]
[[Category:Golfers from Virginia]]
[[Category:Golfers from Virginia]]
⚫
[[Category:Golfers from Pittsburgh]]
[[Category:American military personnel of World War II]]
[[Category:People from Pittsylvania County, Virginia]]
[[Category:People from Pittsylvania County, Virginia]]
⚫
[[Category:Sportspeople from Pittsburgh]]
[[Category:Burials at Arlington National Cemetery]]
[[Category:1917 births]]
[[Category:1917 births]]
[[Category:1990 deaths]]
[[Category:1990 deaths]]
[[Category:20th-century American sportsmen]]

Latest revision as of 16:33, 26 November 2024

Lew Worsham
Worsham after winning the 1947 U.S. Open
Personal information
Full nameLewis Elmer Worsham Jr.
Born(1917-10-05)October 5, 1917
Pittsylvania County, Virginia, U.S.
DiedOctober 19, 1990(1990-10-19) (aged 73)
Poquoson, Virginia, U.S.
Sporting nationality United States
Career
Turned professional1935
Former tour(s)PGA Tour
Professional wins13
Number of wins by tour
PGA Tour6
Other7
Best results in major championships
(wins: 1)
Masters Tournament6th: 1949
PGA ChampionshipT5: 1947, 1955
U.S. OpenWon: 1947
The Open ChampionshipDNP
Achievements and awards
PGA Tour
leading money winner		1953
Lew Worsham
Allegiance United States
Service / branch United States Navy
Years of service1943–1945
UnitUnited States Naval Training Center Bainbridge, Maryland
Battles / warsWorld War II

Lewis Elmer Worsham, Jr. (October 5, 1917 – October 19, 1990) was an American professional golfer, the U.S. Open champion in 1947.[1][2]

Life and career

[edit]

Worsham was born on October 5, 1917, in Pittsylvania County, Virginia.[citation needed] He grew up in Long Island, Virginia. Worsham attended Hampton High School and was a member of the golf team from 1933 to 1935. He served in the United States Navy during World War II.[3]

Worsham won the U.S. Open in 1947 by defeating Sam Snead by a stroke in an 18-hole playoff at the St. Louis Country Club in Clayton, Missouri.[4][5][6][7] This was the first U.S. Open to be televised locally and the winner's share was $2,000. In July 1947, Worsham appeared on the cover of Golfing magazine. In 1953, he led the PGA Tour money list with $34,002 in earnings. That same year he won the first golf tournament to be broadcast nationally in the United States and golf's first $100,000 tournament, the Tam O'Shanter World Championship of Golf, in spectacular fashion. He holed out a wedge from 104 yards for an eagle-2 to win over Chandler Harper by one shot.[4][8]

Worsham made his only Ryder Cup appearance in 1947 and won both of his matches. Like most tour players of his generation, he earned his living primarily as a club professional, and was the longtime pro at Oakmont Country Club, northeast of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.[9]

Worsham was honored as the "Sportsperson of the Year" for 1953 by Pittsburgh's Dapper Dan Charities. He was inducted into the PGA of America Hall of Fame in 2017.[10]

Personal life

[edit]

Worsham married Virginia. He had one daughter and two sons: Lynda, Richard L and Thomas E.[3]

Grave of Worsham and his wife in Columbia Gardens Cemetery

Worsham died on October 19, 1990, at age, 73 in Poquoson, Virginia.[4] He is buried at Columbia Gardens Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia.[3]

Professional wins (13)

[edit]

PGA Tour wins (6)

[edit]

Major championship is shown in bold.

Other wins (7)

[edit]

Major championships

[edit]
Worsham with wife after winning the 1953 Greater Jacksonville Open

Wins (1)

[edit]
Year Championship 54 holes Winning score Margin Runner-up
1947 U.S. Open 1 shot lead −2 (70-70-71-71=282) Playoff 1 United States Sam Snead

1 Defeated Snead in an 18-hole playoff - Worsham 69 (−2), Snead 70 (−1).[5]

Results timeline

[edit]
Tournament 1938 1939
Masters Tournament
U.S. Open WD
PGA Championship
Tournament 1940 1941 1942 1943 1944 1945 1946 1947 1948 1949
Masters Tournament NT NT NT T33 T30 6
U.S. Open CUT CUT NT NT NT NT T22 1 6 T27
PGA Championship NT R32 QF R16 R16
Tournament 1950 1951 1952 1953 1954 1955 1956 1957 1958 1959
Masters Tournament T42 T3 T7 44 T12 T49 T34 CUT CUT CUT
U.S. Open CUT T14 T7 CUT T23 CUT CUT T38 T45
PGA Championship R32 R32 R32 R64 QF R16
Tournament 1960 1961 1962 1963
Masters Tournament 44 T22 T29
U.S. Open CUT
PGA Championship T37 CUT CUT

Note: Worsham never played in The Open Championship.

  Win
  Top 10
  Did not play

NT = No tournament
CUT = missed the half-way cut
WD = Withdrew
R64, R32, R16, QF, SF = Round in which player lost in PGA Championship match play
"T" = tied

Summary

[edit]
Tournament Wins 2nd 3rd Top-5 Top-10 Top-25 Events Cuts made
Masters Tournament 0 0 1 1 3 5 16 13
U.S. Open 1 0 0 1 3 6 17 9
The Open Championship 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
PGA Championship 0 0 0 2 5 9 11 11
Totals 1 0 1 4 11 20 44 33
  • Most consecutive cuts made – 12 (1946 U.S. Open – 1950 Masters)
  • Longest streak of top-10s – 3 (1948 U.S. Open – 1949 Masters)

References

[edit]
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Lew Worsham.
  1. ^ Shapiro, Leonard (June 11, 1997). "Congressional and the pros". Washington Post. Retrieved June 14, 2018.
  2. ^ "Lew Worsham". PGA: Middle Atlantic section. Archived from the original on January 28, 2021. Retrieved June 14, 2018.
  3. ^ a b c "Lewis E. Worsham Jr". Daily Press. October 20, 1920. p. 22. Retrieved August 13, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.Open access icon
  4. ^ a b c "Lew Worsham; Golfer, 73". New York Times. October 22, 1990. Retrieved February 23, 2011.
  5. ^ a b "Lew Worsham downs Snead by stroke for Open crown". Prescott Evening Courier. (Arizona). Associated Press. June 16, 1947. p. 1, part 2.
  6. ^ "Worsham's nerve wins golf title". Pittsburgh Press. United Press. June 16, 1947. p. 16.
  7. ^ "National Open playoff detail". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. June 16, 1947. p. 16.
  8. ^ "Tam O'Shanter Golf Course". Archived from the original on July 27, 2011. Retrieved February 23, 2011.
  9. ^ Diaz, Jaime (August 19, 1996). "Head Pro". Sports Illustrated. p. G12.
  10. ^ "Gary Player, Renee Powell, Mickey Wright, Lew Worsham lead inductees to PGA of America Hall of Fame". PGA of America. September 7, 2017.
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