Tommy Armour facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Tommy Armour |
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Armour in 1927
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| Personal information | |
| Full name | Thomas Dickson Armour |
| Nickname | The Silver Scot |
| Born | 24 September 1896 Edinburgh, Scotland |
| Died | 11 September 1968 (aged 71) Larchmont, New York |
| Nationality |  Scotland United States |
| Career | |
| College | Fettes College University of Edinburgh |
| Turned professional | 1924 |
| Former tour(s) | PGA Tour |
| Professional wins | 27 |
| Number of wins by tour | |
| PGA Tour | 25 |
| Other | 2 |
| Best results in Major Championships (Wins: 3) |
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| The Masters Tournament | T8: 1937 |
| U.S. Open | Won: 1927 |
| The Open Championship | Won: 1931 |
| PGA Championship | Won: 1930 |
| U.S. Amateur | T5: 1920 |
| British Amateur | T33: 1920, 1921 |
| Achievements and awards | |
| World Golf Hall of Fame | 1976 |
Thomas Dickson Armour (born September 24, 1896, died September 11, 1968) was a famous professional golfer. He was born in Scotland but later became an American citizen. People called him The Silver Scot because of his Scottish background and his gray hair.
Armour won three of golf's biggest tournaments. These were the U.S. Open in 1927, the PGA Championship in 1930, and The Open Championship in 1931. He also made the word yips popular in golf. This word describes when an experienced athlete suddenly loses their skills for no clear reason.
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Early Life and War Service
Tommy Armour was born in Edinburgh, Scotland, on September 24, 1896. His father, George Armour, was a baker. Tommy went to school at Boroughmuir High School and studied at the University of Edinburgh.
When World War I began, Tommy joined the army. He was a machine-gunner in the Black Watch regiment. He moved up in rank to Staff Major in the Tank Corps. His brave actions even earned him a meeting with King George V.
However, a mustard gas explosion caused him to lose his sight. Doctors had to put a metal plate in his head and left arm. While he was getting better, he slowly got the sight back in his right eye. After this, he started playing a lot more golf.
Tommy Armour's Golf Career
Tommy Armour won the French Amateur golf tournament in 1920. Later, he moved to the United States. There, he met another famous golfer named Walter Hagen. Hagen gave him a job as a secretary at the Westchester-Biltmore Club.
Armour played in important amateur tournaments in the U.S. before he became a professional golfer in 1924.
Major Championship Wins
Armour is famous for winning three major golf championships:
- The U.S. Open in 1927.
- The PGA Championship in 1930.
- The Open Championship in 1931.
He is one of only three golfers from the United Kingdom to win three different professional major tournaments. The other two are Jim Barnes and Rory McIlroy.
Other Notable Wins
Tommy Armour also won the Canadian Open three times. Only Leo Diegel has won it more, with four victories.
In 1927, at the Shawnee Open, Armour made a very unusual score. On a par 5 hole, he scored a 23. This was 18 strokes over par! It was the first time anyone scored an "archaeopteryx" (15 or more over par). This score is still the highest ever on a single hole in PGA Tour history. This happened just one week after he had won the U.S. Open.
Later Life and Retirement
Tommy Armour stopped playing golf full-time after the 1935 season. However, he still played in some big tournaments for several years. From 1926 to 1955, he taught golf at the Boca Raton Club in Florida. He charged $50 for each lesson. Some of his famous students included Babe Didrikson Zaharias and Lawson Little. He also spent his summers at the Winged Foot Golf Club near New York City.
In November 1942, Tommy Armour became an American citizen. During World War II, he played in golf shows to help organizations like the USO and the Red Cross.
Armour also wrote a very popular book called How to Play Your Best Golf All the Time (1953) with Herb Graffis. For many years, it was the best-selling golf book ever. There were even 8mm films made based on the book, showing tips on grip, stance, and how to hit long and short shots.
Tommy Armour's grandson, Tommy Armour III, also became a professional golfer. He has won two tournaments on the PGA Tour.
Death and Legacy
Tommy Armour passed away in Larchmont, New York, on September 11, 1968. He was cremated at the Ferncliff Cemetery in Hartsdale, New York. Even today, some golf equipment is sold using his name. In 1976, Tommy Armour was honored by being added to the World Golf Hall of Fame.
Team Appearances
Tommy Armour played for teams in important golf events:
- As an Amateur: He represented Great Britain in the Walker Cup in 1921.
- As a Professional: He represented the United States in the Ryder Cup in 1926.
Images for kids
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Armour in 1927
See also
In Spanish: Tommy Armour para niños
