Legendary golf course architect Pete Dye passes away aged 94
Jack Nicklaus leads the tributes to the passing of Pete Dye on social media.
Legendary golf course architect Pete Dye, whose work includes the iconic "island green" 17th hole at TPC Sawgrass in Florida, died on Thursday at the age of 94.
Dye Designs announced his death on Twitter without mention of a cause of death.
It is with much sadness that we announce our leader, mentor and hero Pete Dye passed this morning at the age of 94. Pete made an indelible mark on the world of golf that will never be forgotten. We will all miss him dearly. pic.twitter.com/1bAqZWSTbp
— Dye Designs (@ILoveDyeGolf) January 9, 2020
"It is with much sadness that we announce our leader, mentor and hero Pete Dye passed this morning at the age of 94," read the tweet. "Pete made an indelible mark on the world of golf that will never be forgotten. We will all miss him dearly.
Golf world lost a great friend today in Pete Dye. First met Pete when I was 16 years old. Pete was 30 and we played an exhibition with Sam Snead in Urbana, Ohio. We became friends; we played a lot of golf together; and we designed courses together...
Jim Mandeville @NicklausCo pic.twitter.com/XnZphNWfi7— Jack Nicklaus (@jacknicklaus) January 10, 2020
Jack Nicklaus, record 18-time major winner, claims he owes his second career in golf course design to Dye, whom he first met some 50 years ago.
"Golf world lost a great friend today in Pete Dye," tweeted Nicklaus.
"First met Pete when I was 16 years old. Pete was 30 and we played an exhibition with Sam Snead in Urbana, Ohio. We became friends; we played a lot of golf together; and we designed courses together..."
The PGA Tour and PGA of America were among those hailing the work of Dye, who designed more than 100 courses.
"Pete's influence is far-reaching, leaving a global imprint on both the amateur and professional games," US PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan said in a statement.
PGA of America president Suzy Whaley said Dye "left an imprint on the world of golf that will be experienced for generations, painting wonderful pictures with the land that continue to inspire, entertain & challenge us."
“You respected him because he built some great golf courses, but in the midst of playing them, you hated his guts,” said PGA Tour player Brandt Snedeker.
Dye's name turned out to be the perfect adjective for his challenging courses — "Dye-abolical".
His golf courses have held four major championships, most recently at Whistling Straits in Wisconsin, which will host the Ryder Cup this year.
