23rd April 2025
Jay Sigel, one of the most distinguished amateur golfers in the history of the game, died on 19th April 2025 at the age of 81.
Born in Pennsylvania on 13 November 1943 Sigel had to wait until he was 35 before winning his first major title, the Amateur Championship in 1979. He beat compatriot Scott Hoch in the 36-hole final at Hillside G.C. in England.
He went on to win the U.S. Amateur Championship in 1982, in his 16th appearance, and 1983 and three U.S. Mid-Amateur titles in 1983, 1985 and 1987. 1983 saw him become only the eighth player to win consecutive U.S. Amateurs. He is the only player to win the U.S. Amateur and U.S. Mid-Amateur in the same year and one of just five players to win multiple USGA championships in the same year.
This is not to say that he had no success as a younger player. Sigel lost in the Final of the 1961 U.S. Junior Amateur to 16-year-old Charles S. McDowell by 2 Holes.
He represented the University of Houston (one semester) before transferring to Wake Forest, where he played on the Arnold Palmer Scholarship. Sigel had aspirations of turning professional but after an accident on campus during his sophomore year, which required 70 stitches in his wrist and arm, decided to pursue a career in insurance when he graduated in 1967.
No one has represented USA more than Sigel who played in seven World Amateur Team Championships (Eisenhower Trophy) and nine Walker Cup matches between 1977 and 1993, both individual appearance records.
In the Walker Cup, where he served as playing captain in 1983 and 1985, he holds the records for the most matches played (33) and the most victories (18). His overall record being W18-H10-L5 in both singles and foursomes. USA won eight of the nine matches he was involved in, the only exception being at Peachtree G.C., Atlanta in 1989.
He additionally won ten Pennsylvania Amateurs, four Pennsylvania Opens, three Porter Cups, Sunnehanna Amateurs and Northeast Amateurs.
Sigel competed in numerous major championships and was the low amateur in the 1984 U.S. Open at Winged Foot, one of five he competed in. He also earned low-amateur honours three times (1980, 1981 and 1988) in his 11 Masters appearances and at the 1980 Open Championship, one of two he played in.
Jay Sigel (Photo: First Tee Philadelphia)
When he turned 50 Sigel turned pro and joined the Senior Tour (now PGA Tour Champions). He was named the circuit’s 1994 Rookie of the Year, thanks to 14 top-10 finishes and one win. During his seniors career he recorded eight wins in total and earned over $9.0m.
Sigel received the Bob Jones Award, the USGA’s highest honour, in 1984, was inducted into the Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame in 1993 and was named the Philadelphia Sportswriters Professional Athlete of the Year for 1994.
A significant philanthropist Sigel was a past president of The First Tee of Philadelphia and the Greater Philadelphia Scholastic Golf Association. His annual Sigel Charity Invitational, played for over 30 years at Aronomink G.C., also raised in excess of $5.3m for the University of Pennsylvania Abrahmson Cancer Center.
A legend of the game Sigel is survived by his wife of 57 years, Betty, three daughters, Jennifer, Amy and Megan, and six grandchildren.
ME.
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