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Bobby Locke

Arthur D'Arcy "Bobby" Locke (20 November 1917 – 9 March 1987) was a South African professional golfer. He is generally regarded as one of the greatest golfers of all time. He won The Open Championship four times and 15 PGA Tour events in total. In addition, he was a prolific tournament winner in South Africa, ultimately recording over 50 significant victories in his home country, including the South African Open nine times.

Bobby Locke
Locke in Australia (1938)
Personal information
Full nameArthur D'Arcy Locke
NicknameBobby
Old Baggy Pants
Muffin Face[1]
Lantern Jowls
Moon Face
Born(1917-11-20)20 November 1917
Germiston, South Africa
Died9 March 1987(1987-03-09) (aged 69)
Johannesburg, South Africa
Sporting nationality South Africa
SpouseHester Elizabeth 'Lillian' le Roux (divorced 1952)
Mary Elizabeth Fenton (m. 1958–87, his death)
ChildrenDianne and Carolyn
Career
Turned professional1938
Former tour(s)PGA Tour
Professional wins94
Number of wins by tour
PGA Tour15
Sunshine Tour50 (total South African wins)
Other29
Best results in major championships
(wins: 4)
Masters TournamentT10: 1948
PGA ChampionshipT33: 1947
U.S. Open3rd/T3: 1947, 1951
The Open ChampionshipWon: 1949, 1950, 1952, 1957
British AmateurT33: 1937
Achievements and awards
World Golf Hall of Fame1977 (member page)
Harry Vardon Trophy1946, 1950, 1954

Biography

Early years

Locke was born in Germiston, South Africa the only son of Mr. C.J. and Mrs. O. Locke of 70 Nottingham Road, Kensington, Johannesburg. He obtained his Educational Junior Certificate pass at in 1934.

Early professional career

Locke won the South African Open for the first of nine times in 1935, at the Parkview Golf Club in Johannesburg, with a score of 296, playing as an amateur. He played in his first Open Championship in 1936, when he was eighteen, and finished as low amateur.

He turned professional in March 1938 at the age of 20[2] and was engaged by the Maccauvlei Country Club as club professional in December 1939. Problems arose[3] when Locke wanted to give lessons to non-members as well as take leave of absence, without advance request, to take part in outside competitions such as the U.S. Open. Locke resigned from the club, by letter, on 26 July 1940.

Service in World War II

His golf career was interrupted by service in the South African Air Force during World War II. His Official War Record is held at the South African Department of Defence archives under his Service No: 103940.

• Initial Pilot Training: 15 October 1940 – 4 May 1942
Date Location Organisation Activity
15 October 1940 Voortrekkerhoogte (now Thaba Tshwane) South African Air Force Headquarters Applied to join South African Air Force. His occupation is stated as a "Golf Professional" with an address of , Vereeniging, Transvaal.
15 October 1940 Voortrekkerhoogte Central Air Force Training Depot Basic Flying Theory Training. Parade Drill and "Square Bashing"
19 November 1940 Lyttelton Number 75 Air School Pupil Pilot. Attended "Ground School"
1 October 1941 Randfontein Number 2 Air School Elementary flying training
Nigel, near Johannesburg Number 24 Air School Service Flying Training, including navigation, night flying, instrument flying "blind"
13 December 1941 Vereeniging Number 22 Air School Completion of advanced flying training to qualify as a pilot.
10 April 1942 to 4 May 1942 Vereeniging Number 22 Air School Received his "Wings" and Officer's Commission as a 2nd/Lieutenant in the South African Air Force, Station Pilot
During initial pilot training Bobby Locke flew the following aircraft types:
• Pilot Instructor Qualification: Pilot Training: 4 May 1942 – 13 December 1944
Date Location Organisation Activity
4 May 1942 Pietersburg (now Polokwane) Number 26 Air School Station Pilot
29 June 1942 Tempe, Bloemfontein Number 26 Air School Elementary Pilot Instructors Course. Qualified as "Category C Flying Instructor".
10 October 1942 Benoni, Johannesburg Number 4 Air School Category C Flying Instructor. Rank of 2nd Lieutenant
29 May 1943 Tempe, Bloemfontein Number 62 Air School Attended Flying Instructors Course No. 29. Qualified as "Category B Flying Instructor". Received Grade A in: General Flying, Instrument Flying, Navigation, Bombing, and Gunnery
1 July 1943 Wonderboom Number 3 Air School Flying instructor teaching intake Pupil Pilots
31 August 1943 Tempe, Bloemfontein Number 62 Air School Attended Multi-Engine Conversion Course and Flight Commander's Course. Qualified as 1st Pilot on twin-engine light bombers
29 October 1943 Pretoria Mobile Air Force Depot (MAFD) Stationed at MAFD as a member of a stand-by corps prior to deployment to an active squadron
12 November 1943 Port Alfred Number 43 Air School Station Pilot and Instructor. Attended Sea Navigation Course No 16.
11 December 1943 Port Alfred Number 43 Air School Staff Pilot and Instructor
15 November 1944 to 13 December 1944 Pretoria Mobile Air Force Depot (MAFD) Posted Back to MAFD for posting to an operational squadron
During Pilot Instructor Qualification, Bobby Locke flew the following aircraft types:
• Initial Deployment to the Middle East: 13 December 1944 – 7 May 1945
Date Location Organisation Activity
13 December 1944 Cairo West, Egypt SAAF Base Depot Middle East Emplaned at Zwarktop Air Station, Pretoria for Cairo West
22 December 1944 Aqir, Palestine Number 76 RAF Operational Training Unit (OTU) Operational Training Conversion on Vickers Wellington bombers (twin engines)
29 April 1945 to 7 May 1945 Cairo West SAAF Base Depot Middle East Mainly on leave.
• Deployment to Italy, Post VE Day, on Transport Duties: 7 May 1945 – 8 August 1945
Date Location Organisation Activity
7 May 1945 SAAF Advanced Transit Centre Flew to Italy to support post VE day activities.
11 May 1945 to 8 August 1945 Celone Airfield, Italy Number 31 Squadron Flew Consolidated B-24 Liberators as co-pilot on transport duties ferrying troops, equipment and SAAF personnel from Italy to Cairo and from airfields in Greece back to Italy
• Honourable Discharge from Service 8 August 1945 to 11 October 1945
Date Location Organisation Activity
8 August 1945 Cairo West, Egypt SAAF Base Depot Middle East Posted back after last two SAAF Wing "Liberators" were flown back to Cairo West and formally handed over to the RAF
12 September 1945 Pretoria Zwarktop Air Station Sent on NRSL (North Return Service Leave)
11 October 1945 NA NA Honourable discharge, 2nd Lieutenant, from the Union Defence force.
Received following standard Campaign Stars and Medals for his War Service: Italy Star and 1939-45 War Medal/Africa Service Medal. Locke listed his wife as Mrs "Lilian" Locke and their permanent residential address as 51 Hendon Street, Yeoville, Johannesburg

Alternate descriptions of Locke's war record

Other descriptions of Locke's war record suggest he was more active than the transport duties he undertook, with SAAF Number 31 Squadron in Italy, that are described by the official SANDF archives. The descriptions include: he spent twelve months in a Liberator Squadron in Italy [4]: 40  he was a bomber pilot who bombed Monte Casino,[5] he fought for Britain as a bomber pilot;[6] he flew over 100 missions over Europe with the SAAF;[7] and 'served with distinction as a Royal Airforce Bomber pilot'.[8] Locke also claims that:

  • In a photograph of him and others,[4]: 39  he was playing golf at Gizeh Golf & Country Club, in Cairo, in 1943, and
  • "My stay in the Air Force lasted five years and three months, in which time I completed 1,800 hours on single-, twin- and four-engined aircraft"[4]: 39, 40 

Success in the United States

Following the end of World War II, Locke successfully resumed his career in South Africa in 1946. He hosted Sam Snead, one of the top American golfers of the day, for a series of exhibition matches in South Africa in January/February 1947, winning 12 out of the 16 matches, two were halved and Snead won two.[4]: 147  So impressed was Snead that he suggested that Locke come to the United States and give the PGA Tour a try, advice that Locke quickly followed.[9]

Locke arrived in the U.S. for the first time in April 1947, well after the American Tour season had begun. In two-and-a-half years on the PGA Tour, Locke played in 59 events; he won 11, and finished in the top three in 30, just over half. In 1947, despite a late start, Locke dominated the American tour, winning six tournaments (including four in a five-week period), and finishing second to Jimmy Demaret on the money list.

Controversy and PGA Tour ban

In 1948, he won the Chicago Victory National by 16 strokes, which remains a PGA Tour record for margin of victory (tied for margin of victory with J. Douglas Edgar's win in the 1919 Canadian Open).[10]

The following year, Locke was banned from the tour, ostensibly because of a dispute over playing commitments. Locke had indeed given several advance commitments to appear at tournaments and exhibitions, then had not turned up nor given adequate notice nor explanations for his absences.[9] However, the 1948 Masters champion Claude Harmon stated, unsolicited, to another golf personality during that era: "Locke was simply too good. They had to ban him."[11] The ban was lifted in 1951, but Locke chose not to return to play in the United States, except for a few isolated appearances.

Locke explains his point of view and events leading up to the banning.[4]: 57, 58  He had accepted invitations, organised through the PGA to play in two local tournaments, The Inverness Fourball and Western Open. He explained how he had been helped to iron out a putting problem which led to him winning the 1949 British Open. He gives the "Open" win as one of his reasons to breach his contract. The text indicates that he understood the contractual nature of his dealings with the PGA.

Worldwide success

After leaving the PGA Tour, Locke continued his career in Europe and Africa, where he felt more comfortable. He won 23 times in Europe, most notably a quartet of successes in The Open Championship, which came in 1949, 1950, 1952 and 1957. He was the first of many South Africans who subsequently won major championships, including Gary Player, Ernie Els, Retief Goosen, Trevor Immelman, Louis Oosthuizen and Charl Schwartzel. His win in the 1957 Open Championship was with some controversy. Locke had failed to properly replace his ball after marking on the 72nd green, and proceeded to putt out. This had been confirmed through newsreel footage provided to the Royal and Ancient after the trophy presentation. The rules at the time made no provision for a two shot penalty, thus Locke's win could have been overturned through disqualification. However, the Championship committee did not enforce the disqualification rule, citing "equity and spirit of the game" as overriding factors in sustaining the posted result.

During this time Locke also played many other parts of the world. In 1955 he won the Australian Open held at Gailes Golf Club in Queensland; he later rated this as one of the best courses he had ever played. In 1959, Locke was involved in a serious car accident, and subsequently he suffered from migraines and eye problems that put an end to his competitive career, although he continued competing occasionally after that, without much success.

Locke was elected to the World Golf Hall of Fame in 1977. He was only the second member (after Gary Player) who did not come from either the United States or the United Kingdom. He died in Johannesburg, South Africa in 1987.

Playing attributes

Locke built his success around his outstanding putting ability, coining the phrase "You drive for show, but putt for dough."[12] Wearing his trademark knickerbockers, white shoes, and stockings, Locke played the game at a slow and deliberate pace, perhaps another reason that American pros were annoyed with him. On the greens, Locke was a bona fide genius, using a very unusual putting style (he would bring the putter back far to the inside on the backstroke, then virtually "trap" the ball with a hooded, closed clubface on the forward stroke, imparting a tremendous amount of overspin), and a great eye for reading breaks, to put on veritable putting clinics every time he played. Locke believed he could put spin on putts[13] (similar to full-swing shots) and make them "hook" and "slice", and used his unorthodox technique to great success.

Locke was not particularly long from the tee, but placed great emphasis on accuracy in hitting fairways and greens; he employed an extreme right-to-left ball flight (one that bordered on a hook) on nearly every full shot.[13]

Australian contemporary pro Jim Ferrier, who played the U.S. Tour during the late 1940s with Locke, described Locke's putting method as being designed to overcome the very heavy grain present on many Bermuda-grass greens of that era, particularly in warm-climate regions such as South Africa and the southern United States. In these regions, greens had to be constructed during that era using Bermuda-grass turf in order to survive the extreme summer heat; turfgrass research eventually developed a wider variety of strains which could be used. Locke's putting method allowed the ball to glide on top of the grass without being affected very much by the grain. Ferrier explained that Locke had apparently learned the technique from an Englishman in Egypt, while he was stationed there during World War II. Locke had in fact learned the technique from Walter Hagen during the "Haigs" tour of South Africa with Joe Kirkwood in 1938.[4][14]

Amateur wins

Professional wins (94)

PGA Tour wins (15)

Legend
Major championships (4)
Other PGA Tour (11)
No. Date Tournament Winning score Margin of
victory
Runner(s)-up
1 11 May 1947 Houston Open −11 (71-67-70-69=277) 5 strokes   Johnny Palmer,   Ellsworth Vines
2 25 May 1947 Philadelphia Inquirer Open −7 (68-69-70-70=277) 4 strokes   Matt Kowal,   Lloyd Mangrum
3 1 Jun 1947 Goodall Round Robin +37 points 4 points   Vic Ghezzi
4 8 Jul 1947 All American Open −12 (66-68-71-71=276) Playoff   Ed Oliver
5 19 Jul 1947 Canadian Open −16 (68-66-67-67=268) 2 strokes   Ed Oliver
6 27 Jul 1947 Columbus Invitational −14 (70-68-67-69=274) 5 strokes   Jimmy Demaret
7 25 Jan 1948 Phoenix Open −16 (65-69-67-67=268) 1 stroke   Jimmy Demaret
8 20 Jun 1948 Chicago Victory National Open −18 (65-65-70-66=266) 16 strokes   Ellsworth Vines
9 18 Apr 1949 Cavalier Specialists Invitational −6 (67-68-66=201) Playoff   Frank Stranahan (a)
10 15 May 1949 Goodall Round Robin (2) +66 points 33 points   Herman Barron
11 9 Jul 1949 The Open Championship −5 (69-76-68-70=283) Playoff   Harry Bradshaw
12 7 Jul 1950 The Open Championship (2) −1 (69-72-70-68=279) 2 strokes   Roberto De Vicenzo
13 9 Aug 1950 All American Open (2) −6 (72-74-69-67=282) Playoff   Lloyd Mangrum
14 11 Jul 1952 The Open Championship (3) −1 (69-71-74-73=287) 1 stroke   Peter Thomson
15 5 Jul 1957 The Open Championship (4) −9 (69-72-68-70=279) 3 strokes   Peter Thomson

PGA Tour playoff record (4–0)

No. Year Tournament Opponent Result
1 1947 All American Open   Ed Oliver Won 36-hole playoff;
Locke: −4 (68-72=140),
Oliver: +2 (71-75=146)
2 1949 Cavalier Specialists Invitational   Frank Stranahan (a) Won 18-hole playoff;
Locke: −1 (68),
Stranahan: +1 (70)
3 1949 The Open Championship   Harry Bradshaw Won 36-hole playoff;
Locke: −9 (67-68=135),
Bradshaw: +3 (74-73=147)
4 1950 All American Open   Lloyd Mangrum Won 18-hole playoff;
Locke: −3 (69),
Mangrum: +1 (73)

South Africa wins (50)

Other wins (29)

Major championships

Wins (4)

Year Championship 54 holes Winning score Margin Runner-up
1949 The Open Championship Tied for lead −5 (69-76-68-70=283) Playoff 1   Harry Bradshaw
1950 The Open Championship (2) Tied for lead −1 (69-72-70-68=279) 2 strokes   Roberto De Vicenzo
1952 The Open Championship (3) 1 shot deficit −1 (69-71-74-73=287) 1 stroke   Peter Thomson
1957 The Open Championship (4) 3 shot lead −9 (69-72-68-70=279) 3 strokes   Peter Thomson

1 Defeated Harry Bradshaw in 36-hole playoff: Locke (135), Bradshaw (147)

Results timeline

Tournament 1936 1937 1938 1939
Masters Tournament
U.S. Open
The Open Championship T8 LA T17 LA T10 T9
PGA Championship
The Amateur Championship R256 R64
Tournament 1940 1941 1942 1943 1944 1945 1946 1947 1948 1949
Masters Tournament NT NT NT T14 T10 T13
U.S. Open NT NT NT NT T3 4 T4
The Open Championship NT NT NT NT NT NT T2 1
PGA Championship NT T33
Tournament 1950 1951 1952 1953 1954 1955 1956 1957 1958 1959
Masters Tournament T21
U.S. Open 3 WD T14 5
The Open Championship 1 T6 1 8 T2 4 CUT 1 T16 T29
PGA Championship
Tournament 1960 1961 1962 1963 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969
Masters Tournament
U.S. Open
The Open Championship CUT CUT CUT CUT CUT
PGA Championship
Tournament 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978
Masters Tournament
U.S. Open
The Open Championship CUT T49 CUT CUT CUT CUT WD CUT
PGA Championship
  Win
  Top 10
  Did not play

NT = No tournament
LA = Low amateur
CUT = missed the half-way cut
WD = Withdrew
"T" indicates a tie for a place

Sources: 1936 Amateur Championship,[33] 1937 Amateur Championship[34]

Summary

Tournament Wins 2nd 3rd Top-5 Top-10 Top-25 Events Cuts made
Masters Tournament 0 0 0 0 1 4 4 4
U.S. Open 0 0 2 5 5 6 7 6
The Open Championship 4 2 0 7 12 14 29 16
PGA Championship 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1
Totals 4 2 2 12 18 24 41 27
  • Most consecutive cuts made – 19 (1936 Open Championship – 1952 Masters)
  • Longest streak of top-10s – 5 (1949 U.S. Open – 1951 Open Championship)

Team appearances

See also

References

  1. ^ Kelley, Brent. "Bobby Locke". About.com. Retrieved 28 February 2009.
  2. ^ "Locke may play in "Open"". The Glasgow Herald. 16 March 1938. p. 6.
  3. ^ "Maccauvlei Golf Club - Some of the People". Retrieved 1 April 2018.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g Locke, Bobby (1953). Bobby Locke on Golf. Country Life.
  5. ^ Viner, Brian (24 February 2014). "Faulkner's treasure chest of golf jewels". The Independent (published 17 July 2001). Retrieved 22 April 2018. In interview with Max Faulkner: Locke was my idol, you see. Oh Christ, yes. Wonderful chap. Tough. A bomber pilot. Bombed Monte Casino. Never practised.
  6. ^ Dobereiner, Peter (15 March 1987), "Bobby of the Green", The Observer, London, p. 49, retrieved 5 May 2018, All his life he thought of himself as British (both his parents were from Ulster), proudly recounted his achievement of being the first Briton to win the Canadian Open since 1914 and fought for Britain as a bomber pilot in the Middle East during the war.
  7. ^ Cape Times (5 September 1992) "But Locke was no joke as a man or as a golfer. He fought more than 100 combat missions over Europe with the S.A.A.F. during World War II"
  8. ^ "The Memorial Tournament Honorees: 2002: Kathy Whitworth & Bobby Locke". Retrieved 22 April 2018. Locke put his golfing career on hold, however, with the onset of World War II, at which time he served with distinction as a Royal Air Force Bomber pilot.
  9. ^ a b Barkow, Al (1974). Golf's Golden Grind: The History of the PGA Tour. Harcourt Brace Jovanovich. ISBN 978-0151908851.
  10. ^ Kelley, Brent. "Largest Margin of Victory on the PGA Tour". About.com. Retrieved 16 January 2015.
  11. ^ South African Open television broadcast, 19 December 2010, Golf Channel
  12. ^ DeNunzio, David. "10 Greatest Putters of All Time". golf.com. Retrieved 22 May 2015.
  13. ^ a b Sommers, Robert T. (2004). Golf Anecdotes: From the Links of Scotland to Tiger Woods. Oxford University Press. pp. 205–. ISBN 978-0-19-517265-2.
  14. ^ Barkow, Al (1986). Gettin' To The Dance Floor: An Oral History of American Golf. Atheneum. ISBN 978-0689115172.
  15. ^ "Transvaal Open". Maryborough Cronicle. 26 January 1937.
  16. ^ Vigor. Vol. 1–2. National Advisory Council. 1947 – via Google Books.
  17. ^ "Bobby Locke wins". The Courier-Mail. 11 February 1950. p. 6.
  18. ^ a b c Vigor. Vol. 3–4. National Advisory Council. 1949 – via Google Books.
  19. ^ "Bobby Locke in form". Kalgoorlie Miner. 15 March 1950.
  20. ^ "Locke wins". Advocate. 1 January 1951. p. 10.
  21. ^ "Easy Victory for Locke". the Singapore Free Press. 15 January 1951.
  22. ^ "Locke wins £300". The Singapore Free Press. 22 January 1951.
  23. ^ "Bobby Locke's Victory". Daily advertiser. 2 April 1951.
  24. ^ "Thomson goes down to Locke". The Age. 16 January 1952. p. 20. Retrieved 3 January 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  25. ^ "4th Win for Bobby Locke". The Singapore Free Press. 21 January 1952.
  26. ^ "Locke wins again". The Sunday Sun. 11 January 1953. p. 10. Retrieved 3 January 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  27. ^ "Golf title for Locke". The Sunday Sun. 14 January 1954. p. 10. Retrieved 3 January 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  28. ^ "Bobby Locke Breaks Own Record". The Canberra Times. 22 March 1954.
  29. ^ "Bobby Locke...". The Birmingham Mail. 18 March 1957. p. 8. Retrieved 3 January 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  30. ^ "Bobby Locke".
  31. ^ "Bobby Locke ties". Manchester Evening News. 3 February 1958. p. 6. Retrieved 3 January 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  32. ^ "£200 for Locke". Sunday Dispatch. 17 January 1960. p. 18. Retrieved 3 January 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  33. ^ "Amateur Championship". The Glasgow Herald. 27 May 1936. p. 6.
  34. ^ "Scot Wins "Classic" Match". The Glasgow Herald. 27 May 1937. p. 12.

External links

bobby, locke, baseball, player, baseball, arthur, arcy, bobby, locke, november, 1917, march, 1987, south, african, professional, golfer, generally, regarded, greatest, golfers, time, open, championship, four, times, tour, events, total, addition, prolific, tou. For the baseball player see Bobby Locke baseball Arthur D Arcy Bobby Locke 20 November 1917 9 March 1987 was a South African professional golfer He is generally regarded as one of the greatest golfers of all time He won The Open Championship four times and 15 PGA Tour events in total In addition he was a prolific tournament winner in South Africa ultimately recording over 50 significant victories in his home country including the South African Open nine times Bobby LockeLocke in Australia 1938 Personal informationFull nameArthur D Arcy LockeNicknameBobby Old Baggy Pants Muffin Face 1 Lantern Jowls Moon FaceBorn 1917 11 20 20 November 1917Germiston South AfricaDied9 March 1987 1987 03 09 aged 69 Johannesburg South AfricaSporting nationality South AfricaSpouseHester Elizabeth Lillian le Roux divorced 1952 Mary Elizabeth Fenton m 1958 87 his death ChildrenDianne and CarolynCareerTurned professional1938Former tour s PGA TourProfessional wins94Number of wins by tourPGA Tour15Sunshine Tour50 total South African wins Other29Best results in major championships wins 4 Masters TournamentT10 1948PGA ChampionshipT33 1947U S Open3rd T3 1947 1951The Open ChampionshipWon 1949 1950 1952 1957British AmateurT33 1937Achievements and awardsWorld Golf Hall of Fame1977 member page Harry Vardon Trophy1946 1950 1954 Contents 1 Biography 1 1 Early years 1 2 Early professional career 1 3 Service in World War II 1 3 1 Alternate descriptions of Locke s war record 1 4 Success in the United States 1 5 Controversy and PGA Tour ban 1 6 Worldwide success 2 Playing attributes 3 Amateur wins 4 Professional wins 94 4 1 PGA Tour wins 15 4 2 South Africa wins 50 4 3 Other wins 29 5 Major championships 5 1 Wins 4 5 2 Results timeline 5 3 Summary 6 Team appearances 7 See also 8 References 9 External linksBiography EditEarly years Edit Locke was born in Germiston South Africa the only son of Mr C J and Mrs O Locke of 70 Nottingham Road Kensington Johannesburg He obtained his Educational Junior Certificate pass at Benoni High School in 1934 Early professional career Edit Locke won the South African Open for the first of nine times in 1935 at the Parkview Golf Club in Johannesburg with a score of 296 playing as an amateur He played in his first Open Championship in 1936 when he was eighteen and finished as low amateur He turned professional in March 1938 at the age of 20 2 and was engaged by the Maccauvlei Country Club as club professional in December 1939 Problems arose 3 when Locke wanted to give lessons to non members as well as take leave of absence without advance request to take part in outside competitions such as the U S Open Locke resigned from the club by letter on 26 July 1940 Service in World War II Edit His golf career was interrupted by service in the South African Air Force during World War II His Official War Record is held at the South African Department of Defence archives under his Service No 103940 Initial Pilot Training 15 October 1940 4 May 1942 Date Location Organisation Activity15 October 1940 Voortrekkerhoogte now Thaba Tshwane South African Air Force Headquarters Applied to join South African Air Force His occupation is stated as a Golf Professional with an address of Maccauvlei Country Club Vereeniging Transvaal 15 October 1940 Voortrekkerhoogte Central Air Force Training Depot Basic Flying Theory Training Parade Drill and Square Bashing 19 November 1940 Lyttelton Number 75 Air School Pupil Pilot Attended Ground School 1 October 1941 Randfontein Number 2 Air School Elementary flying trainingNigel near Johannesburg Number 24 Air School Service Flying Training including navigation night flying instrument flying blind 13 December 1941 Vereeniging Number 22 Air School Completion of advanced flying training to qualify as a pilot 10 April 1942 to 4 May 1942 Vereeniging Number 22 Air School Received his Wings and Officer s Commission as a 2nd Lieutenant in the South African Air Force Station PilotDuring initial pilot training Bobby Locke flew the following aircraft types de Havilland Tiger Moth de Havilland Hornet Moth Hawker Hartebeeste Hawker Hind Hawker Audax Pilot Instructor Qualification Pilot Training 4 May 1942 13 December 1944 Date Location Organisation Activity4 May 1942 Pietersburg now Polokwane Number 26 Air School Station Pilot29 June 1942 Tempe Bloemfontein Number 26 Air School Elementary Pilot Instructors Course Qualified as Category C Flying Instructor 10 October 1942 Benoni Johannesburg Number 4 Air School Category C Flying Instructor Rank of 2nd Lieutenant29 May 1943 Tempe Bloemfontein Number 62 Air School Attended Flying Instructors Course No 29 Qualified as Category B Flying Instructor Received Grade A in General Flying Instrument Flying Navigation Bombing and Gunnery1 July 1943 Wonderboom Number 3 Air School Flying instructor teaching intake Pupil Pilots31 August 1943 Tempe Bloemfontein Number 62 Air School Attended Multi Engine Conversion Course and Flight Commander s Course Qualified as 1st Pilot on twin engine light bombers29 October 1943 Pretoria Mobile Air Force Depot MAFD Stationed at MAFD as a member of a stand by corps prior to deployment to an active squadron12 November 1943 Port Alfred Number 43 Air School Station Pilot and Instructor Attended Sea Navigation Course No 16 11 December 1943 Port Alfred Number 43 Air School Staff Pilot and Instructor15 November 1944 to 13 December 1944 Pretoria Mobile Air Force Depot MAFD Posted Back to MAFD for posting to an operational squadronDuring Pilot Instructor Qualification Bobby Locke flew the following aircraft types de Havilland Tiger Moth Airspeed Oxford amp Avro Anson twin engines Initial Deployment to the Middle East 13 December 1944 7 May 1945 Date Location Organisation Activity13 December 1944 Cairo West Egypt SAAF Base Depot Middle East Emplaned at Zwarktop Air Station Pretoria for Cairo West22 December 1944 Aqir Palestine Number 76 RAF Operational Training Unit OTU Operational Training Conversion on Vickers Wellington bombers twin engines 29 April 1945 to 7 May 1945 Cairo West SAAF Base Depot Middle East Mainly on leave Deployment to Italy Post VE Day on Transport Duties 7 May 1945 8 August 1945 Date Location Organisation Activity7 May 1945 SAAF Advanced Transit Centre Flew to Italy to support post VE day activities 11 May 1945 to 8 August 1945 Celone Airfield Italy Number 31 Squadron Flew Consolidated B 24 Liberators as co pilot on transport duties ferrying troops equipment and SAAF personnel from Italy to Cairo and from airfields in Greece back to Italy Honourable Discharge from Service 8 August 1945 to 11 October 1945 Date Location Organisation Activity8 August 1945 Cairo West Egypt SAAF Base Depot Middle East Posted back after last two SAAF Wing Liberators were flown back to Cairo West and formally handed over to the RAF12 September 1945 Pretoria Zwarktop Air Station Sent on NRSL North Return Service Leave 11 October 1945 NA NA Honourable discharge 2nd Lieutenant from the Union Defence force Received following standard Campaign Stars and Medals for his War Service Italy Star and 1939 45 War Medal Africa Service Medal Locke listed his wife as Mrs Lilian Locke and their permanent residential address as 51 Hendon Street Yeoville Johannesburg Alternate descriptions of Locke s war record Edit Other descriptions of Locke s war record suggest he was more active than the transport duties he undertook with SAAF Number 31 Squadron in Italy that are described by the official SANDF archives The descriptions include he spent twelve months in a Liberator Squadron in Italy 4 40 he was a bomber pilot who bombed Monte Casino 5 he fought for Britain as a bomber pilot 6 he flew over 100 missions over Europe with the SAAF 7 and served with distinction as a Royal Airforce Bomber pilot 8 Locke also claims that In a photograph of him and others 4 39 he was playing golf at Gizeh Golf amp Country Club in Cairo in 1943 and My stay in the Air Force lasted five years and three months in which time I completed 1 800 hours on single twin and four engined aircraft 4 39 40 Success in the United States Edit Following the end of World War II Locke successfully resumed his career in South Africa in 1946 He hosted Sam Snead one of the top American golfers of the day for a series of exhibition matches in South Africa in January February 1947 winning 12 out of the 16 matches two were halved and Snead won two 4 147 So impressed was Snead that he suggested that Locke come to the United States and give the PGA Tour a try advice that Locke quickly followed 9 Locke arrived in the U S for the first time in April 1947 well after the American Tour season had begun In two and a half years on the PGA Tour Locke played in 59 events he won 11 and finished in the top three in 30 just over half In 1947 despite a late start Locke dominated the American tour winning six tournaments including four in a five week period and finishing second to Jimmy Demaret on the money list Controversy and PGA Tour ban Edit In 1948 he won the Chicago Victory National by 16 strokes which remains a PGA Tour record for margin of victory tied for margin of victory with J Douglas Edgar s win in the 1919 Canadian Open 10 The following year Locke was banned from the tour ostensibly because of a dispute over playing commitments Locke had indeed given several advance commitments to appear at tournaments and exhibitions then had not turned up nor given adequate notice nor explanations for his absences 9 However the 1948 Masters champion Claude Harmon stated unsolicited to another golf personality during that era Locke was simply too good They had to ban him 11 The ban was lifted in 1951 but Locke chose not to return to play in the United States except for a few isolated appearances Locke explains his point of view and events leading up to the banning 4 57 58 He had accepted invitations organised through the PGA to play in two local tournaments The Inverness Fourball and Western Open He explained how he had been helped to iron out a putting problem which led to him winning the 1949 British Open He gives the Open win as one of his reasons to breach his contract The text indicates that he understood the contractual nature of his dealings with the PGA Worldwide success Edit After leaving the PGA Tour Locke continued his career in Europe and Africa where he felt more comfortable He won 23 times in Europe most notably a quartet of successes in The Open Championship which came in 1949 1950 1952 and 1957 He was the first of many South Africans who subsequently won major championships including Gary Player Ernie Els Retief Goosen Trevor Immelman Louis Oosthuizen and Charl Schwartzel His win in the 1957 Open Championship was with some controversy Locke had failed to properly replace his ball after marking on the 72nd green and proceeded to putt out This had been confirmed through newsreel footage provided to the Royal and Ancient after the trophy presentation The rules at the time made no provision for a two shot penalty thus Locke s win could have been overturned through disqualification However the Championship committee did not enforce the disqualification rule citing equity and spirit of the game as overriding factors in sustaining the posted result During this time Locke also played many other parts of the world In 1955 he won the Australian Open held at Gailes Golf Club in Queensland he later rated this as one of the best courses he had ever played In 1959 Locke was involved in a serious car accident and subsequently he suffered from migraines and eye problems that put an end to his competitive career although he continued competing occasionally after that without much success Locke was elected to the World Golf Hall of Fame in 1977 He was only the second member after Gary Player who did not come from either the United States or the United Kingdom He died in Johannesburg South Africa in 1987 Playing attributes EditLocke built his success around his outstanding putting ability coining the phrase You drive for show but putt for dough 12 Wearing his trademark knickerbockers white shoes and stockings Locke played the game at a slow and deliberate pace perhaps another reason that American pros were annoyed with him On the greens Locke was a bona fide genius using a very unusual putting style he would bring the putter back far to the inside on the backstroke then virtually trap the ball with a hooded closed clubface on the forward stroke imparting a tremendous amount of overspin and a great eye for reading breaks to put on veritable putting clinics every time he played Locke believed he could put spin on putts 13 similar to full swing shots and make them hook and slice and used his unorthodox technique to great success Locke was not particularly long from the tee but placed great emphasis on accuracy in hitting fairways and greens he employed an extreme right to left ball flight one that bordered on a hook on nearly every full shot 13 Australian contemporary pro Jim Ferrier who played the U S Tour during the late 1940s with Locke described Locke s putting method as being designed to overcome the very heavy grain present on many Bermuda grass greens of that era particularly in warm climate regions such as South Africa and the southern United States In these regions greens had to be constructed during that era using Bermuda grass turf in order to survive the extreme summer heat turfgrass research eventually developed a wider variety of strains which could be used Locke s putting method allowed the ball to glide on top of the grass without being affected very much by the grain Ferrier explained that Locke had apparently learned the technique from an Englishman in Egypt while he was stationed there during World War II Locke had in fact learned the technique from Walter Hagen during the Haigs tour of South Africa with Joe Kirkwood in 1938 4 14 Amateur wins Edit1931 South Africa Boys 1935 South African Amateur Natal Amateur Transvaal Amateur 1936 Natal Amateur Lucifer Empire Trophy 1937 South African Amateur Transvaal Amateur Orange Free State AmateurProfessional wins 94 EditPGA Tour wins 15 Edit LegendMajor championships 4 Other PGA Tour 11 No Date Tournament Winning score Margin ofvictory Runner s up1 11 May 1947 Houston Open 11 71 67 70 69 277 5 strokes Johnny Palmer Ellsworth Vines2 25 May 1947 Philadelphia Inquirer Open 7 68 69 70 70 277 4 strokes Matt Kowal Lloyd Mangrum3 1 Jun 1947 Goodall Round Robin 37 points 4 points Vic Ghezzi4 8 Jul 1947 All American Open 12 66 68 71 71 276 Playoff Ed Oliver5 19 Jul 1947 Canadian Open 16 68 66 67 67 268 2 strokes Ed Oliver6 27 Jul 1947 Columbus Invitational 14 70 68 67 69 274 5 strokes Jimmy Demaret7 25 Jan 1948 Phoenix Open 16 65 69 67 67 268 1 stroke Jimmy Demaret8 20 Jun 1948 Chicago Victory National Open 18 65 65 70 66 266 16 strokes Ellsworth Vines9 18 Apr 1949 Cavalier Specialists Invitational 6 67 68 66 201 Playoff Frank Stranahan a 10 15 May 1949 Goodall Round Robin 2 66 points 33 points Herman Barron11 9 Jul 1949 The Open Championship 5 69 76 68 70 283 Playoff Harry Bradshaw12 7 Jul 1950 The Open Championship 2 1 69 72 70 68 279 2 strokes Roberto De Vicenzo13 9 Aug 1950 All American Open 2 6 72 74 69 67 282 Playoff Lloyd Mangrum14 11 Jul 1952 The Open Championship 3 1 69 71 74 73 287 1 stroke Peter Thomson15 5 Jul 1957 The Open Championship 4 9 69 72 68 70 279 3 strokes Peter ThomsonPGA Tour playoff record 4 0 No Year Tournament Opponent Result1 1947 All American Open Ed Oliver Won 36 hole playoff Locke 4 68 72 140 Oliver 2 71 75 146 2 1949 Cavalier Specialists Invitational Frank Stranahan a Won 18 hole playoff Locke 1 68 Stranahan 1 70 3 1949 The Open Championship Harry Bradshaw Won 36 hole playoff Locke 9 67 68 135 Bradshaw 3 74 73 147 4 1950 All American Open Lloyd Mangrum Won 18 hole playoff Locke 3 69 Mangrum 1 73 South Africa wins 50 Edit 1935 Natal Open South African Open both as an amateur 1936 Natal Open as an amateur 1937 South African Open Transvaal Open 15 both as an amateur 1938 South African Open South Africa Professional Transvaal Open 1939 South African Open South Africa Professional Transvaal Open 1940 South African Open South Africa Professional Transvaal Open 1946 South African Open South Africa Professional Transvaal Open 1949 Stanley Motors 1 000 Guineas Tournament 16 Transvaal Open 1950 Dunlop 1 000 Tournament 17 Stanley Motors 1 000 Guineas Tournament 18 Transvaal Open Western Transvaal Open 19 Grey Slax 1 000 Tournament 20 South Africa Professional South African Open Grey Slax 1 000 Tournament 18 1951 Stag 1 000 Matchplay 21 Stanley Motors 1 000 Guineas Tournament 22 Transvaal Open East Rand Open 18 South Africa Professional South African Open Dunlop Masters 1 000 Tournament 23 1952 Stag 1 000 Matchplay 24 Stanley Motors 1 000 Guineas Tournament 25 1953 SANTA Open 26 Natal Open 1954 SANTA Open 27 Transvaal Open Mills 1 000 Guineas Tournament 28 1955 Transvaal Open South African Open South Africa Professional 1956 Western Province Open 1957 East Rand Open 29 1958 Transvaal Open 30 Western Province Open East Rand Open tie with Eric Moore 31 1960 East Rand Open 32 Other wins 29 Edit 1938 Irish Open New Zealand Open 1939 Dutch Open 1946 Yorkshire Evening News Tournament Brand Lochryn Tournament Dunlop Masters 1947 Carolinas Open Carolinas PGA Championship 1948 Carolinas Open 1950 Dunlop Tournament Spalding Tournament North British Harrogate Tournament 1952 French Open Mexican Open Lotus Tournament Carolinas Open 1953 French Open 1954 Egyptian Open German Open Swiss Open Dunlop Tournament Dunlop British Masters tie with Jimmy Adams Egyptian Match Play Swallow Harrogate Tournament Stroke play stage 1955 Australian Open 1957 Daks Tournament Bowmaker Tournament tied with Frank Jowle 1959 New Hampshire Open Bowmaker TournamentMajor championships EditWins 4 Edit Year Championship 54 holes Winning score Margin Runner up1949 The Open Championship Tied for lead 5 69 76 68 70 283 Playoff 1 Harry Bradshaw1950 The Open Championship 2 Tied for lead 1 69 72 70 68 279 2 strokes Roberto De Vicenzo1952 The Open Championship 3 1 shot deficit 1 69 71 74 73 287 1 stroke Peter Thomson1957 The Open Championship 4 3 shot lead 9 69 72 68 70 279 3 strokes Peter Thomson1 Defeated Harry Bradshaw in 36 hole playoff Locke 135 Bradshaw 147 Results timeline Edit Tournament 1936 1937 1938 1939Masters TournamentU S OpenThe Open Championship T8 LA T17 LA T10 T9PGA ChampionshipThe Amateur Championship R256 R64 Tournament 1940 1941 1942 1943 1944 1945 1946 1947 1948 1949Masters Tournament NT NT NT T14 T10 T13U S Open NT NT NT NT T3 4 T4The Open Championship NT NT NT NT NT NT T2 1PGA Championship NT T33Tournament 1950 1951 1952 1953 1954 1955 1956 1957 1958 1959Masters Tournament T21U S Open 3 WD T14 5The Open Championship 1 T6 1 8 T2 4 CUT 1 T16 T29PGA ChampionshipTournament 1960 1961 1962 1963 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969Masters TournamentU S OpenThe Open Championship CUT CUT CUT CUT CUTPGA ChampionshipTournament 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978Masters TournamentU S OpenThe Open Championship CUT T49 CUT CUT CUT CUT WD CUTPGA Championship Win Top 10 Did not play NT No tournamentLA Low amateur CUT missed the half way cut WD Withdrew T indicates a tie for a placeSources 1936 Amateur Championship 33 1937 Amateur Championship 34 Summary Edit Tournament Wins 2nd 3rd Top 5 Top 10 Top 25 Events Cuts madeMasters Tournament 0 0 0 0 1 4 4 4U S Open 0 0 2 5 5 6 7 6The Open Championship 4 2 0 7 12 14 29 16PGA Championship 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1Totals 4 2 2 12 18 24 41 27Most consecutive cuts made 19 1936 Open Championship 1952 Masters Longest streak of top 10s 5 1949 U S Open 1951 Open Championship Team appearances EditSouth African Amateur Golf Team to England 1937 4 25 Canada Cup representing South Africa 1953 1954 1956 1960 Slazenger Trophy representing British Commonwealth and Empire 1956 Hopkins Trophy representing Canada 1952 1953 1954See also EditList of golfers with most PGA Tour wins List of men s major championships winning golfersReferences Edit Kelley Brent Bobby Locke About com Retrieved 28 February 2009 Locke may play in Open The Glasgow Herald 16 March 1938 p 6 Maccauvlei Golf Club Some of the People Retrieved 1 April 2018 a b c d e f g Locke Bobby 1953 Bobby Locke on Golf Country Life Viner Brian 24 February 2014 Faulkner s treasure chest of golf jewels The Independent published 17 July 2001 Retrieved 22 April 2018 In interview with Max Faulkner Locke was my idol you see Oh Christ yes Wonderful chap Tough A bomber pilot Bombed Monte Casino Never practised Dobereiner Peter 15 March 1987 Bobby of the Green The Observer London p 49 retrieved 5 May 2018 All his life he thought of himself as British both his parents were from Ulster proudly recounted his achievement of being the first Briton to win the Canadian Open since 1914 and fought for Britain as a bomber pilot in the Middle East during the war Cape Times 5 September 1992 But Locke was no joke as a man or as a golfer He fought more than 100 combat missions over Europe with the S A A F during World War II The Memorial Tournament Honorees 2002 Kathy Whitworth amp Bobby Locke Retrieved 22 April 2018 Locke put his golfing career on hold however with the onset of World War II at which time he served with distinction as a Royal Air Force Bomber pilot a b Barkow Al 1974 Golf s Golden Grind The History of the PGA Tour Harcourt Brace Jovanovich ISBN 978 0151908851 Kelley Brent Largest Margin of Victory on the PGA Tour About com Retrieved 16 January 2015 South African Open television broadcast 19 December 2010 Golf Channel DeNunzio David 10 Greatest Putters of All Time golf com Retrieved 22 May 2015 a b Sommers Robert T 2004 Golf Anecdotes From the Links of Scotland to Tiger Woods Oxford University Press pp 205 ISBN 978 0 19 517265 2 Barkow Al 1986 Gettin To The Dance Floor An Oral History of American Golf Atheneum ISBN 978 0689115172 Transvaal Open Maryborough Cronicle 26 January 1937 Vigor Vol 1 2 National Advisory Council 1947 via Google Books Bobby Locke wins The Courier Mail 11 February 1950 p 6 a b c Vigor Vol 3 4 National Advisory Council 1949 via Google Books Bobby Locke in form Kalgoorlie Miner 15 March 1950 Locke wins Advocate 1 January 1951 p 10 Easy Victory for Locke the Singapore Free Press 15 January 1951 Locke wins 300 The Singapore Free Press 22 January 1951 Bobby Locke s Victory Daily advertiser 2 April 1951 Thomson goes down to Locke The Age 16 January 1952 p 20 Retrieved 3 January 2023 via Newspapers com 4th Win for Bobby Locke The Singapore Free Press 21 January 1952 Locke wins again The Sunday Sun 11 January 1953 p 10 Retrieved 3 January 2023 via Newspapers com Golf title for Locke The Sunday Sun 14 January 1954 p 10 Retrieved 3 January 2023 via Newspapers com Bobby Locke Breaks Own Record The Canberra Times 22 March 1954 Bobby Locke The Birmingham Mail 18 March 1957 p 8 Retrieved 3 January 2023 via Newspapers com Bobby Locke Bobby Locke ties Manchester Evening News 3 February 1958 p 6 Retrieved 3 January 2023 via Newspapers com 200 for Locke Sunday Dispatch 17 January 1960 p 18 Retrieved 3 January 2023 via Newspapers com Amateur Championship The Glasgow Herald 27 May 1936 p 6 Scot Wins Classic Match The Glasgow Herald 27 May 1937 p 12 External links EditOfficial website Bobby Locke at the PGA Tour official site Bobby Locke at the World Golf Hall of Fame Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Bobby Locke amp oldid 1141507165, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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