Bobby Cruickshank facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Bobby Cruickshank |
|
|---|---|
| Personal information | |
| Full name | Robert Allan Cruickshank |
| Born | 16 November 1894 Grantown-on-Spey, Scotland |
| Died | 27 August 1975 (aged 80) Delray Beach, Florida |
| Height | 5 ft 5 in (1.65 m) |
| Weight | 165 lb (75 kg; 11.8 st) |
| Nationality |  Scotland |
| Spouse | Helen "Nellie" Cruickshank |
| Children | Elsie |
| Career | |
| Turned professional | 1921 |
| Former tour(s) | PGA Tour |
| Professional wins | 29 |
| Number of wins by tour | |
| PGA Tour | 17 |
| Other | 12 |
| Best results in Major Championships |
|
| The Masters Tournament | T4: 1936 |
| U.S. Open | 2nd/T2: 1923, 1932 |
| The Open Championship | 6th: 1929 |
| PGA Championship | T3: 1922, 1923 |
| British Amateur | T33: 1920 |
Robert Allan Cruickshank (born November 16, 1894 – died August 27, 1975) was a famous professional golfer from Scotland. He played on the PGA Tour in the United States from the early 1920s to the mid-1930s. He was known for his amazing skills and competitive spirit.
Early Life and Golf Beginnings
Bobby Cruickshank was born in a small town called Grantown-on-Spey in northern Scotland. He started playing golf as a boy on his hometown course. He also worked there as a caddie, which means he carried golf clubs for other players. This helped him learn a lot about the game.
When Bobby was a teenager, a kind and wealthy woman named Mrs. Isabella Usher offered to pay for his and his younger brother John's education in Edinburgh. So, in 1909, Bobby and John moved to the city. They lived with Mrs. Usher and went to Daniel Stewart’s College, a good school nearby.
Bobby was a great athlete, even though he wasn't very tall (about 5 feet 5 inches). In 1912, the year he finished school, he ran 100 yards in a very fast time. This record wasn't broken until 1960!
He also became a fantastic golfer. He became close friends with another rising golf star, Tommy Armour. They often played golf together. Tommy Armour later became a three-time major champion, showing how talented Bobby's friends were too! Bobby also joined the Turnhouse Golf Club.
Bobby served in the British Army during World War I. He was captured by the German army and became a prisoner of war. But he was very brave and managed to escape!
After the war, Bobby returned to golf. He won Edinburgh's top amateur competition, the Edinburgh Coronation Cup, in both 1919 and 1920. He also helped his old school's team win the famous Evening Dispatch Trophy. These successes made Bobby think about becoming a professional golfer and moving to the USA with his wife, Helen.
A Professional Golf Career
In 1921, Bobby Cruickshank became a professional golfer and moved to the United States. His friend and mentor, Tommy Armour, had suggested it. Bobby quickly became well-known in the U.S. He reached the semi-finals of the PGA Championship in both 1922 and 1923. Both times, he lost to Gene Sarazen, who went on to win the championship.
Bobby was also a runner-up twice in the U.S. Open. In 1923, he finished second to the legendary Bobby Jones after a special 18-hole playoff. In 1932, he was again beaten by Gene Sarazen.
In 1929, Bobby came back to Scotland to play in The Open Championship at Muirfield. He only brought two of his own golf clubs and borrowed the rest! Despite this, he finished in sixth place. He even wore his old school tie while playing in the second round, showing his pride.
Bobby Cruickshank won 17 tournaments on the PGA Tour during his career. His best year was 1927, when he won the Los Angeles Open and the Texas Open. He also earned the most prize money that year! His last win on tour was in 1936. He had 16 top-ten finishes in major championships, which are the biggest golf tournaments.
Life After Professional Golf
After his main playing career, Bobby Cruickshank worked as a club professional. This means he taught golf and managed golf courses. He worked in Richmond, Virginia, in the 1930s and 1940s, and later in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He also spent winters working as a golf pro in Florida.
Bobby Cruickshank passed away in Delray Beach, Florida in 1975 at the age of 80, after a short illness. His wife, Nellie, had passed away ten years earlier.
