Article: Mike Austin, record-holder for longest drive in a professional golf tournament, dies


AP Worldstream
11-29-2005
Dateline: LOS ANGELES
Mike Austin, whose 515-yard (469-meter) drive in 1974 stands as the longest ever in a professional golf tournament, died Tuesday, his wife Tanya said. He was 95.

Austin was 64 years old when he hit the soaring drive in the U.S. National Seniors Open Championship in Las Vegas. With help from a 27-mph (43.4-kph) tail wind, the ball ran well clear of the green 450 yards (410 meters) away.

The record has held up for more than two decades despite advances in ball and driver technology. Austin used a standard persimmon wood club with a steel shaft.

Second on the list is a 476-yard ...

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