A former Ohio State Buckeye golfer and four-time winner on the PGA tour, Jerry McGee passed at the age of 77.
Born in New Lexington, McGee played on the Buckeye Golf Team in the mid-1960’s and joined the PGA Tour in 1967. His first win came at the 1975 Pensacola Open. He won again in 1977 and twice in 1979.
His consistent play earned him a spot on the victorious 1977 Ryder Cup Team captained by Dow Finsterwald.
McGee said last year in an interview,
“Outside of my family, playing on that Ryder Cup team was the greatest thrill of my life. To be one of 12 golfers picked to represent your country, I still get chills thinking about it.”
His last starts came on the PGA Tour in 1983. He joined the Champions Tour in 1993 and made 318 starts, recorded five top-three finishes and earned more than $3.2 million. In 1999 he had surgery to remove cancerous tumors on the left side of his neck and the base of his tongue. He endured six and a half weeks of radiation treatments, but returned to PGA TOUR Champions four months later and played in 130 more tournaments, before retiring after the 2004 season.
He said of his time competing in golf,
“I feel very lucky to have played a major sport for 28 years. I’ve been very lucky!”
