Bob Charles (golfer) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Sir Bob CharlesONZ KNZM CBE |
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Charles in 2011
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| Personal information | |
| Full name | Robert James Charles |
| Born | 14 March 1936 Carterton, New Zealand |
| Height | 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in) |
| Weight | 79 kg (174 lb; 12.4 st) |
| Nationality |  New Zealand |
| Residence | Florida, U.S. Canterbury, New Zealand |
| Spouse |
Verity Aldridge
(m. 1962) |
| Children | 2 |
| Career | |
| Turned professional | 1960 |
| Former tour(s) | PGA Tour European Tour PGA Tour of Australia New Zealand Golf Circuit Champions Tour European Seniors Tour |
| Professional wins | 80 |
| Number of wins by tour | |
| PGA Tour | 6 |
| European Tour | 4 |
| Champions Tour | 25 (Tied-4th all-time) |
| European Seniors Tour | 1 |
| Other | 32 (regular) 13 (senior) |
| Best results in Major Championships (Wins: 1) |
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| The Masters Tournament | T15: 1963 |
| U.S. Open | 3rd/T3: 1964, 1970 |
| The Open Championship | Won: 1963 |
| PGA Championship | T2: 1968 |
| Achievements and awards | |
| World Golf Hall of Fame | 2008 |
| New Zealand Golf Circuit money list winner |
1966, 1967, 1968–69, 1971–72, 1973–74, 1978–79 |
| Senior PGA Tour money list winner |
1988, 1989 |
| Senior PGA Tour Byron Nelson Award |
1988, 1989, 1993 |
Sir Robert James Charles (born 14 March 1936) is a famous New Zealand professional golfer. He made history by winning the 1963 Open Championship. He was the first left-handed player to win a major golf tournament.
Sir Bob Charles won the New Zealand Open in 1954 when he was just 18 years old. He was still an amateur player then. He kept playing golf for many years. In 2007, at 71, he still made the cut in the same event! He has won 80 tournaments in total. This makes him one of New Zealand's most successful golfers ever. He and Michael Campbell are the only New Zealanders to win a major golf championship.
After becoming a professional in 1960, Charles had success worldwide. From 1963 to the mid-1970s, he played mostly on the PGA Tour in the USA. He won 5 times there. Later, he played more on the European Tour. When he turned 50, he joined the Senior PGA Tour. He was very successful there, winning 23 titles between 1987 and 1996. He earned over $9 million from 1986 to 2008. In Britain, he won The Open Championship in 1963. He also won the Senior British Open twice, in 1989 and 1993. Besides his PGA Tour wins, Charles won 9 times in Europe. This included the 1969 Piccadilly World Match Play Championship. He also won 25 tournaments in New Zealand. He won many other senior events around the world too. These were in places like South Africa, Japan, and Australia.
Contents
Early Life and Beginnings
Sir Bob Charles was born in Carterton. This is a small town in the Wairarapa area of New Zealand's North Island. He lived in Masterton and worked as a bank teller. In 1956, he moved to Christchurch.
Amateur Golf Career
Charles first became well-known when he won the New Zealand Open in November 1954. He was only 18 and still an amateur. He finished two strokes ahead of Bruce Crampton. He also played in the New Zealand Amateur tournament right after. He reached the final but lost. In 1956, he reached the final of the New Zealand Amateur again, but lost.
In 1958, Charles traveled to the United States and Britain. He played in some professional events. He even got an invitation to the Masters tournament. In Britain, he reached the quarter-finals of the Amateur Championship. He also played in the 1958 Open Championship.
Charles was chosen for the first Eisenhower Trophy competition in 1958. This is a team event for amateur golfers. New Zealand finished fourth. Charles had the best score for his team. He also played in the 1959 Commonwealth Tournament and the 1960 Eisenhower Trophy.
Becoming a Professional Golfer
In October 1960, Bob Charles became a professional golfer. Soon after, he won a tournament in Invercargill. He also reached the final of the New Zealand PGA Championship. In 1961, he played in South Africa and Europe. He won the Bowmaker Tournament in Europe. He also won the Caltex Tournament and the New Zealand PGA Championship back home.
In 1962, Charles played in Asia and received an invitation to the Masters. He finished tied for 25th place. He then played in Europe and had great success. He finished third in the Martini International. He tied for the win in the Daks Tournament. In the 1962 Open Championship, he finished 5th. He also won the Engadine Open and the Swiss Open in Switzerland. He won the Caltex Tournament again in New Zealand.
Playing on the PGA Tour
From 1963, Charles mostly played on the American PGA Tour. In April 1963, he won his first PGA Tour event, the Houston Classic. He was the first left-handed golfer to win a PGA Tour event! Two weeks later, he won The Open Championship in Britain. He tied with Phil Rodgers after four rounds. Charles then won an extra 36-hole playoff by eight shots.
He continued to play well on the PGA Tour. In 1965, he won the Tucson Open. In 1967, he won the Atlanta Classic. He also finished second in the World Cup for New Zealand. In 1968, he won the Canadian Open. He also finished tied for second in The Open Championship. In 1969, he won the Piccadilly World Match Play Championship. He won the New Zealand Open again in 1970.
In 1972 and 1973, he didn't have as much success on the PGA Tour. But he won many tournaments around the world. He won the John Player Classic and the Dunlop Masters in Europe. He also won the Scandinavian Enterprise Open. In 1973, he won the South African Open and the New Zealand Open. In 1974, he won the Greater Greensboro Open on the PGA Tour. He also won the Swiss Open.
From 1977, Charles played fewer events on the PGA Tour. He played more on the European Tour. He didn't win there during this time, but he was runner-up several times. He also won three more events on the New Zealand Golf Circuit. In 2007, at 71, Charles became the oldest golfer to make the cut in a European Tour event. He shot a great score of 68 in one round.
Senior Golf Success
When Bob Charles turned 50, he started playing on the Senior PGA Tour. This tour is now called PGA Tour Champions. He was incredibly successful there. He won 25 titles between 1987 and 1996. He earned over $9 million on the tour. He was the top money winner in 1988 and 1989. He also had the best scoring average in 1988, 1989, and 1993.
He won the Senior British Open twice, in 1989 and 1993. These wins are now officially counted as PGA Tour Champions wins. He was also runner-up in the Senior British Open six times. Besides his wins in America, Charles won many other senior events. These were in places like South Africa, Japan, and Australia.
Golfing Awards and Recognition
Bob Charles was the first left-handed golfer to be put into the World Golf Hall of Fame. This happened in 2008. It's a huge honor for golfers.
Personal Life
In December 1962, Bob Charles married Verity Joan Aldridge in South Africa. They had two children, Beverly and David. His son, David, is also involved in golf. He is a golf director in the United States. David is also a successful golf course designer. He has helped design courses in New Zealand, like Millbrook and The Dunes.
Even though Bob Charles plays golf left-handed, he is naturally right-handed for other activities.
Awards and Honors
- In 1971, Charles was made an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) for his services to sport.
- In 1992, he was promoted to Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) for his services to golf.
- In 1999, Charles was made a Knight Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit (KNZM). This means he is now called "Sir Bob Charles."
- In 2011, Charles received New Zealand's highest civilian honor. He was appointed a Member of the Order of New Zealand (ONZ).
Major Championship Wins
Sir Bob Charles won one major championship:
He also won two senior major championships:
- 1989 Volvo Seniors' British Open
- 1993 Senior British Open
Team Appearances
Sir Bob Charles has represented New Zealand in many team golf events:
- As an amateur:
- Eisenhower Trophy: 1958, 1960
- Commonwealth Tournament: 1959
- Sloan Morpeth Trophy: 1956
- As a professional:
- World Cup: 1962, 1963, 1964, 1965, 1966, 1967, 1968, 1971, 1972
- Hennessy Cognac Cup: 1982
- Dunhill Cup: 1985, 1986
