Former L.A. Open Champion ‘Jug’ McSpaden and Wife Dead

Former professional golfer Harold “Jug” McSpaden and his wife were found dead in what authorities termed an accidental case of carbon monoxide poisoning.

McSpaden, who formed a successful team with Byron Nelson when they were known as “The Gold Dust Boys,” was 87. His wife, Betsy, was believed to be 73. Both were found dead Monday in their home.

“I feel like I’ve lost a wonderful friend,” Nelson said from his home in Roanoke, Texas. “He treated me with great respect. We never had an argument in all the time we played together.”

The couple apparently had been dead some time. Police found their car in an attached garage with the ignition turned on.

McSpaden had become forgetful, which may have led to the deaths, said Travis Webb, the golf pro at Painted Hills Golf Course.

“I think he started his car, thinking he was leaving and just forgot,” Webb said. “He was always a little forgetful.’

Early in his career, McSpaden had to leave the tour four times until he finally found success in 1934. He won five times that year and finished his career with 26 victories, including the 1944 Los Angeles Open at Wilshire Country Club.

“I played with and against the best--Sam Snead, Ben Hogan and Byron Nelson--for 10 or 15 years and we all became friends,” McSpaden said several years ago. “I have a lot of fond memories. I made some 6-footers and I missed some. I made a 40-footer to beat Ben Hogan.”