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Hubert Green continued his fine form into the 1979 season and
successfully defended his Hawaiian Open title as well as adding the New
Orleans Open to his growing list of tournament victories. He made his
second Ryder Cup appearance later that year but he and Fuzzy Zoeller
were defeated 3&2 by Seve Ballesteros and Antonio Garrido in the
first day foursomes and he failed to re-appear until the last day
singles. That match saw Hubert ease to a two up win over Peter
Oosterhuis as the Americans enjoyed a 17-11 success. Green followed on
from his near miss at the 1978 Masters with another fine performance at
the same event two years later but he had to settle for fourth place at
eight under par in a tournament won by the brilliant young Spaniard Seve
Ballesteros.
There was also a useful showing at the Open Championship
were he tied for sixth place but it was then to be five long years
before Hubert challenged again in a major championship. In between times
there were victorious in the 1981 Sammy Davis Jr-Greater Hartford Open
and after overcoming a shoulder injury in 1983 he tasted success again
at the 1984 Southern Open. The 1985 PGA Championship at Cherry Hills saw
Green enjoy his last great moment as he claimed his second and last
major with a two stroke victory from Lee Trevino. He had opened the
tournament with rounds of 67,69 and 70 to lead by three strokes and his
closing effort of 72 was sufficient to hold off Trevino's challenge.
Hubert returned to the Ryder Cup team for his third and last appearance
in '85 and gained one point from a possible three as the Americans
suffered a 16 1/2-11 1/2 defeat at the hands of the European team. (David Scranage)
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