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Bobby Locke (1917 to 1987) [Picture]

Bobby Locke was a professional golfer from Johannesburg South Africa. He won the British Open four times - in 1949, 1950, 1952 and 1957. His most notable feat in the US was to win the Chicago Victory National in 1948 by a 16 stroke margin. This remains the biggest margin for a PGA win till now - 2008. He was involved in a dispute over scheduling with the PGA in 1949 which led to a ban by the PGA.

Bobby Locke was born Arthur d'Arcy Locke on 20th November 1917 in and died in 1987. He was the first in what has become a long line of great South African golfers. He started golf early and was a scratch golfer at the age of 16. He played in his first British Open in 1936 at the age of 19 and was the first placed amateur. He turned professional at the age of 21.

Golf was on hold for the war years and he flew 2000 hours of bomber missions in the South African Airforce.

In 1946 he came to the US and palyed in a series of exhibitions with Sam Snead winning 12 of the 14 exhibition matches.

He spent two and a half years on the PGA tour staring in 1946. He played in 59 tounaments during that time. He won 11 of them, finished second 10 times and third 8 times for a remarkable 29/59% placing. His career here sadly ended with the dispute over scheduling referred to already. [Edit - details]The ban was lifted in 1951 but he never returned to the US.

Bobby Locke was a portly gentleman with a taste for natty dressing - plus fours and dress shirts with tie for golf - and a taste for the 19th hole and the ukelele. His play was remarkable for a controlled draw that was a delight to watch. He used an old ? rusty hickory shafted putter with which he was killer. Many still list him as the greatest putter ever. Gary Player says that he only saw him three put once in the 100 or so rounds he played with him.

He was involved in a serious car accident in 1959 and suffered with vision problems and severe migraines. This accident brought his career to an end.This head problem was ironic in a person who was widely quoted as saying "The toughest six inches in golf is the six inches between your ears".

Provenance: Observatory Golf Club Johannesburg website.