THE LATIN SWORDSMAN OF GOLF
"THIS IS CHI CHI RODRIGUEZ"
Juan Antonio Rodriguez was born in Rio Piedras,Puerto Rico on October 23, 1935 and as a young man proved himself as a hard working kid with the love that his culture had to offer. He understood the economic struggles of his roots and was taught at an early age that dedication and hard work brings home the rewards. His father was paid very little to work out on the fields as he labored in the farmlands handling cattle to support seven children and that made Juan "Chi Chi" work much harder. He started off young helping around the sugar cane plantations as a water carrier and other odd jobs and realized there had to be a better way to earn a living, as luck would have it, he would have a conversation with several caddies at a golf course he'd run into and found out they were making a pretty good amount of money. Coming from a poor section of Rio Piedras he knew that this would really be an opportunity for him to make some fair wages for much more convenient work, so he became a caddie, he watched the pros play for several years and studied them careful practicing with what was available(as he could not afford actual golf clubs). by the age of twelve he was capturing the eyes of some of the greats even scoring a 67 which is a pure pro score and this would be his motivation to reach high and make a living doing this.
He became professional in 1960 and won his first title in 1963. To the PGA it wasn't about "Chi Chi"s wins more than he gave professional golf some fun and humor as his character opened to the general public and by the time he came around, golf wasn't seen much as it had no excitement. His showmanship and off the wall antics would breathe new life into the sport and when he would cover the hole he hit a birdie or eagle in it was new and enjoyable to watch, many golfers complained but he then started a fencing match like a toreado(fighting with a bull) exhibition that made everyone have fun and the PGA tour became a media delight. He would capture the hearts of golfing fans all over the globe as Ali, Jordan, Reggie did for there sport. He would give us the show from 1963 to 1979 (winning eight titles during that span) and bringing it back in 1985 as he became eligible for the senior tour(today known as the champions tour) and in those years won 22 seniors championships between 1986 and 1993. He set a senior tour record with eight consecutive birdies and lost a 18 hole playoff in 1991 to Jack Nicklaus. He was the first in the senior tour to win the same event three consecutive times. He also represented Puerto Rico twelve times in World Cup play.
Upon retirement he reflected on the many blessings he was given as a kid growing up in his homeland and how much the sport of golf gave him and as a result he would later with ex pro golfers Bill Hayes and Bob James establish "The Chi Chi Rodriguez Youth Foundation" as well as several other business ventures. The latin representation in pro golf that followed would be as a direct result of this amazing man and his dedication to the sport that gave him so much. He would slow down some after suffering a heart attack in 1998. After a robbery home invasion in 2010 that had masked thugs tie him and his wife up and steal over five hundred thousand dollars and a substantial amount of expensive jewelry from his home, he has taken most of his later years to truly except retirement and get the much needed rest and relaxation he truly deserves. Now in his late seventies he has been honored as one of the true representatives of amazing latinos in sports and will always be remembered for the amazing fighting sword display that shook up the world of golf ........truly a legend*Juan "Chi Chi" Rodriguez--story by John Rosario for Unidos Magazine
