How many times did Bobby Locke win the Open?
Noah Mitchell
Published Jan 19, 2026
Bobby Locke, byname of Arthur D'Arcy Locke, (born November 20, 1917, Germiston, Transvaal, South Africa—died March 9, 1987, Johannesburg), South African golfer who won the Open Championship (British Open) four times.
Did Bobby Locke win a major?
At a young age he showed considerable golfing talent and was given the moniker “Bobby” because of his admiration for Bobby Jones. At the age of just 14 he won the 1931 South African Boys Championship and, three years later he claimed both the South African Open and Amateur Championships – a double he repeated in 1937.
What happened to Bobby Locke?
The South African Press Assn. said Locke died Monday night of meningitis, an inflammation of membranes covering the brain and spinal cord. He entered the nursing home Sunday and went into a coma, five days after presenting an award at a Johannesburg golfing banquet.
What putter did Bobby Locke use?
The next best putter was South African Bobby Locke, who many other judges consider the best putter who ever lived. Bobby Locke uses an ancient hickory-shafted putter and a style that violates all principles, ancient and modern, except one: confidence in his ability to put the ball in the hole.
Why was Bobby Locke barred?
Controversy and PGA Tour ban
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.
32 related questions foundHow did Bobby Locke putt?
The putt.
Bobby's weight, if anything, favored his left side. His feet were about four inches apart with the right foot pulled slightly back from the line and the ball positioned off the left toe. This allowed the putter to be brought back inside, thus stopping a "cutting" action.
Who is the best putter of all time?
1. Tiger Woods. “Made every putt he had to.” There are many assets that make Woods great, but his ability to will the ball in the hole at the biggest of moments might be his greatest.
What do all great putters do?
Great Putters have Consistent Aim and Stroke
Good putters have consistent aim and their stroke matches their aim. By this I mean, great putters don't always aim perfectly, but they compensate internally. For example, a player might aim slightly left every time, but their stroke goes slightly to the right.
What is the secret to putting?
Work on keeping your hands relatively centered in front of your body, and use your wrists and elbows to swing the putter back (above, bottom photo). Instead of pushing the arms toward the target (top photo), let the putter use gravity to fall into the back of the ball. This is all the force you need to hit the putt.
What does drive for show putt for dough mean?
There is an old saying in golf that goes "drive for show, putt for dough." What this means is that being able to hit the ball very far might impress some people, but the people who are making the big bucks on the PGA Tour are sinking their putts.
What does a bogey mean in golf?
A Bogey means one over par. Birdie: In the 19th century, the term "bird" was the equivalent of "cool" or "excellent" - golf scholars believe this is where the term came from. An Atlantic City, New Jersey, course claims that the term originated there in 1903. The meaning being a score of one under par.
How does Phil Mickelson hold his putter?
“The longer grip allows him to grip down a little more than the original wrist-lock grip.” The putter Mickelson used in Memphis, Tennessee, was 40.75 inches. By adding a quarter-inch to the putter and extending the grip, Mickelson is effectively “choking down” on the putter more.
How does Phil Mickelson putt?
Mickelson has freely alternated between a conventional putting grip and turning his trail around in a claw grip. At the Memorial, he added a new wrinkle in the form of a pump-fake hesitation at the top of his backstroke. Whether it worked or not depends on your definition.
Was Phil Mickelson a good putter?
Phil Mickelson: Here's a rare case of Phil the Thrill being mediocre at something. He's been slightly below average on the greens in three of the last eight years and slightly above average in five. It might be the putter that has kept Mickelson from ever reaching No.
Who is the best driver in golf history?
Words: Martin Vousden Photography: Getty Images
- 10 BEN HOGAN. ...
- 9 ANNIKA SORENSTAM. ...
- 8 HARRY VARDON. ...
- 7 TONY JACKLIN. ...
- 6 JACK NICKLAUS. Jack Nicklaus drives a golf ball down the fairway. ...
- 4 COLIN MONTGOMERIE. "The name's Gomerie. ...
- 3 SIR HENRY COTTON. "I think you'll find I'm actually number 1 on this list..." ...
- 2 SAM SNEAD. Wham.
Who is the best iron player of all time?
In The Art of Striking, Tiger Woods, arguably the greatest iron player of all time, and Collin Morikawa share their feels, thought processes and swing thoughts on all things irons.
Was Ben Hogan a good putter?
Hogan would not have won nine major championships without being a very good putter. That didn't mean he had to feel good about putting; it was just something he had to do after playing his immaculate shots.
How do I get putt like Ben Crenshaw?
Crenshaw said his preferred pace was a ball that dies near the hole, but it's important to be consistent on your pace if you want to become an elite putter. “The key to good putting is the pace of the ball,” Crenshaw said. “In many cases, pace is more important than line.
Can you hook a putt?
If you hook or cut-spin your putts, your chance of success goes down. If your putts roll off the face in the same direction your putter is heading immediately after impact, you're on the right track. The next video in the putting tutorial series, PGA Pro Tom Denklau shows a drill to help improve your putting technique.
What happened to Peter Thomson?
Thomson died in Melbourne on 20 June 2018 after a four-year battle with Parkinson's disease at the age of 88.
Can I buy a putter like Phil Mickelson?
Not only that, you'll have to enter a drawing (by Nov. 1) for the right to own one. Assuming your name is called, you'll be contacted by Odyssey to complete your purchase. Odyssey's Phil Mickelson Major Winner putter is designed to the exact specifications of the wand he used to win the 2021 PGA Championship.
What does Phil putt with?
Mickelson is playing with a new(ish) putter this week at the Fortinet Championship in Napa, Calif., and it appears to be of the arm-lock variety. Really, Mickelson is using that classic blade putter he has used throughout his career, but the grip extension on it makes it seem like a new club altogether.
What putting aid does Phil Mickelson use?
Product Description. Pelz putting tutor (used and endorsed by Phil mickelson) will help you improve your green-reading skills as you simultaneously learn to make consistently better putting strokes. The feedback the putting tutor provides takes the mystery out of missing putts and will help you become a better PUTTER!
Why are golf strokes named after birds?
Used to score one under par. It began to be used in 1899 in New Jersey. It turns out that on one game day, three golfers were playing when one of them, on his second stroke, hit a bird in flight with the ball and it landed very, very close to the hole. The teammates said it was a stroke of luck for a 'birdie'.