Hall of Fame Golfer Juan ‘Chi Chi’ Rodriguez Passes Away at 88

World Golf Hall of Famer Juan ‘Chi Chi’ Rodriguez passed away on Thursday, August 8, at the age of 88. The announcement was made by Carmelo Javier Ríos, a senator in Rodriguez’s native Puerto Rico, although the cause of death was not disclosed, according to a report by the New York Times.

PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan expressed his condolences in a statement on the league’s website, saying, “Chi Chi Rodriguez’s passion for charity and outreach was surpassed only by his incredible talent with a golf club in his hand. A vibrant, colorful personality both on and off the golf course, he will be missed dearly by the PGA Tour and those whose lives he touched in his mission to give back. The PGA Tour sends its deepest condolences to the entire Rodriguez family during this difficult time.”

Chi Chi Rodriguez was famed not just for his remarkable skills on the golf course but also for his signature “sword dance” celebration. Over his career, he achieved 30 victories between the PGA Tour and PGA Tour Champions. In addition to his professional achievements, Rodriguez was a dedicated philanthropist, helping 600 at-risk children from low-income families through his Chi Chi Rodriguez Youth Foundation in Clearwater, Florida.

In his World Golf Hall of Fame biography, Rodriguez once said, “A man never stands taller than when he stoops to help a child.” His commitment to helping others was widely recognized, earning him the Bob Jones Award—USGA’s highest honor—in 1989. He was also inducted into the World Humanitarian Sports Hall of Fame in 1994.