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Hubert Green won the 1971 Houston Champions International during his
first year on tour and thereafter he has proved himself to be a regular
tournament winner. In 1973 he was victorious at the Tallahassee Open and
B.C. Open and the following year he tasted sucess on no less than four
occasions. There were a further four Tour wins over the next couple of
years before Green truly announced his arrival as a player of world
standing with his triumph at the 1977 US Open. His rounds of 69,67,72
and 70 gave him the narrowest of wins from fellow countryman Lou Graham
but the victory was all the more extraordinary considering the
circumstances.
With just a few holes left to play the man from
Birmingham,Alabama received an anonymous death threat but battled on
regardless and showed his nerve by rolling in a putt of three feet on
the 18th green to secure his first major championship. Later that year
Hubert made his Ryder Cup debut and partnered Tom Watson to a 5&4
success over Brian Barnes and Tommy Horton whilst in his singles match
he beat Eamonn Darcy one up as the Americans sealed a 12-7 victory. In
the 1978 Masters Green looked in great shape to add a second major to
the US Open success of the previous year only to be pipped at the post
by the late charge of South African Gary Player. Hubert's opening rounds
of 72,69 and a quite brilliant 65 had seen him open up a three shot
lead over Tom Watson and Rod Funseth but a closing effort of 72 -
including a missed putt from 2 1/2 feet at the last - meant Player had
snatched a one stroke victory with his magnificent closing effort of 64. (David Scranage)
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