Jim Dent grew up in Caddyyards in Augusta, Georgia, and eventually worked for Masters, honing his game on a municipal course known as “Patch.” He went on to become one of the longest hitters on the PGA Tour and one of the top black golfers of his generation.
Dent died on Friday at the age of 85, a week before his birthday, and his grandson was posted on Facebook. The PGA Tour said on its website that Dent suffered from strokes the day after August National announced Tiger Woods’ plans to design the PAR-3 course on the patch.
“What I learned about playing golf has probably kept me through my life,” Dent told USGA in 2012 for the story.
As Dent worked hard in his game, he participated in the United Golfers Association Tournament, a league dedicated to black players, and moved to California where he received lessons from former US Open Champion Johnny Goodman.
He finally won a PGA Tour card through qualifying schools in 1970, and although he never won the tour, he held a full schedule of at least 22 tournaments for the next 16 years. His best result was in the 1972 Walt Disney World Open Invitational, where he chased Jack Nicklaus in two shots in the final round. Nicklaus shot 64 and won by 9.
Dent won the Michelob-Chattanooga Gold Cup Classic in 1983. This is a Tournament Player Series event for players who are not completely exempted. The tour went on the full exemption tour of the year, instead of a large portion of the field that year passing Monday’s qualifying round.
Dent never met the criteria to be qualified to play for Masters, but he cuts in 8 of the 11 majors he played – six at the PGA Championship and five at the US Open.
He is best known for his incredible length, with Dent winning the first World Long Drive Championship in 1974.
After turning 50, he won the PGA Tour champion 12 times. “Jim Dent should be banned from how he can hit the ball,” Al Geiberger said after winning his first championship event after shooting the Dent 64.
“A lot of people will remember Jim Dent about how much he hit the ball, and he really did,” said Miller Brady, president of the PGA Tour Champion. “But his long-term success, especially on our tour, proved that Jim had been away from the tee for a long time.”
Dent, the fourth of six children, lost both parents by the time he was 12 years old and was raised by his aunt, Mary Benton. She objected to him caddying on the patch and said, “If I learn how to caddy, I’ll learn how to gamble.”
“Kids think they are the smartest people in the world,” Dent said in a USGA story. “When I learned how to caddy shoot dice and play cards, the second thing I learned how to do. She was dead right.”
He works for the Augusta Country Club and Dent remembers how he can play if the caddy is willing to cut off the club grass from the green. Among the players he cadred at Augusta National for his master were Bob Goalby and Bob Rossburg.
Augusta named the road leading to the patch in 2020 “Jim Dentway.” Two years later, Dent was inducted into the Caddy Hall of Fame.
His son, Jim Dent Jr., is currently head pro at Patch.
Augusta National is pouring help in upgrading the city’s courses under the work of architects Tom Fazio and Bowelling. It includes longer, conditioned courses with new short game areas and clubhouses. Woods has designed a par-3 course called “The Loop of Patch” to honor the Augusta National Caddy who performed there.
