Eight-time PGA Tour winner and Hall of Famer dies aged 88

World Golf Hall of Fame member and eight-time PGA Tour winner Juan 'Chi Chi' Rodriguez died on Thursday aged 88. 

Rodriguez was born in Rio Piedras in Puerto Rico on October 23, 1935. 

He turned professional in 1960 and went on to win 37 titles around the world. 

Rodriguez won eight times on the PGA Tour.

Golf fans fell in love with not only his performances on the PGA Tour, but also his charisma.

Chi Chi loved to pull off some fancy footwork and dance moves when holing a putt. 

Rodriguez's first PGA Tour title came at the 1963 Denver Open Invitational.

He then won twice in 1964 at the Lucky International Open and Western Open.

Rodriguez failed to win the next two years but he would eventually increase his win tally to four with victory at the 1967 Texas Open Invitational.

Chi Chi then added the 1968 Sahara Invitational, the 1972 Byron Nelson Golf Classic and the 1973 Greater Greensboro Open.

His eighth and final PGA Tour victory came six years later at the 1979 Tallahassee Open. 

Rodriguez never won a major title but his best result was a T6 at the 1981 US Open. 

He also finished T10 twice at The Masters in 1970 and 1973.

Rodriguez then went on to win 22 times on the Senior PGA Tour.

The highlights were two senior major victories at the 1986 Senior Tournament Players Championship and 1987 PGA Seniors Championship. 

Chi Chi was then inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 1992. 

Rodriguez also did a great deal of work for charity, something he took a lot of pleasure in. 

During his PGA Tour career, he set up his Chi Chi Rodriguez Youth Foundation in Clearwater, Florida, a foundation that helped at-risk youths achieve academic, social and economic success.

During his World Golf Hall of Fame speech, Chi Chi memorably said: “A man never stands taller than when he stoops to help a child."

According to the PGA Tour, Rodriguez's Youth Foundation 'brings in 600 children each year from low-income families or broken homes to its municipal course to develop skills like responsibility and work ethic.'

PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan said after today's sad news: "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."

RIP Chi Chi, a true legend of the game.