More Frank Stranahan Remembrances

The late golfing great passed away on June 23rd and we're now seeing some reports on his remarkable life in the game.

From an unbylined AP story: 

''He was my old buddy,'' Palmer said Tuesday from his office in Latrobe, Pa. ''We were pretty close for a lot of years. He always thought I would be one of his guys and do the muscle thing and all that. And of course, we played against each other a lot. He was a great guy, a good friend. He played some very good golf.''

And John Boyette takes the Augusta angle to Stranahan's life, which included a near Masters win and a brouhaha with Clifford Roberts. 

At the 1947 Masters, Stranahan closed with 68 to finish two shots behind winner Jimmy Demaret. No amateur has ever won the Masters, although Charlie Coe, Ken Venturi and Billy Joe Patton all had close calls.

The following year, Stranahan crossed paths with Roberts, Augusta National Golf Club’s stern chairman. The dustup involved a rule about playing a second ball to greens during practice rounds.

While he was still playing the second nine, Stranahan was asked to leave the course and that his invitation had been withdrawn.

Stranahan’s protests fell on deaf ears, and Roberts’ decision was final.

“So I bought a ticket, and I stayed there,” Stranahan said in a 1998 interview with Sports Illustrated.