Bob Charles (golfer)
Template:Short description Template:Use New Zealand English Template:Use dmy dates Template:Infobox golfer Sir Robert James Charles Template:Post-nominals (born 14 March 1936) is a New Zealand professional golfer who won the 1963 Open Championship, the first left-handed player to win a major championship. He won the 1954 New Zealand Open as an 18-year-old amateur and made the cut in the same event in 2007, at the age of 71. His achievements over that period, in which he won 80 tournaments, rank him as one of the most successful New Zealand golfers of all time. Along with Michael Campbell, he is one of only two New Zealanders to win a men's major golf championship.
Charles turned professional in late 1960 and for the next two years had some success in tournaments around the world. From 1963 until the mid-1970s he played mostly on the PGA Tour. He won 5 times on the tour and finished in the top-60 on the money list each year from 1963 to 1971, except 1966, and again in 1974. Later he played more on the European Tour before joining the Senior PGA Tour when he reached 50. He was very successful on the Senior PGA Tour with 23 titles between 1987 and 1996, and winning over $9 million between 1986 and 2008. In Britain, Charles won the 1963 Open Championship and the Senior British Open twice, in 1989 and 1993. These were later added as official wins on the PGA Tour and the Senior PGA Tour. In addition to his PGA Tour and the Senior PGA Tour wins, Charles won 9 times in Europe, including the 1969 Piccadilly World Match Play Championship, and 25 times in domestic New Zealand tournaments. He also won a number of other seniors events around the world, including in South Africa, Japan and Australia.
Early life
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, before moving to Christchurch in mid-1956.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Amateur career
Charles came to prominence when he won the New Zealand Open at Wellington Golf Club in November 1954, as an 18-year-old amateur, finishing two strokes ahead of Bruce Crampton and four ahead of Peter Thomson.<ref name=nzo1954/> The event acted as qualification for the New Zealand Amateur which followed immediately after the Open. Charles reached the final but lost 3&2 to Tim Woon, the defending champion, in the 36 hole match.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Charles also reached the final of the New Zealand Amateur in October 1956 at Christchurch Golf Club, but lost again, 3&2 to the Tasmanian Peter Toogood.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> In September 1956 Charles had been a member of the 4-man New Zealand team in the Sloan Morpeth Trophy match against Australia at Wanganui. Australia won the contest but Charles won his singles match.<ref name=smt/>
Charles left New Zealand in January 1958 for a tour of the United States and Britain, travelling with Ian Cromb, and returning in August. They spent the early part of year in America, playing in a number of professional events, ending with the Masters for which Charles had received an invitation. He missed the cut by 8 strokes after rounds of 77 and 80.<ref name="Brenner"/> In Britain, he also played in some professional tournaments. Charles reached the quarter-finals of the Amateur Championship on the Old Course at St Andrews, before losing to Alan Thirlwell, and later finished tied for 9th place in the Brabazon Trophy at Royal Birkdale.<ref name=ac1958/><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> He also played in the 1958 Open Championship at Royal Lytham where he qualified after rounds of 74 and 73.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> He started well in the Championship with a 71 but missed the cut after a second round 79.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
Charles was selected for the 4-man New Zealand team for the inaugural Eisenhower Trophy competition on the Old Course at St Andrews in October 1958. New Zealand led by three strokes after 3 of the 4 rounds. However a poor last day left then in fourth place. John Durry took 83, including a 10 at the 14th hole. Charles took 81 and with three of the four scores counting, New Zealand finished three strokes behind the leaders. Despite his poor last round Charles had the best four-round aggregate among the New Zealand team.<ref name=eisenhower1958/><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Charles played in the 1959 Commonwealth Tournament in Johannesburg. New Zealand finished third of the five teams.<ref name=ct/> Charles was the best of the team with three wins in foursomes matches and three wins in the singles, losing only in the match against South Africa.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Charles also played in the 1960 Eisenhower Trophy in the United States. The contest was dominated by the Americans who won by 42 strokes. New Zealand finished fifth, with Charles again the best of the team.<ref name=eisenhower1960/>
Professional career
In October 1960, Charles turned professional.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Soon after turning professional, Charles won a 36-hole event at Queens Park, Invercargill, eight strokes ahead of Kel Nagle.<ref name=qpi/> Although he disappointed in the New Zealand Open, he reached the final of the New Zealand PGA Championship losing 5&4 to Nagle.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> In early 1961, Charles played on the South African circuit. Had a number of good finishes and was runner-up in the Dunlop South African Masters behind Denis Hutchinson.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Charles then travelled to Europe. He won the 36-hole Bowmaker Tournament, two strokes ahead of Hutchinson and Nagle, and had a number of top finishes including a tied for 4th place in the Martini International.<ref name=bow/><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> He led the qualifiers for the 1961 Open Championship at Royal Birkdale after rounds of 66 and 70.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> He started with a 72 but missed the cut after a second round 84, played in difficult conditions.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Returning to New Zealand, in October he won the Caltex Tournament, by 4 strokes from Nagle, and then the New Zealand PGA Championship.<ref name=cx1961/><ref name=nzpga1961/>
Charles played on the 1962 Far East Circuit in February and March. His best performance with joint runner-up in the Malayan Open behind Frank Phillips.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> He received an invitation for the 1962 Masters Tournament in April. He made the cut and tied for 25th place.<ref name="Brenner"/> Charles then travelled to Europe to play in the British/Irish and Continental circuits, where he had considerable success. He finished third in the Martini International at St Andrews and tied for the win, with Dai Rees, in the Daks Tournament.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref name=daks/> In the 1962 Open Championship he finished in 5th place, although a distant 14 strokes behind the winner, Arnold Palmer.<ref name="Brenner"/> He was then joint runner-up in the French Open, runner-up in the Irish Hospitals Tournament and joint runner-up in the Royal Gold Tournament, a 12-man round-robin tournament.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Returning to the continent he won the Engadine Open in Switzerland, lost a playoff to Max Faulkner in the Woodlawn International Invitational in West Germany, and won the Swiss Open in successive weeks.<ref name=engadine/><ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref name=swiss/> Returning to New Zealand, he again won the Caltex Tournament ahead of Kel Nagle.<ref name=cx1962/> Towards the end of the year he played in the Australian Open, finishing tied for third, and then played in the 1962 Canada Cup in Argentina.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref name=wc1962/>
From 1963 Charles played mostly on the American PGA Tour. He won his first PGA Tour event in April 1963, the Houston Classic, the first PGA Tour event won by a left-handed golfer.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> He had three other top-5 finishes and finished the year 27th in the money list with $23,636.<ref name=tb1972>Template:Cite web</ref><ref name=pgatr>Template:Cite web</ref> In late June he travelled to Britain and was third in the Dunlop Masters.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Two weeks later, 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.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Later in the year he played on the New Zealand Golf Circuit, winning the Wattie's Tournament, and competing in the 1963 Canada Cup in Paris.<ref name="Charles wins by three strokes">Template:Cite news</ref><ref name=wc1963/>
Charles didn't win on the 1964 PGA Tour but had five top-5 finishes, including a third place finish at the U.S. Open.<ref name=pgatr/> He finished 17th in the official money list with $28,451.<ref name=tb1972/> He played relatively few other event but did defend his Open Championship title, finishing tied for 17th, and he played in the Canada Cup in Hawaii.<ref name="Brenner"/><ref name=wc1964/> Charles made a good start to the 1965 season. He lost in a playoff for the Lucky International Open, won the Tucson Open and was a runner-up in the Jacksonville Open.<ref name=pgatr/> Later in the season he had less success and finished 34th in the money list with $28,360.<ref name=tb1972/> Later in the year he played in some events in Europe, including the Canada Cup in Madrid, and in New Zealand, where he was a runner-up in the New Zealand Open.<ref name=wc1965/><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Charles had a very poor season on the 1966 PGA Tour. His only top-10 finish came towards the end of the season and he only won $8,472, to finish 87th in the official money list.<ref name=tb1972/><ref name=pgatr/> He showed a return to form late in the year, playing well at the 1966 Canada Cup in Japan, and winning four events out of seven on the New Zealand Golf Circuit, including the New Zealand Open which he won by 13 strokes.<ref name=wc1966/><ref name="Charles sweeps to 13-stroke win">Template:Cite news</ref><ref name="paperspast.natlib.govt.nz">Template:Cite news</ref>
Charles showed a return to form in 1967, with eight top-10 finishes on the 1967 PGA Tour, including winning the Atlanta Classic.<ref name=pgatr/> He finished 11th in the money list with $72,468.<ref name=tb1972/> He played in the 1967 World Cup in Mexico, the New Zealand pair finishing second behind the United States with Charles finishing joint runner-up in the individual standings, level with Jack Nicklaus and behind Arnold Palmer.<ref name=wc1967/> He again played on the New Zealand circuit towards the end of year, winning three events, and again being the leading money winner.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Charles had another successful season on the 1968 PGA Tour, with a win in the Canadian Open, and six other top-10s in official events.<ref name=pgatr/> He finished 18th in the money list with $70,926.<ref name=tb1972/> Two of his top-10 finishes came in the U.S. Open and the PGA Championship, and he also finished a joint runner-up in the Open Championship.<ref name="Brenner"/> He made his debut in the Piccadilly World Match Play Championship, losing in the final to Gary Player.<ref>"Player wins close but quiet final at 36th hole". The Times, Monday, 14 October 1968; pg. 12; Issue 57381.</ref> He played in the 1968 World Cup in Italy, where the New Zealand pair finished seventh.<ref name=wc1967/> He had three more tournament wins on the 1968–69 New Zealand circuit, including the Spalding Masters which he won by 10 strokes with a score of 260.<ref name=sm/>
Charles didn't win on the PGA in 1969, 1970 or 1971 but continued to have a number of high finishes including 11 top-10 finishes in 1969, 9 in 1970 and 8 in 1971.<ref name=pgatr/> He finished 30th in money list in 1969 with $59,734, 25th in 1970 with $70,854 and 41st in 1971 with $58,016.<ref name=tb1972/> Charles won the 1969 Piccadilly World Match Play Championship beating Gene Littler with an eagle at the 37th hole in the final.<ref name=pwmpc/> He lost in playoff for the 1970 Greater New Orleans Open.<ref name=gnoo/> He had more tournament wins on the New Zealand Golf Circuit, the New Zealand Open in late 1970 and three in the 1971–72 season.<ref name=nzo1970/><ref name=sm1972/>
1972 and 1973 were relatively poor years on the PGA Tour with just one top-10 finish each season.<ref name=pgatr/> He finished 97th in the money list in 1972 with $21,809, and 108th in 1973 with $19,499.<ref name=tb1976>Template:Cite web</ref> Despite his lack of success in America, he won a number of tournaments around the world. He won the John Player Classic and the Dunlop Masters on the 1972 European Tour and the Scandinavian Enterprise Open on the tour in 1973.<ref name=etr/> He won the South African Open in early 1973 and the City of Auckland Classic and the New Zealand Open at the end of the year.<ref name=sao1973/><ref name=coac/><ref name=nzo1973/> In 1972 he made his final appearance in the World Cup in Australia.<ref name=wc1972/> Charles had a better year on the 1974 PGA Tour, winning the Greater Greensboro Open and having three other top-10 finishes.<ref name=pgatr/> He finished 36th in the money list with $65,226, although $44,000 of that came from his win.<ref name=tb1976/> He also won the 1974 Swiss Open.<ref name=etr/>
After his relatively successful season on the 1974 PGA Tour, Charles had poor 1975 and 1976 seasons winning $7,226 and $3,769. From 1977 he only played a few events on the tour, leaving the tour in 1984.<ref name=pgatr/> In 1983 he won the Tallahassee Open, an event on the Tournament Players Series.<ref name=to/> From 1977 to 1985 he played more frequently on the European Tour. His best year was 1978 when he finished 14th in the Order of Merit. He didn't win on the tour in this period but was runner-up in the 1977 Benson and Hedges International Open, the 1978 Greater Manchester Open and the 1982 Benson and Hedges International Open.<ref name=etold>Template:Cite web</ref> Charles also won three events on the New Zealand Golf Circuit, the Air New Zealand Shell Open in late 1978 and the New Zealand PGA Championship in early 1979 and in early 1980.<ref name=anzso/><ref name=nzpga1979/><ref name=nzpga1980/>
In 2007, at the age of 71, Charles became the oldest golfer to make the cut in a European Tour event, at the Michael Hill New Zealand Open. Charles shot a 68 in the second round, beating his age by three strokes.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> He had a final round 70 to finish in a tie for 23rd place.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
Senior golf
Charles's played on the Senior PGA Tour (now called PGA Tour Champions) after turning 50.<ref name=ctog2011/> He was very successful on the tour with 23 titles between 1987 and 1996, and winning over $9 million on the tour between 1986 and 2008.<ref name=ctog2011/> He was the leading money winner in 1988 and 1989 and led the scoring average in 1988, 1989 and 1993.<ref name=ctog2011/> He won the Senior British Open in 1989 and 1993. From 2002 the Senior British Open was an official event on the PGA Tour Champions but it was only in 2018 that earlier wins were recognised by the PGA Tour Champions as official wins on the tour, increasing Charles's total to 25.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Charles was a regular competitor in the Senior British Open from its founding in 1987. As well as winning twice, he was a runner-up 6 times between 1987 and 2001. During this period he rarely played in European Seniors Tour events but as he had less success in America he played more in European tournaments.<ref name=etc>Template:Cite web</ref> Apart from his Senior British Open wins he never won a European senior event, although he finished runner-up in the 2007 Wentworth Senior Masters at the age of 71.<ref name=etc/> In addition to his senior wins in America, Charles won a number of other senior events around the world, including South Africa, Japan and Australia.<ref name=ctog2011/>
Golfing awards
Charles was the first left-handed golfer to be inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame, in the veterans category. He was inducted in 2008.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Personal life
In December 1962, Charles married Verity Joan Aldridge in Johannesburg, South Africa. They met three years previously at the Commonwealth Golf tournament when it was held in South Africa. The golfers Denis Hutchinson and Bobby Verwey served as groomsmen.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> They had two children, Beverly and David.<ref name="ctog2011" /> David is a golf director in the United States. He is a successful golf course designer having had major input into the Formosa Country Club east of Auckland, Millbrook at the resort town of Queenstown, and The Dunes course at Matarangi on the Coromandel Peninsula. He was also consultant to the Clearwater course, near Christchurch, designed by golf architect John Darby.
Although Charles plays golf left-handed, he is naturally right-handed.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Awards and honors
- In the 1971 Queen's Birthday Honours, Charles was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire, for services to sport.<ref>Template:London Gazette</ref>
- In the 1992 New Year Honours, he was promoted to Commander of the Order of the British Empire, for services to golf.<ref>Template:London Gazette</ref>
- In the 1999 New Year Honours, Charles was appointed a Knight Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit, for services to golf.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
- In the 2011 New Year Honours, Charles was appointed as a Member of the Order of New Zealand, New Zealand's highest civilian honour, for services to New Zealand.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="ONZ">Template:Cite news</ref>
Professional wins (80)
PGA Tour wins (6)
| Legend |
|---|
| Major championships (1) |
| Other PGA Tour (5) |
| No. | Date | Tournament | Winning score | Margin of victory |
Runner(s)-up |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 21 Apr 1963 | Houston Classic | −12 (67-66-66-69=268) | 1 stroke | Template:Flagicon Fred Hawkins |
| 2 | 13 Jul 1963 | The Open Championship | −3 (68-72-66-71=277) | Playoff | Template:Flagicon Phil Rodgers |
| 3 | 21 Feb 1965 | Tucson Open Invitational | −17 (65-69-67-70=271) | 4 strokes | Template:Flagicon Al Geiberger |
| 4 | 1 Oct 1967 | Atlanta Classic | −6 (72-71-69-70=282) | 2 strokes | Template:Flagicon Tommy Bolt, Template:Flagicon Richard Crawford, Template:Flagicon Gardner Dickinson |
| 5 | 23 Jun 1968 | Canadian Open | −6 (70-68-70-66=274) | 2 strokes | Template:Flagicon Jack Nicklaus |
| 6 | 7 Apr 1974 | Greater Greensboro Open | −14 (65-70-67-68=270) | 1 stroke | Template:Flagicon Raymond Floyd, Template:Flagicon Lee Trevino |
Source:<ref name=pgatc>Template:Cite web</ref>
PGA Tour playoff record (1–2)
| No. | Year | Tournament | Opponent(s) | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1963 | The Open Championship | Template:Flagicon Phil Rodgers | Won 36-hole playoff; Charles: E (69-71=140), Rodgers: +8 (72-76=148) |
| 2 | 1965 | Lucky International Open | Template:Flagicon George Archer | Lost to birdie on second extra hole |
| 3 | 1970 | Greater New Orleans Open | Template:Flagicon Miller Barber, Template:Flagicon Howie Johnson | Barber won with birdie on second extra hole |
Source:<ref name=pgatc/><ref name=lio>Template:Cite news</ref><ref name=gnoo>Template:Cite news</ref>
European Tour wins (4)
| No. | Date | Tournament | Winning score | Margin of victory |
Runner(s)-up |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 30 Sep 1972 | John Player Classic | +1 (69-69-71-76=285) | 1 stroke | Template:Flagicon Gay Brewer, Template:Flagicon Peter Oosterhuis |
| 2 | 7 Oct 1972 | Dunlop Masters | −11 (70-68-71-68=277) | 2 strokes | Template:Flagicon Tony Jacklin |
| 3 | 22 Jul 1973 | Scandinavian Enterprise Open | −10 (69-69-70-70=278) | 2 strokes | Template:Flagicon Vin Baker, Template:Flagicon Tony Jacklin, Template:Flagicon Hedley Muscroft |
| 4 | 27 Jul 1974 | Swiss Open | −5 (70-70-67-68=275) | 1 stroke | Template:Flagicon Tony Jacklin |
Source:<ref name=etr>Template:Cite web</ref>
European Tour playoff record (0–1)
| No. | Year | Tournament | Opponents | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1978 | Greater Manchester Open | Template:Flagicon Brian Barnes, Template:Flagicon Denis Durnian, Template:Flagicon Nick Job |
Barnes won with birdie on first extra hole |
Source:<ref name=gmo>Template:Cite news</ref>
Southern Africa Tour wins (1)
| No. | Date | Tournament | Winning score | Margin of victory |
Runners-up |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 3 Feb 1973 | BP South African Open | −6 (73-67-72-70=282) | 3 strokes | Template:Flagicon Vin Baker, Template:Flagicon Bobby Cole, Template:Flagicon Graham Marsh |
Source:<ref name=sao1973>Template:Cite news</ref>
New Zealand Golf Circuit wins (20)
New Zealand Golf Circuit playoff record (0–1)
| No. | Year | Tournament | Opponents | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1974 | New Zealand Open | Template:Flagicon Bob Gilder, Template:Flagicon Jack Newton | Gilder won with birdie on third extra hole Newton eliminated by par on second hole |
Sources:Template:Refn
Tournament Players Series wins (1)
| No. | Date | Tournament | Winning score | Margin of victory |
Runner-up |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 24 Apr 1983 | Tallahassee Open | −6 (74-68-67-73=282) | Playoff | Template:Flagicon Greg Powers |
Tournament Players Series playoff record (1–0)
| No. | Year | Tournament | Opponent | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1983 | Tallahassee Open | Template:Flagicon Greg Powers | Won with birdie on first extra hole |
Source:<ref name=to>Template:Cite news</ref>
Other European wins (6)
| Date | Tournament | Winning score | Margin of victory |
Runner(s)-up | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 27 Jun 1961 | Bowmaker Tournament | 66-66=132 | 2 strokes | Template:Flagicon Denis Hutchinson, Template:Flagicon Kel Nagle | <ref name=bow>Template:Cite news</ref> |
| 9 Jun 1962 | Daks Tournament | 68-68-72-70=278 | Tied | Template:Flagicon Dai Rees | <ref name=daks>Template:Cite news</ref> |
| 19 Aug 1962 | Engadine Open | ?-?-72-66=271 | 1 stroke | Template:Flagicon Bobby Verwey | <ref name=engadine>Template:Cite web</ref> |
| 1 Sep 1962 | Swiss Open | 71-67-67-67=272 | Playoff | Template:Flagicon Peter Butler, Template:Flagicon Flory Van Donck | <ref name=swiss>Template:Cite news</ref> |
| 13 Jul 1963 | The Open Championship | 68-72-66-71=277 | Playoff | Template:Flagicon Phil Rodgers | <ref>Template:Cite news</ref> |
| 11 Oct 1969 | Piccadilly World Match Play Championship | 37 holes | Template:Flagicon Gene Littler | <ref name=pwmpc>"Need to close gap between groups". The Times, Monday, 13 October 1969; pg. 8; Issue 57689.</ref> | |
Other New Zealand wins (5)
| Date | Tournament | Winning score | Margin of victory |
Runner-up | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 Nov 1954 | New Zealand Open (as an amateur) | 69-72-68-71=280 | 2 strokes | Template:Flagicon Bruce Crampton | <ref name=nzo1954>Template:Cite web</ref> |
| 20 Nov 1960 | Queens Park Invitation | 66-67=133 | 8 strokes | Template:Flagicon Kel Nagle | <ref name=qpi>Template:Cite web</ref> |
| 7 Oct 1961 | Caltex Tournament | 71-71-72-75=289 | 4 strokes | Template:Flagicon Kel Nagle | <ref name=cx1961>Template:Cite web</ref> |
| 18 Oct 1961 | New Zealand PGA Championship | 10 and 9 | Template:Flagicon Joe Paterson | <ref name=nzpga1961>Template:Cite web</ref> | |
| 20 Oct 1962 | Caltex Tournament | 69-70-69-69=277 | 5 strokes | Template:Flagicon Kel Nagle | <ref name=cx1962>Template:Cite web</ref> |
Senior PGA Tour wins (25)
| Legend |
|---|
| Senior major championships (2) |
| Other Senior PGA Tour (23) |
Source:<ref name=pgatc/>
Senior PGA Tour playoff record (2–8)
Source:<ref name=pgatc/>
European Seniors Tour wins (1)
| Legend |
|---|
| Senior major championships (1) |
| Other European Seniors Tour (0) |
| No. | Date | Tournament | Winning score | Margin of victory |
Runners-up |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 25 Jul 1993 | Senior British Open | +3 (73-73-71-74=291) | 1 stroke | Template:Flagicon Tommy Horton, Template:Flagicon Gary Player |
European Seniors Tour playoff record (0–1)
| No. | Year | Tournament | Opponent | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2001 | Senior British Open | Template:Flagicon Ian Stanley | Lost to par on first extra hole |
Source:<ref name=estpo>Template:Cite web</ref>
Other senior wins (13)
- 1986 Mazda Champions (with Amy Alcott)<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
- 1987 Mauna Lani Seniors Challenge<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
- 1988 First National Bank Seniors Classic,<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Fuji Electric Grand Slam<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
- 1989 Fuji Electric Grand Slam<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
- 1990 Fuji Electric Grand Slam,<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Kintetsu Home Senior, Daikyo Legends of Golf<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
- 1991 Kintetsu Home Senior
- 1998 Office Depot Father/Son Challenge (with son David)<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
- 2004 Liberty Mutual Legends of Golf – Raphael Division (with Stewart Ginn)
- 2009 Liberty Mutual Legends of Golf – Demaret Division (with Gary Player)
- 2010 Liberty Mutual Legends of Golf – Demaret Division (with Gary Player)
Source:<ref name=ctog2011>Template:Cite web</ref>
Playoff record
PGA Tour of Australia playoff record (0–1)
| No. | Year | Tournament | Opponent | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1981 | New Zealand PGA Championship | Template:Flagicon Terry Gale | Lost to birdie on first extra hole |
Major championships
Wins (1)
| Year | Championship | 54 holes | Winning score | Margin | Runner-up |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1963 | The Open Championship | 1 shot lead | −7 (68-72-66-71=277) | Playoff1 | Template:Flagicon Phil Rodgers |
1Defeated Phil Rodgers in a 36-hole playoff (Charles 69-71=140, Rodgers 72-76=148).
Results timeline
Amateur
| Tournament | 1958 | 1959 |
|---|---|---|
| Masters Tournament | CUT | |
| U.S. Open | ||
| The Open Championship | CUT | |
| The Amateur Championship | QF |
Professional
| Tournament | 1960 | 1961 | 1962 | 1963 | 1964 | 1965 | 1966 | 1967 | 1968 | 1969 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Masters Tournament | T25 | T15 | T40 | T45 | CUT | CUT | 19 | T29 | ||
| U.S. Open | T19 | 3 | CUT | CUT | CUT | T7 | CUT | |||
| The Open Championship | CUT | 5 | 1 | T17 | CUT | T37 | CUT | T2 | 2 | |
| PGA Championship | T13 | T19 | T41 | T2 | T35 |
| Tournament | 1970 | 1971 | 1972 | 1973 | 1974 | 1975 | 1976 | 1977 | 1978 | 1979 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Masters Tournament | 17 | CUT | T22 | T29 | CUT | CUT | ||||
| U.S. Open | T3 | T13 | CUT | 11 | CUT | |||||
| The Open Championship | T13 | T18 | T15 | T7 | CUT | T12 | CUT | T43 | T48 | T10 |
| PGA Championship | T26 | T13 | T58 | T73 |
| Tournament | 1980 | 1981 | 1982 | 1983 | 1984 | 1985 | 1986 | 1987 | 1988 | 1989 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Masters Tournament | ||||||||||
| U.S. Open | ||||||||||
| The Open Championship | T60 | T35 | CUT | T47 | WD | T19 | T20 | |||
| PGA Championship |
| Tournament | 1990 | 1991 | 1992 | 1993 | 1994 | 1995 | 1996 | 1997 | 1998 | 1999 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Masters Tournament | ||||||||||
| U.S. Open | ||||||||||
| The Open Championship | CUT | CUT | CUT | 71 | CUT | |||||
| PGA Championship |
| Tournament | 2000 | 2001 |
|---|---|---|
| Masters Tournament | ||
| U.S. Open | ||
| The Open Championship | CUT | CUT |
| PGA Championship |
Template:Legend
Template:Legend
Template:Legend
CUT = missed the halfway cut (3rd round cut in 1976 Open Championship)
WD = withdrew
QF, SF = Round in which player lost in match play
"T" indicates a tie for a place.
Summary
| Tournament | Wins | 2nd | 3rd | Top-5 | Top-10 | Top-25 | Events | Cuts made |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Masters Tournament | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 15 | 9 |
| U.S. Open | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 6 | 12 | 6 |
| The Open Championship | 1 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 6 | 13 | 34 | 20 |
| PGA Championship | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 5 | 9 | 9 |
| Totals | 1 | 3 | 2 | 7 | 11 | 29 | 70 | 44 |
- Most consecutive cuts made – 11 (1962 Masters – 1965 Masters)
Source:<ref name="Brenner">Template:Cite book</ref><ref name=ac1958>Template:Cite news</ref>
Senior major championships
Wins (2)
| Year | Championship | Winning score | Margin | Runner(s)-up |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1989 | Volvo Seniors' British Open | −11 (70-68-65-66=269) | 7 strokes | Template:Flagicon Billy Casper |
| 1993 | Senior British Open (2) | +3 (73-73-71-74=291) | 1 stroke | Template:Flagicon Tommy Horton, Template:Flagicon Gary Player |
Team appearances
Amateur
- Eisenhower Trophy (representing New Zealand): 1958,<ref name=eisenhower1958>Template:Cite web</ref> 1960<ref name=eisenhower1960>Template:Cite web</ref>
- Commonwealth Tournament (representing New Zealand): 1959<ref name=ct>Template:Cite news</ref>
- Sloan Morpeth Trophy (representing New Zealand): 1956<ref name=smt>Template:Cite news</ref>
Professional
- World Cup (representing New Zealand): 1962,<ref name=wc1962>Template:Cite news</ref> 1963,<ref name=wc1963>Template:Cite news</ref> 1964,<ref name=wc1964>Template:Cite news</ref> 1965,<ref name=wc1965>Template:Cite news</ref> 1966,<ref name=wc1966>Template:Cite news</ref> 1967,<ref name=wc1967>Template:Cite news</ref> 1968,<ref name=wc1968>Template:Cite news</ref> 1971,<ref name=wc1971>Template:Cite news</ref> 1972<ref name=wc1972>Template:Cite news</ref>
- Hennessy Cognac Cup (representing the Rest of the World): 1982<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
- Dunhill Cup (representing New Zealand): 1985,<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> 1986<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
See also
Notes
References
External links
Template:The Open champions Template:Senior British Open Championship champions Template:Order of New Zealand Template:Authority control
- New Zealand male golfers
- PGA Tour of Australasia golfers
- PGA Tour golfers
- European Tour golfers
- PGA Tour Champions golfers
- Winners of men's major golf championships
- Winners of senior major golf championships
- World Golf Hall of Fame inductees
- Left-handed golfers
- Expatriate golfers in the United States
- New Zealand Commanders of the Order of the British Empire
- Knights Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit
- Members of the Order of New Zealand
- Sportspeople awarded knighthoods
- People educated at Wairarapa College
- Sportspeople from Carterton, New Zealand
- Sportspeople from Masterton
- People from Oxford, New Zealand
- 1936 births
- Living people
- 20th-century New Zealand sportsmen