Class of 2025
Ed Furgol
Hometown: New York Mills, N.Y.
Residence: Miami Shores, F.L.
Deceased (1917-1997)
Ed Furgol’s ascent to the highest levels of professional golf is a story of extraordinary perseverance, determination, and quiet grit. At just 12 years old, a playground accident left him with a severely damaged left arm—10 inches shorter than his right—with limited mobility in his hand. Rather than giving up on athletics, Furgol committed himself to relentless rehabilitation: squeezing coins and rubber balls to build strength, tirelessly practicing, and developing a swing that adapted to his unique physical limitations.
He learned the game as a caddie on the public courses of Utica, New York, supporting his Polish immigrant parents and four siblings during the hardships of the Great Depression. That connection to public golf would remain a defining element of his story.
Furgol made his competitive debut at age 17 and quickly emerged as one of the region’s top amateurs. He captured back-to-back titles at the Utica City Championship in 1939 and 1940. In 1940, he earned medalist honors at the U.S. Amateur Public Links Championship, setting a 36-hole qualifying record with a 6-under-par 138. Just six years later, in 1945, he claimed one of the country’s most prestigious amateur titles: the North and South Amateur at Pinehurst, defeating legendary amateur Frank Stranahan in the final.
That same year, just before the end of World War II, Furgol turned professional and began competing on the PGA Tour. He earned his first professional title at the 1947 Bing Crosby Pro-Am—the inaugural year it was held at Pebble Beach. Though it would be several years before his next tour victory, he returned to the winner’s circle at the 1954 Phoenix Open, setting the stage for a career-defining season.
The pinnacle of Furgol’s career came later that year, at the 1954 U.S. Open at Baltusrol Golf Club’s Lower Course—the first time the championship was nationally televised. At 37 years old and with only two prior PGA Tour victories, Furgol entered as a relative underdog. Yet his consistency prevailed, posting rounds of 71-70-71-72 to finish at 284, one over par.
The final round delivered high drama. After driving into the trees on the 18th hole, Furgol chose an unconventional recovery—hitting his second shot onto the 18th fairway of Baltusrol’s Upper Course to escape trouble. From there, he knocked his third onto the green and made par. His closest competitors faltered: Gene Littler, needing birdie to tie, missed an 8-foot putt after finding a bunker; Dick Mayer, needing par to force a playoff, double-bogeyed the hole. Furgol’s daring finish secured him a one-stroke victory—and the U.S. Open title.
That season, he was named PGA Player of the Year, and in 1955 he represented the United States at the Canada Cup, winning both the individual and team titles. He also earned a spot on the 1957 U.S. Ryder Cup team, cementing his place among the game’s elite.
Furgol added three more tour titles to his résumé in the mid-1950s: the 1956 Miller High Life Open, the 1956 Rubber City Open, and the 1957 Agua Caliente Open. Between 1945 and 1954 alone, he played in over 200 PGA Tour events.
Over the course of his career, he competed in 21 U.S. Opens, 16 Masters, 13 PGA Championships, and one Open Championship—an impressive testament to his durability and performance over two decades. In his later years, he also competed on the PGA Senior Tour.
In recognition of his remarkable achievements, Ed Furgol has been inducted into the Greater Utica Sports Hall of Fame, the Metropolitan PGA Hall of Fame, and the Michigan Golf Hall of Fame. His legacy continues to inspire as a shining example of resilience and excellence, born from humble roots in upstate New York and carried to the pinnacle of the sport.
Career Highlights
- Left arm was 10 inches shorter than his right due to a boyhood fall from playground equipment and an unsuccessful surgery
- 2x winner of Utica City Championship (1939, 1940)
- 1945 North-South Amateur Champion
- Qualifying Medalist, 1940 U.S. Public Links Championship
- Won 11 professional tournaments
- 6x PGA Tour Winner
- 1947 Bing Crosby Pro-Am
- 1954 Phoenix Open
- 1954 US Open
- 1956 Miller High Life Open
- 1956 Rubber City Open
- 1957 Agua Caliente Open
- PGA Senior Tour Member
- 1957 Ryder Cup Member
- 1955 Canada Cup, Individual and Team Winner
- Major Championship Record
- U.S. Open: 21x competitor, won in 1954 at Baltusrol
- Masters Tournament: 16x competitor, best finish T5 in 1963
- PGA Championship: 13x competitor, Semifinalist (1956) and T13 (1964)
- The Open Championship: Played once in 1955, finished T19
- Previously Recognized by:
