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Bobby Locke

1950 / Royal Troon

Bobby Locke was the first Champion Golfer to successfully defend his title since Walter Hagen in 1929. 

The South African had won regularly in his short spell in America but it was in The Open that he consistently proved his major credentials. 

Rounds of 69, 72, 70 and 68 left him two ahead of Roberto de Vicenzo, with 1947 Champion Golfer of the Year Fred Daly closing with a 66 to share third place with Dai Rees.

Locke’s total of 279 was a new record for The Open, while Troon was hosting the event for only the second time, the first being in 1923, and there was hardly any wind during the three days. 

The fairways were baked but Locke missed only two over the four rounds. 

The greens, having been well watered during a hot spell of weather, were in perfect condition, which suited such an excellent putter as the South African. 

Every Christmas from that year onward he sent a card to the club which always bore the same message: “Best wishes for this year and the future. Still the best greens in the world.” 

His only difficult moment came at the short 5th on the second day, when he fluffed a chip into a bunker and took a six. He responded by birdieing four of the next six holes.

American Frank Stranahan set a new record score for an amateur in The Open with a 66 in the final round, a mark that stood until 2011. He finished ninth and was also a runner-up twice, in 1947 and 1953. 

German Amateur Champion Herman Tissies had a less distinguished score in qualifying at the 123-yard 8th hole, the Postage Stamp. 

He missed the tiny green in the left-hand bunker and, going from one bunker to another, and back to the first one, he rattled up a 15, achieved with just a single putt.

Name
Finish
R1
R2
R3
R4
Total
Par
Bobby LOCKE
Champion Golfer
1
69
72
70
68
279
-
Roberto DE VICENZO
2
72
71
68
70
281
-
Dai REES
3
71
68
72
71
282
-
Fred DALY
3
75
72
69
66
282
-
Eric MOORE
5
74
68
73
68
283
-
Max FAULKNER
5
72
70
70
71
283
-
Arthur LEES
7
68
76
68
72
284
-
Fred BULLOCK
7
71
71
71
71
284
-
Frank STRANAHAN
9
77
70
73
66
286
-
Flory VAN DONCK
9
73
71
72
70
286
-
Sam KING
9
70
75
68
73
286
-
Jimmy ADAMS
12
73
75
69
70
287
-
Walter SMITHERS
12
74
70
73
70
287
-
Hector THOMSON
14
71
72
73
72
288
-
Johnny BULLA
14
73
70
71
74
288
-
Harry BRADSHAW
16
73
71
75
70
289
-
Eddie WHITCOMBE
17
69
76
72
73
290
-
John MCHALE
17
73
73
74
70
290
-
Reg HORNE
17
73
75
71
71
290
-
John PANTON
20
76
69
70
76
291
-
Alf PADGHAM
20
77
71
74
69
291
-
Norman VON NIDA
20
74
72
76
69
291
-
Eric BROWN
23
73
73
73
73
292
-
William BRANCH
24
71
69
78
75
293
-
Norman SUTTON
24
71
75
74
73
293
-
T.W. ALLEN
24
77
70
75
71
293
-
S.S. FIELD
24
73
71
73
76
293
-
G.M. WHITE
24
74
74
73
72
293
-
F.G. ALLOTT
29
72
71
77
74
294
-
Hassan HASSANEIN
30
73
72
77
73
295
-
David BLAIR
30
72
72
77
74
295
-
Syd SCOTT
32
75
71
75
75
296
-
Alf PERRY
33
73
74
76
75
298
-
J. CARROLL
33
73
72
74
79
298
-
J.C. WILSON
35
72
76
79
72
299
-
H.A.J. YOUNG
M/C
74
75
-
-
-
M/C
J. WADE
M/C
75
74
-
-
-
M/C
A.M. ROBERTSON
M/C
75
74
-
-
-
M/C
Ken BOUSFIELD
M/C
77
72
-
-
-
M/C
Reg WHITCOMBE
M/C
77
72
-
-
-
M/C
John FALLON
M/C
72
77
-
-
-
M/C
G. BOOMER
M/C
72
77
-
-
-
M/C
H. ADAMS
M/C
75
74
-
-
-
M/C
Albert PELISSIER
M/C
77
72
-
-
-
M/C
Keith DALBY
M/C
77
73
-
-
-
M/C
Antonio CERDA
M/C
77
73
-
-
-
M/C
Bill SHANKLAND
M/C
77
73
-
-
-
M/C
Eric GREEN
M/C
76
74
-
-
-
M/C
A. WATERS
M/C
76
74
-
-
-
M/C
Arthur CLARK
M/C
74
76
-
-
-
M/C
D.F. SMALLDON
M/C
78
73
-
-
-
M/C
Robert HALSALL
M/C
76
75
-
-
-
M/C
Cecil DENNY
M/C
77
74
-
-
-
M/C
Dick BURTON
M/C
73
78
-
-
-
M/C
J. ARMOUR
M/C
77
74
-
-
-
M/C
H. WATT
M/C
75
76
-
-
-
M/C
W. IRVINE
M/C
76
75
-
-
-
M/C
Jack HARGREAVES
M/C
75
76
-
-
-
M/C
W.S. FORRESTER
M/C
75
77
-
-
-
M/C
H.O. PICKWORTH
M/C
75
77
-
-
-
M/C
Donald CAMERON
M/C
77
75
-
-
-
M/C
Aldo CASERA
M/C
76
76
-
-
-
M/C
Charlie WARD
M/C
77
75
-
-
-
M/C
T.H.T. FAIRBAIRN
M/C
75
77
-
-
-
M/C
Laurie AYTON JR
M/C
75
77
-
-
-
M/C
J.I. CRUIKSHANK
M/C
77
75
-
-
-
M/C
J.E. WIGGETT
M/C
73
80
-
-
-
M/C
Ernest KENYON
M/C
79
74
-
-
-
M/C
Harry WEETMAN
M/C
75
78
-
-
-
M/C
John Morton DYKES JR
M/C
80
74
-
-
-
M/C
K. HASSAN
M/C
74
80
-
-
-
M/C
W.B. LYLE
M/C
76
78
-
-
-
M/C
G.N. ROFFE
M/C
79
75
-
-
-
M/C
W.H. GREEN
M/C
74
81
-
-
-
M/C
Alan THIRLWELL
M/C
78
77
-
-
-
M/C
Hamish BALLINGALL
M/C
78
77
-
-
-
M/C
T. HASSALL
M/C
75
80
-
-
-
M/C
R. MASON
M/C
79
77
-
-
-
M/C
R.C. MACGREGOR
M/C
80
76
-
-
-
M/C
Ken ADWICK
M/C
79
77
-
-
-
M/C
Gordon DURWARD
M/C
82
74
-
-
-
M/C
William MACDONALD
M/C
84
72
-
-
-
M/C
E.W. WARD
M/C
81
75
-
-
-
M/C
Alan POULTON
M/C
75
81
-
-
-
M/C
J.E. WATT
M/C
82
75
-
-
-
M/C
Tom COLLINGE
M/C
79
78
-
-
-
M/C
J.S. ANDERSON
M/C
78
79
-
-
-
M/C
Bill COX
M/C
81
76
-
-
-
M/C
W.M. HASTINGS
M/C
76
83
-
-
-
M/C
W.R. HALLAM
M/C
81
79
-
-
-
M/C
A. STEVENSON
M/C
85
76
-
-
-
M/C
G.C. GRIFFITHS
M/C
83
85
-
-
-
M/C
Tom HALIBURTON
Wd
84
-
-
-
-
M/C

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