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 Bob Charles is a famous New Zealand professional golfer. He was born on March 14, 1936. He made history by winning the 1963 Open Championship. He was the first left-handed player to win a major golf championship.
Bob Charles started playing golf at a young age. He won the New Zealand Open in 1954 when he was just 18 years old. He was still an amateur player then. He continued to play golf for many years. In 2007, at 71, he still made the cut in the same event! He has won 80 tournaments in his career. This makes him one of New Zealand's most successful golfers ever. He and Michael Campbell are the only two New Zealanders to win a major golf championship for men.
After becoming a professional golfer in 1960, Bob Charles played in many tournaments worldwide. From 1963 to the mid-1970s, he mostly played on the PGA Tour in the United States. He won 5 times on this tour. Later, he played more on the European Tour. When he turned 50, he joined the Senior PGA Tour (now called PGA Tour Champions). He was very successful there, winning 23 titles between 1987 and 1996. He earned over $9 million from 1986 to 2008. Besides his PGA Tour wins, he won 9 times in Europe and 25 times in New Zealand. He also won many senior events in places like South Africa, Japan, and Australia.
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Growing Up in New Zealand
Bob Charles was born in Carterton, a small town in New Zealand. He lived in Masterton and worked at a bank. In 1956, he moved to Christchurch.
Bob Charles as an Amateur Golfer
Bob Charles first became well-known when he won the New Zealand Open in 1954. He was 18 and still an amateur. He beat famous golfers like Bruce Crampton and Peter Thomson. After the Open, he played in the New Zealand Amateur tournament. He reached the final but lost. He also reached the final in 1956 but lost again.
In 1956, Bob Charles was part of the New Zealand team that played against Australia. He won his singles match in that event. In 1958, he traveled to the United States and Britain. He played in some professional events and even got an invitation to the Masters. He also played in the Amateur Championship in Scotland, reaching the quarter-finals. He played in the 1958 Open Championship but missed the cut.
Bob Charles was chosen for the first Eisenhower Trophy competition in 1958. New Zealand was in the lead for a while but finished fourth. In 1959, he played in the Commonwealth Tournament in South Africa. New Zealand finished third. Bob Charles was the best player on his team. He also played in the 1960 Eisenhower Trophy in the United States, where New Zealand finished fifth.
Becoming a Professional Golfer
In October 1960, Bob Charles became a professional golfer. Soon after, he won a tournament in New Zealand. 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 and had many good finishes. He qualified for the 1961 Open Championship but missed the cut. Back in New Zealand, he won the Caltex Tournament and the New Zealand PGA Championship.
In 1962, Bob Charles played in Asia and Europe. He finished second in the Malayan Open. He also played in the 1962 Masters Tournament and finished tied for 25th. In Europe, he had a lot of success. He tied for first place in the Daks Tournament and finished fifth in the 1962 Open Championship. He also finished second in the French Open and the Irish Hospitals Tournament. He won the Engadine Open and the Swiss Open in Switzerland. When he returned to New Zealand, he won the Caltex Tournament again.
Winning on the PGA Tour
From 1963, Bob 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 on the PGA Tour. He had three other top-5 finishes that year.
Two weeks later, he won The Open Championship in England. He tied with American Phil Rodgers after four rounds. Bob Charles then won a special 36-hole playoff by eight shots. This was a huge win for him!
In 1964, he didn't win on the PGA Tour but had five top-5 finishes, including third place at the U.S. Open. In 1965, he won the Tucson Open. He also finished second in another tournament after a playoff.
After a tough year in 1966 on the PGA Tour, Bob Charles played very well in New Zealand. He won four tournaments, including the New Zealand Open by a huge 13 strokes!
In 1967, he returned to form on the PGA Tour, winning the Atlanta Classic. He also finished second in the World Cup for New Zealand. He won three more events in New Zealand that year. In 1968, he won the Canadian Open. He also finished second in the Open Championship and reached the final of the Piccadilly World Match Play Championship. He won three more tournaments in New Zealand.
Bob Charles continued to play well on the PGA Tour from 1969 to 1971, even though he didn't win. He had many top-10 finishes. In 1969, he won the 1969 Piccadilly World Match Play Championship. He also won the New Zealand Open in 1970 and three more events in New Zealand in 1971-72.
In 1972 and 1973, he didn't have as much success on the PGA Tour. However, he won many tournaments around the world. He won the John Player Classic and the Dunlop Masters in Europe in 1972. He also won the Scandinavian Enterprise Open in 1973. He won the South African Open and the New Zealand Open again. In 1974, he had a better year on the PGA Tour, winning the Greater Greensboro Open. He also won the Swiss Open that year.
After 1974, Bob Charles played fewer events on the PGA Tour. From 1977 to 1985, he played more often on the European Tour. He didn't win there during this time but finished second in a few tournaments. He also won three more events in New Zealand.
In 2007, at 71 years old, Bob Charles became the oldest golfer to make the cut in a European Tour event. This happened at the Michael Hill New Zealand Open. He shot a great score of 68 in one round, which was three strokes better than his age!
Playing Senior Golf
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, winning 23 titles between 1987 and 1996. He earned over $9 million on this tour. He was the top money winner in 1988 and 1989. He also won the Senior British Open twice, in 1989 and 1993. These wins were later officially recognized as PGA Tour Champions wins, bringing his total to 25.
He often played in the Senior British Open and finished second six times. He also won other senior events in South Africa, Japan, and Australia.
Golfing Achievements and Awards
Bob Charles was the first left-handed golfer to be included in the World Golf Hall of Fame. This happened in 2008.
About His Life
In December 1962, Bob Charles married Verity Joan Aldridge in South Africa. They have two children, Beverly and David. David is also involved in golf. He is a successful golf course designer. He helped design courses like Formosa Country Club, Millbrook, and The Dunes in New Zealand.
Even though Bob Charles plays golf left-handed, he is naturally right-handed for other activities.
Honors and Recognitions
Bob Charles has received many important honors for his contributions to golf and New Zealand:
- In 1971, he was made an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE).
- In 1992, he was promoted to Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE).
- In 1999, he became a Knight Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit (KNZM). This means he is called "Sir Bob Charles."
- In 2011, he was appointed a Member of the Order of New Zealand (ONZ). This is New Zealand's highest civilian honor.
Major Championship Wins
Bob Charles won one major championship:
- 1963 Open Championship
Images for kids
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Charles in 2011
