World-renowned golf writer dies

Herbert Warren Wind, the golf writer who came up with the nickname Amen Corner to describe Augusta National Golf Club's 11th, 12th and 13th holes, died Monday. He was 89.

ADVERTISEMENT

Have a thought? Go to the Forums or Chat.

Subscribe  E-mail this story  Write a letter to the Editor  Printer-friendly version  Get news on your PDA  Get e-mail headlines

Wind was one of the most famous golf writers and he covered the sport for The New Yorker and Sports Illustrated. He covered every important golfer from Gene Sarazen to Ben Hogan to Jack Nicklaus before retiring in 1990.

"Herbert Warren Wind was one of the greatest golf writers that ever lived,'' Augusta National and Masters Tournament chairman Hootie Johnson said. "For many years he wrote wonderful stories about the Masters and the players that competed in the tournament.''

In the April 21, 1958, edition of Sports Illustrated, Wind used the phrase Amen Corner to describe the action from that year's Masters. He got the name from a jazz recording titled Shouting at Amen Corner from a band directed by Milton Mezzrow.

In that year's Masters, Arnold Palmer came to the 12th hole and plugged his ball into a bank behind the green. Unsure if he was permitted a free drop, Palmer played two balls. He made 5 with the first and a par 3 with the second. As the rules committee discussed the situation, Palmer continued to play and sank an 18-foot eagle putt on the 13th. Palmer was informed later in the round that he was entitled to a drop and that the score from the second ball would stand, and he went on to win the first of his four Masters by a single shot.

Wind was a fixture at the major events until he retired. A native of Brockton, Mass., Wind graduated from Yale and received his master's degree from Cambridge.

He worked his first stint at The New Yorker from 1948-53 then joined Sports Illustrated when it began in 1954. Wind returned to The New Yorker in 1960 and finished his career there.

Wind also wrote a number of golf books, including the acclaimed instruction book Five Lessons: The Modern Fundamentals of Golf with Hogan.

He died of pneumonia at a nursing facility in Bedford, Mass., said his nephew, writer Bill Scheft.

Associated Press reports were used in this article.

Reach John Boyette at (706) 823-3337 or john.boyette@augustachronicle.com.

--From the Wednesday, June 1, 2005 printed edition of the Augusta Chronicle