Golf Legend Juan ‘Chi Chi’ Rodriguez Dies at 88: PGA Tour Honors ‘Vibrant, Colorful’ Hall of Famer

Juan ‘Chi Chi’ Rodriguez, a beloved figure in the world of golf and an eight-time PGA Tour champion, has passed away at the age of 88. The news of his death, for which the cause has not yet been disclosed, was confirmed by a senator in Puerto Rico, Rodriguez’s homeland.

PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan expressed deep sorrow over Rodriguez’s passing, praising his dynamic personality and charitable efforts. “Chi Chi Rodriguez’s passion for charity and outreach was surpassed only by his incredible talent with a golf club in his hand,” Monahan said in a statement. “A vibrant, colorful personality both on and off the golf course, he will be missed dearly by the PGA Tour and those whose lives he touched in his mission to give back. The PGA Tour sends its deepest condolences to the entire Rodriguez family during this difficult time.”

Born Juan Antonio Rodriguez in Rio Piedras, Puerto Rico, Rodriguez grew up as the second oldest of six children in a region dominated by sugar cane fields. As a child, he helped his father with the harvest and developed his golfing skills by hitting tin cans with a guava tree stick. By age 12, Rodriguez claimed he could shoot a 67, a testament to his natural talent, according to a biography provided by the Chi Chi Rodriguez Management Group in Stow, Ohio.

After serving in the U.S. Army from 1955 to 1957, Rodriguez joined the PGA Tour in 1960. His first of eight Tour victories came in 1963 at the Denver Open. Over a 21-year career, he played on one Ryder Cup team and continued winning until 1979, when he claimed victory at the Tallahassee Open. He later found success on the Champions Tour, winning 22 titles between 1985 and 2002, and amassing over $7.6 million in career earnings. Rodriguez was inducted into the PGA World Golf Hall of Fame in 1992.

Rodriguez was renowned for his entertaining antics on the course, including twirling his club like a sword in what became known as his “matador routine” and performing a celebratory salsa step after sinking a birdie putt. His playful imitation of fellow players was always meant in good humor, endearing him to fans and fellow golfers alike.

In October 1998, Rodriguez was hospitalized after experiencing chest pains and was diagnosed with a heart attack. Reflecting on the incident in a 1999 interview with The Associated Press, Rodriguez said, “It scared me for the first time… If I had waited another 10 minutes, the doctor said I would have needed a heart transplant. They call it the widow-maker. About 50 percent of the people who get this kind of heart attack die. So I beat the odds pretty good.”

Following his recovery, Rodriguez gradually retired from professional golf and focused on philanthropy. He devoted much of his time to the Chi Chi Rodriguez Youth Foundation, a charity he founded in Clearwater, Florida, in 1979, which aimed to help underprivileged youth through education and golf.

In his later years, Rodriguez returned to Puerto Rico, where he became involved in a golf community project, hosted a talk show on a local radio station, and continued to make appearances at various sporting and community events. Despite stepping away from competitive golf, Rodriguez remained a beloved figure in the sport, often seen at events like the 2008 Puerto Rico Open, where he mingled with fans but refrained from playing, stating, “I didn’t want to take a spot away from young men trying to make a living.”

Rodriguez is survived by his wife of nearly 60 years, Iwalani, and his stepdaughter, Donnette. His legacy as both a golfer and a philanthropist will be remembered by many in the golfing community and beyond.