Hubert Myatt Green

Birmingham, Alabama golf great and World Golf Hall of Fame inductee, Hubert Myatt Green, died June 19, 2018 from complications following a lengthy battle with throat cancer. Born December 28, 1946, in Birmingham, Alabama, he was the fourth child of Dr. Albert Huey Green and Mildred Ona Volentine Green. Mr. Green grew up and attended schools in Birmingham. After graduating from Shades Valley High School in 1964, Green attended Florida State University (FSU) on a golf scholarship and graduated in December 1968 with a Bachelor degree in Business Administration. Green's illustrious golfing career began as a young boy when he began playing at the Country Club of Birmingham (CCB). There he won the Charlie Hall Jr. Golf Championship at CCB in 1962, 1963, and again in 1965. Winning in 1966, 1968, and 1969, he was a 3-time winner of the CCB Men's Invitational Golf Tournament. Green's first amateur career top finish came in 1966 at the Southern Amateur Championship on the CCB West Course. He won the tournament a second time in 1969 at Belle Meade Country Club in Nashville, TN. In 1967 and 1968, he won the Alabama Golf Association Amateur Championship. In 1968, as a student at FSU, Green won the Cape Coral Intercollegiate Tournament by 8 strokes and the Miami Invitational, the nation's largest collegiate tournament, by 5 strokes. In 1968, Green led the nation in qualifying for National Amateur with course records at Atlanta's Standard Country Club, shooting 67 and 66. In 1968, Green joined the Alabama National Guard and served his duty at Ft. Jackson, Columbia, SC. He became a golf professional in 1969 and earned his touring card the following year. He was named Professional Golf Association Rookie of the Year in 1971. In 1974 Green won 4 tournaments in a row, and in 1975, he won the Dunlop-Phoenix Open in Japan. In 1976, he won three more consecutive tournaments. His first major victory came in 1977 when he won the U.S. Open Championship at Southern Hills in Tulsa, Oklahoma after deciding to complete play, despite a reported death threat on his life. He also won the Irish Open in 1977. Green played on the U. S. Ryder Cup Team in 1977, 1979, and 1985, and helped the U.S. team with 2 wins. Green himself was undefeated in Ryder Cup singles matches. His final PGA victory came in 1985 at the age of 39. There he out-dueled defending champion Lee Trevino to win the PGA Championship at Cherry Hills, Colorado. Of that win, Trevino said, "He's a great sand player and probably the best chipper we've got. Every time he got into trouble, he chipped it close to the hole." Green was inducted into the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame in 1987. In 1996, he joined the Champion's Tour and posted 9 top 10 finishes his rookie year. His first Senior tour victory came in 1998 when he won the Bruno's Memorial Classic. In his final round of 64, he posted an eagle, 4 birdies, and a par on the last 6 holes to win by one stroke. Green became ill with stage-four throat cancer in 2003. He was treated with chemotherapy and radiation, and in 2004-2005, he fought a courageous and inspirational battle to overcome it. He continued playing golf and in 2005, he was named Champions' Come Back Player of the Year. He also received the Ben Hogan Award at The Master's Tournament that year. Green won 4 times on the PGA Sr. Champions Tour from 1998 to 2002. The pinnacle of Green's professional golf career came in 2008 when he was inducted into the prestigious World Golf Hall of Fame in St. Augustine, Florida. In 26 years on tour, Green's career stands at 19 PGA tour victories, including 2 major championship victories (US Open and PGA Championship), 3 Ryder Cup victories, 2 wins on the Japan Golf Tour, and 1 on the European Tour (Irish Open.) Known professionally for his short game and an unconventional stance, Green will also be remembered for his generous philanthropic efforts. Over the years he participated in literally hundreds of charity tournaments and community fund-raising events that supported a wide range of causes including childhood cancer, cerebral palsy, and other illnesses. Green is survived by his wife Becky Blair, of Birmingham; 3 sons, Hubert Myatt Green, Jr. (Liz) of Hurricane, Utah; Patrick Myatt Green; and James Thomas Green (Adrienne) of Panama City, Florida; sisters Melinda Green Powers (J. William), and Carolyn Green Satterfield (William H.), and brother Maurice O. V. Green (Annette), all of Birmingham. He is also survived by grandchildren, Shelby Green, Hubert Myatt Green, III "Trey", and Elizabeth Green, all of Allen, Texas; grand-daughter Judi Lauren Green of Hurricane, Utah, and grandson Ethan Green of Panama City Beach, Florida; step-sons Richard O'Brien of New Orleans, Louisiana, and Atticus O'Brien, of Dallas, Texas; loving and devoted nephews and niece, a host of faithful friends, and his loyal French Bulldog, Louie. Green was a longtime member of Highlands United Methodist Church in Birmingham, where he was baptized and grew up. Visitation will be held on Saturday, June 23rd from 12:00 – 2:00 PM at Highlands United Methodist Church (1045 20th Street South, Birmingham, AL 35205), with a memorial service following immediately thereafter. A private committal service will be held after the memorial service in the church columbarium. In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made to Highlands United Methodist Church Community Ministry or to a charity of your choice.