Gordon J. Brand facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Gordon J. Brand |
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| Personal information | |
| Full name | Gordon John Brand |
| Nickname | Brandy |
| Born | 6 August 1955 Cambridge, England |
| Died | 11 August 2020 (aged 65) |
| Height | 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) |
| Nationality |  England |
| Spouse |
Lyn Ghent
(m. 1979) |
| Children | 2 |
| Career | |
| Turned professional | 1976 |
| Former tour(s) | European Tour European Senior Tour |
| Professional wins | 14 |
| Number of wins by tour | |
| European Tour | 1 |
| European Seniors Tour | 5 |
| Other | 8 |
| Best results in Major Championships |
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| The Masters Tournament | DNP |
| U.S. Open | CUT: 1989 |
| The Open Championship | 2nd: 1986 |
| PGA Championship | DNP |
Gordon John Brand (born August 6, 1955 – died August 11, 2020) was a talented English professional golfer. He was known for his long career and many wins in different golf tournaments.
Gordon J. Brand: A Golf Star's Journey
Gordon Brand was a professional golfer from England. He played golf for many years and won several important tournaments. He was known for his steady play and his success on both the main European Tour and later, the Senior Tour.
Starting His Golf Career
Gordon Brand became a professional golfer in 1976. For 20 years, he played on the European Tour, which is a big golf competition in Europe. He often finished among the top players. Seven times, he was in the top 30 on the Order of Merit, which ranks golfers based on their earnings.
His best year was 1986. That year, he finished fifth overall. He also came in second place at The Open Championship at Turnberry. This is one of the biggest golf tournaments in the world. He was runner-up to the famous golfer Greg Norman. Gordon Brand also made a "hole-in-one" (hitting the ball directly into the hole from the tee) at the 16th hole during the 1981 Open Championship.
Winning Big: European Tour and African Success
In 1989, Gordon Brand won his only European Tour event, the Belgian Open. He won by four shots, which is a good lead in golf.
He also had a lot of success in Africa. He won seven tournaments there, including the Open de Côte d'Ivoire three times! He was also the top player on the Safari Circuit three times.
Playing for England: Ryder Cup and Team Events
Gordon Brand didn't just play for himself; he also represented England and Europe in team competitions.
- He played in the 1983 Ryder Cup for Europe. The Ryder Cup is a famous team match between Europe and the United States.
- He represented England in the World Cup of golf.
- He was part of the winning English team in the 1987 Dunhill Cup. His win against Sam Torrance helped England beat Scotland and secure the title.
Later Career: Senior Tour Wins
After his main golf career, Gordon Brand worked as a referee for the European Tour. But in 2005, he decided to play golf again, this time on the European Senior Tour. This tour is for golfers aged 50 and over.
He won five times on the Senior Tour. One of his most memorable wins was at the 2008 PGA Seniors Championship. He played a very long playoff (extra holes to decide a winner) against another golfer named Gordon Brand Jnr. Gordon J. Brand won on the sixth extra hole! A week later, he also won the Travis Perkins Senior Masters. These wins helped him finish second on the Senior Tour's Order of Merit in 2008.
A Sad Farewell
Gordon Brand passed away on August 11, 2020, at the age of 65, after a short illness.
It's important not to confuse Gordon J. Brand with another golfer, Gordon Brand Jnr, who is from Scotland. They were two different players with similar names.
Gordon Brand's Major Tournament Results
Gordon Brand played in some of golf's biggest tournaments, called "majors."
The Open Championship
His best result in a major was finishing second in The Open Championship in 1986. He also finished in the top 25 twice more.
U.S. Open
He played in the U.S. Open once, in 1989, but did not make the cut (meaning he didn't play all rounds).
Senior Major Championships
On the Senior Tour, he played in the Senior PGA Championship and the Senior British Open Championship. He finished in the top 10 twice at the Senior British Open Championship, in 2006 and 2007.
