Bob Charles (golfer)
| Bob Charles | |
|---|---|
| — Golfer — | |
Charles in 2012
|
|
| Personal information | |
| Full name | Sir Robert James Charles |
| Born |
14 March 1936 Carterton, New Zealand |
| Height | 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in) |
| Weight | 79 kg (174 lb; 12.4 st) |
| Nationality |
 New Zealand
|
| Residence | Florida, United States; Canterbury, New Zealand |
| Career | |
| Turned professional | 1960 |
| Current tour(s) |
Champions Tour European Seniors Tour |
| Former tour(s) |
PGA Tour European Tour PGA Tour of Australasia |
| Professional wins | 74 |
| Number of wins by tour | |
| PGA Tour | 6 |
| European Tour | 4 |
| PGA Tour of Australasia | 8 |
| PGA Tour Champions | 23 |
| European Senior Tour | 1 |
| Other | 18 (regular) 14 (senior) |
| Best results in major championships (wins: 1) |
|
| Masters Tournament | T15: 1963 |
| U.S. Open | 3rd/T3: 1964, 1970 |
| The Open Championship | Won: 1963 |
| PGA Championship | T2: 1968 |
| British Amateur | T5: 1958 |
| Achievements and awards | |
| World Golf Hall of Fame | 2008 (member page) |
| New Zealand Order of Merit | 1999 |
| Order of New Zealand | 2010 |
Sir Robert James Charles ONZ KNZM CBE (born 14 March 1936) is a New Zealand professional golfer whose achievements over five decades rank him among the most successful left-handed golfers of all time, being the first lefty to win a golf major, winning more than 70 titles, and beating his age twice during a tournament as a 71-year-old.
Born in Carterton, a small town in the Wairarapa district in New Zealand's North Island, Charles lived in Masterton where he worked as a bank teller. He won the New Zealand Open at Heretaunga on 8 November 1954, as an 18-year-old amateur.
Charles decided to hone his skills as an amateur first, and remained in his bank employment for a further six years. He represented New Zealand several times in international amateur tournaments during this period.
Charles turned professional in 1960 and the next year won the New Zealand PGA Championship and soon after ventured overseas to the European and North American circuits.
In 1963, Charles won his first PGA Tour event in the United States, the Houston Classic, the first PGA Tour event won by a left-handed golfer. Later that year he won The Open Championship at Royal Lytham and St. Annes. After four rounds (68-72-66-71) his 277 was level with American Phil Rodgers. Charles won the 36-hole playoff by eight shots.
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Wikipedia