Masters Countdown: Must Know Facts About Bobby Jones
How’s your knowledge of Bobby Jones? He’s only one of the greatest golfers of all time. Here’s a few GolfCentralDaily facts about the great man.
What’s In A Name?
Bobby Jones was born in 1902 and christened Robert Tyre Jones, not to be confused with course designer Robert Trent Jones who was born four years later. Despite his depiction as a strapping tall man in The Legend Of Bagger Vance, Bobby Jones was generously listed as five foot eight inches tall.
Young Brat
Bobby Jones played regularly in tournaments after the age of 14 but was known as much for his on course petulance as his golfing prowess. Nobody wanted to be paired with the young Jones. The most famous incident involving his temper was during the 1921 Open at St Andrews. Having made the arduous journey across the Atlantic to participate, Jones got so angry at his poor play during the third round that he requested his card from his playing partner, tore it up and disqualified himself from the event. Famous writer Grantland Rice said Jones had the "face of an angel and the temper of a timber wolf."
Sportsman
Starting aged 21 at the 1923 US Open, Jones revealed a new calm on-course temperament which helped him go on a run of winning 13 of the next 21 Majors he played. He could have also won the 1925 US Open but called a penalty on himself for moving a ball at rest and ended up losing a playoff. Playing partner and rival Walter Hagan along with officials tried to talk him out of the penalty but Jones insisted. When hailed as a hero after, Jones said "Well, you might as well have praised a man for not robbing a bank."
Jones also made peace with St Andrews returning to win The Open in 1927 and the British Amateur in 1930, the same year he won the Grand Slam of the time. He was awarded Freedom Of The Town in later life (pictured)
Early Retirement
Jones retired from golf, still technically an amateur, aged only 28 years old.
Three years after, in 1933 Jones and friend Clifford Roberts opened Augusta National. The first Masters was played the following year and Jones came out of retirement to play in the event. He could only tie 13th however. After it was said Jones had “lost his putting touch.†That was the only Masters Jones played as a competitor though he did participate in every Masters held up to 1948.
Outside The Masters
Jones may be best known for founding Augusta National and The Masters but he also was a barrister and a shrewd businessman. After retiring, Warner Brothers approached him to make two instructional movies, which he did for a fee of $180,000.
Jones also helped design the first set of numbered golf clubs with the Spalding Company. He inspected over 200 prototypes before finally settling on a design he approved.
Old Age And Death
Jones endured a painful decline in health from 1948 after he took part in The Masters for the final time. He had two back operations after which he was diagnosed with a condition called “Syringomyelia†in 1956 which resulted in gradual loss of use of his limbs. He died aged 69 on December 18, 1971. A small private funeral was held at his request.
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