Juan “Chi Chi” Rodriguez, a Hall of Fame golfer whose colorful antics on the greens and inspiring life story made him one of the sport’s most beloved players during a long professional career, passed away on Thursday at the age of 88.
Rodriguez’s death was announced by Carmelo Javier Ríos, a senator in Rodriguez’ native Puerto Rico. The cause of death was not provided.
“Chi Chi Rodriguez’s dedication to charity and outreach was only matched by his remarkable talent on the golf course,” PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan said in a statement. “A vibrant and lively personality both on and off the course, he will be greatly missed by the PGA Tour and all those whose lives he impacted through his philanthropic efforts. Our deepest condolences go out to the entire Rodriguez family during this challenging time.”
He was born Juan Antonio Rodriguez, the second oldest of six children, in Rio Piedras, Puerto Rico, where he helped his father with the harvest as a child. He began playing golf by hitting tin cans with a guava tree stick and later worked as a caddie. He claimed he could shoot a 67 by age 12.
After serving in the U.S. Army from 1955-57, Rodriguez joined the PGA Tour in 1960 and went on to win eight times during his 21-year career. He also had 22 victories on the Champions Tour from 1985-2002 and was inducted into the PGA World Golf Hall of Fame in 1992.
Rodriguez was known for his entertaining fairway antics, including his “matador routine” of twirling his club like a sword and his celebratory dances after making birdie putts. Despite a health scare in 1998, he continued to give back to the community through charity work, such as the Chi Chi Rodriguez Youth Foundation.
In recent years, he spent most of his time in Puerto Rico, where he was involved in various projects and community activities. He is survived by his wife of nearly 60 years, Iwalani, and his wife’s daughter, Donnette.
