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Former USGA president Sandy Tatum dies at 96

Frank "Sandy" Tatum, one of golf's greatest ambassadors and a former United States Golf Association president, died Thursday at age 96.

Tatum served on the USGA executive committee from 1972-80 and he was president from '78-'79. At the 1974 U.S. Open - nicknamed "The Massacre at Winged Foot" - Tatum defended the brutal setup with his infamous quote:

“Our objective is not to humiliate the best players in the world," Tatum said. “We’re simply trying to identify who they are.”

"All of us at the USGA are deeply saddened by the passing of truly one of the great individuals ever involved with golf," said Mike Davis, the USGA's executive director.