He also owned a nearby driving range where Raymond and younger sister Marlene, a future LPGA Tour pro, honed their games.

From an early age, Floyd could play equally well left-handed, and used his skills to enhance his allowance, winning money from soldiers on the course, as well as civilians in nearby towns.

Skilled in golf and baseball, he had an offer to pitch in the Cleveland Indians organization, but chose to attend the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill, but only stayed for a semester.

[7] He won his second PGA Championship in 1982, after shooting a brilliant opening round of 63 in sweltering hot conditions at Southern Hills Country Club.

[citation needed] Floyd's fourth and final major title came at the U.S. Open in 1986 at Shinnecock Hills.

)[13] The one major title that eluded Floyd, which prevented him from completing the career grand slam, was The Open Championship.

The Doral-Ryder Open victory also gave him the distinction of winning PGA Tour events in four decades, joining Sam Snead as the second player to achieve that feat.

"[21] Floyd won the Vardon Trophy for lowest scoring average on the PGA Tour in 1983 and played for the U.S. on eight Ryder Cup teams (1969, 1975, 1977, 1981, 1983, 1985, 1991, and 1993).

At a gala dinner held before the start of the matches, Floyd famously introduced his American side as "The 12 greatest players in the world.

"[22][23] This irritated European player Nick Faldo of England, who later said that he felt Floyd's comment was inappropriate.