Jay Sigel, one of the great stars of amateur golf, who was the 1990 U.S. Sigel’s remarkable career spanned decades and included numerous accolades, cementing his legacy as one of the sport’s greatest amateurs. He is remembered not only for his exceptional skills on the golf course but for his resilience in the face of adversity.
Born into a golfing family, Sigel left his mark on the game by winning two U.S. Amateur championship titles. He won his first contentious victory in 1982. The next year, he set history as the first player to win both the U.S. Amateur and U.S. Mid-Amateur in the same year. Furthermore, he won three U.S. Mid-Amateur championships, a testament to his supremacy in amateur tournaments.
Sigel has a dazzling curriculum vitae full of victories. He’s won prestigious championships such as the Sunnehanna Amateur, Northeast Amateur and the Porter Cup. Even as an amateur, his victory lap continued, playing a Walker-Cup-matching nine matches in his career, including as a playing captain in two of those. His leadership and skill quickly earned him a spot among the most respected players in amateur golf.
Sigel’s tournament playing success was incredible as he was the low amateur in several majors. Specifically, he received this award on three occasions at the Masters, once at the U.S. Open, and once at the British Open. His achievements shone a light on his ability as well as his reliability at the most elite tiers of the sport.
It was a sudden tragedy when Sigel had a traumatic amputation of his left hand. The injury occurred after his hand passed through a glass pane on a double-acting door. The accident left him needing 70 stitches, but Sigel’s drive and desire saw him back on the course competing at a high level again.
Sigel often reflected on his perspective regarding life’s challenges, stating, “I always thought things happen for a reason.” That mentality was the hallmark of his life, on and off the competitive green.
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