These Are Golf's 1969 World Champions

In his annual compendium, The World of Professional Golf, attorney and players' representative Mark H. McCormack has added a couple of novel wrinkles to the annual race for the game's money-winning and low-stroke honors. By adding the figures from all rounds played in any consequential competition anywhere in the world—including television events—McCormack has established World Money and World Stroke Average leaders. The lists below, from the 1970 edition of the book, include all players who earned more than $60,000 or averaged fewer than 71.5 strokes per round in 1969. The figures show the narrowness of margin between victory and defeat in the money-winning derby. Only about half a stroke per round separates Don January (71.03) from Gary Player (70.49), but their winnings differ by almost $70,000. It is also possible to establish an efficiency rating based on these figures. By dividing total strokes into money earned, the not unlikely name of Gene Littler (sometimes known as The Machine) emerges as the man to whom each swing of a club means the most: $30 (vs. Frank Beard's $21).

[This article contains a table. Please see hardcopy of magazine or PDF.]

[This article contains a table. Please see hardcopy of magazine or PDF.]