Al Balding facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Al Balding |
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|---|---|
| Personal information | |
| Full name | Allan George Balding |
| Born | April 29, 1924 Toronto, Ontario |
| Died | July 30, 2006 (aged 82) Mississauga, Ontario |
| Height | 6 ft 2 in |
| Weight | 185 lb |
| Nationality |  Canada |
| Career | |
| Turned professional | 1950 |
| Former tour(s) | PGA Tour Canadian Tour Champions Tour |
| Professional wins | 19 |
| Number of wins by tour | |
| PGA Tour | 4 |
| Other | 15 |
| Best results in Major Championships |
|
| The Masters Tournament | T16: 1957 |
| U.S. Open | T12: 1967 |
| The Open Championship | T8: 1967 |
| PGA Championship | DNP |
Allan George Balding (born April 29, 1924 – died July 30, 2006) was a famous Canadian professional golfer. He won four big tournaments on the PGA Tour. In 1955, he made history. He became the first Canadian to win a PGA Tour event in the United States. Other Canadians had won PGA Tour events before, but only in Canada.
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About Al Balding
Al Balding was born in Toronto, Ontario, on April 29, 1924. He grew up during the Great Depression, a time when many people had little money. Al left school in the 7th grade to help his family. He started working as a caddy at a golf course nearby. A caddy carries golf clubs for players.
Joining the Army
When he was 19, Al joined the Canadian Army. This was during World War II. He served in places like France and Germany. He thought he would work in a support role. But he became a driver and mechanic in the artillery division. He left the army early because of a shoulder injury. He got hurt while riding a motorcycle.
Starting His Golf Career
After the war, in the late 1940s, Al worked at a tire company. Later, he worked at a golf club. He had only played golf a little when he was younger. But after the war, he started playing more. He got much better very quickly. A golf pro named Les Franks taught him.
Al became a professional golfer in 1950. He worked at a golf club in Toronto. He won his first small tournament at age 26. This was the Ontario assistant pro championship.
Big Wins and Achievements
Al started playing on the Canadian Professional Golf Tour. He won his first two tournaments there in 1952. In 1955, he made history. He won the Mayfair Open, becoming the first Canadian to win a PGA Tour event in the United States.
In 1957, Al decided to play full-time on the U.S. tour. He won three more events on the PGA Tour. He earned $28,000 that year. This was the most money any Canadian golfer had made at that time. It was a record for many years.
Al won many tournaments throughout his career. He won ten events on the Canadian Tour between 1952 and 1973. He also won four tournaments on the PGA Tour. This was more than any other Canadian golfer had won at that point.
In 1968, he won the World Cup team title for Canada in Italy. He played with George Knudson. Al also won the individual title at that event. He played for the Canadian National Team many times.
Awards and Recognition
Al Balding was named Ontario Athlete of the Year in 1955 and 1957. He was chosen for Canada's Sports Hall of Fame in 1968. He was also inducted into the Canadian Golf Hall of Fame in 1984. In 1997, he joined the Ontario Sports Hall of Fame.
A street in Toronto, Balding Court, is named after him. It's near a former golf club.
Later Career and Legacy
Al's career had some challenges. He had shoulder surgery in 1965. In the 1970s, he was diagnosed with blood cancer.
One of his most amazing wins happened when he was 76 years old. In 2000, he won the Canadian PGA Senior Championship. This meant he had won professional golf tournaments in six different decades! He was playing against golfers as young as 50.
Al Balding was the uncle of Canadian car racing driver Kat Teasdale. He passed away in Mississauga, Ontario, from cancer in 2006.
Al Balding's Major Wins
Al Balding won a total of 19 professional tournaments.
PGA Tour Wins (4)
- 1955 Mayfair Inn Open
- 1957 Miami Beach Open
- 1957 West Palm Beach Open Invitational
- 1957 Havana Invitational
Canadian Wins (10)
- 1952 Quebec Open, Canadian Match Play
- 1954 Canadian Match Play
- 1955 Canadian PGA Championship
- 1956 Canadian PGA Championship
- 1958 Canadian Match Play
- 1961 Canadian Match Play
- 1963 Canadian PGA Championship
- 1970 Canadian PGA Championship
- 1973 Alberta Open
Other Important Wins (3)
- 1963 Mexican Open
- 1968 World Cup (team event with George Knudson and individual event)
Senior Wins (2)
- 1994 Liberty Mutual Legends of Golf - Demaret Division (with Jay Hebert)
- 2000 Canadian PGA Seniors' Championship
Major Golf Tournaments
Al Balding played in some of golf's biggest tournaments, called "majors." He never played in the PGA Championship.
- In the Masters Tournament, his best finish was tied for 16th place in 1957.
- At the U.S. Open, he tied for 12th place in 1967.
- In The Open Championship, he tied for 8th place in 1967 and finished 9th in 1968. These were his best results in major tournaments.
Team Play
Al Balding often represented Canada in team golf events.
- He played in the World Cup (also called the Canada Cup) many times from 1956 to 1970. In 1968, his team won, and he won the individual title too!
- He also played in the Hopkins Trophy for Canada in 1955 and 1956.
