Johnny Goodman (1 US Open, 1 US Amateur)

1909 - 1970

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John George Goodman (December 28, 1909 – August 8, 1970) was the last amateur golfer to win the U.S. Open, 84 years ago in 1933,^[3][4]and also won the U.S. Amateur in 1937.^[5][6][7]

Born to Lithuanian immigrants in South Omaha, Nebraska,^[8][9] Goodman was orphaned at the age of 14. His mother died when he was 11,^[10]after giving birth to her 13th child, and his father later abandoned the family. Goodman became a caddy at the Field Club in Omaha,^[9] and while a student at Omaha South High School,^[11] he won the Omaha city championship in 1925; four years later, he won the first of three consecutive Nebraska Amateur titles. He won the Trans-Mississippi Amateur three times (1927, 1931, and 1935). He gained national notoriety at age 19 in 1929 when he defeated Bobby Jones in the first round of match play competition at the U.S. Amateur at Pebble Beach.^[12]

Goodman served in the U.S. Army during World War II,^[13] and did not turn professional until 1960; he supported himself throughout his career by selling insurance.^[14] A municipal golf course in southwest Omaha is named for him.