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Legends Series - Bobby Jones by Dan Cole
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Legends Series - Bobby Jones |
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Sports,Hobbies,Recreation & Leisure
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Legends Series - Bobby Jones Robert Tyre Jones Jr., better known as Bobby Jones was an American amateur golfer who had more of an impact on the game than probably any other amateur in history. Born on March 17, 1902 in Atlanta, Georgia, Jones had health issues as a young child and was prescribed golf as a way to increase his strength. Jones was a natural at the sport from the very first time he played. He won his first children’s tournament at the age of six. A lawyer by profession, Jones only ever competed as an amateur. However, he competed against, and often defeated, many of the best professionals of his era. Golf Career While Jones had been playing golf for nearly all his life, his career really took off in 1923 when he won his first U.S. Open. From that point on Jones went on to compete in many tournaments in America and around the world. Throughout the course of his career, Jones competed in what were considered major tournaments of that era 31 times, claiming 13 victories and 27 top ten finishes. Jones is perhaps most famous for accomplishing the rare feat of winning the Grand Slam in a single season. At that time the four major golf tournaments were considered to be the Open and the Amateur Championships in both the U.S. and the U.K. In 1930, Jones won them all. Much to the surprise of many, shortly after claiming the Grand Slam, Jones retired from competitive golf in 1930, at the very young age of 28. When asked to explain why he chose to retire at such a young age, especially after just having achieving such success, Jones replied, “It (championship golf) is something like a cage. First you are expected to get into it, and then you are expected to stay there. But of course, nobody can stay there.” After Retirement While Jones may have retired from competition in 1930, his heart was never far from the game. Later that same year he founded and helped design Augusta National Golf Club. Shortly after, in 1933, Jones co-founded the Masters Tournament, which of course, would eventually evolve into on of today’s four major tournaments. In 1934, Jones did come out of retirement to play in the Masters Tournament on an exhibition basis. He continued to play in this tournament until health issues caused him to retire permanently in 1948. A Model of Sportsmanship In addition to being one of the most talented young golfers of his time, Bobby Jones was also one of the honorable men to play the game. An example of his tremendous sportsmanship lies in a story from the 1925 U.S. Open. In the first round of the tournament, after hitting his approach shot into the deep rough, Jones stepped up to address his ball. As he did so, his club head brushed the tall grass and caused a slight movement of his ball. Jones took his shot, then he informed his playing partner and the USGA official what had happened, even though his playing partner tried to talk him out of it. At the end of the round, Jones signed his scorecard with the penalty shot added on. Despite tournament officials arguing that the penalty shot was not necessary in this instance, Jones insisted that he had violated the rule and should take a 77 rather than a 76. Had Jones not taken that penalty shot, he would have won the U.S. open by one shot. Instead he was forced to a playoff, where he lost. When sports writers praised Jones for his honesty and integrity, he brushed it off as if he could not imagine the scenario playing out any other way. Jones was quoted as saying, “You might as well praise me for not robbing banks.” Bobby Jones died in Atlanta on December 18, 1971. He was elected into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 1975. He was not only a tremendous golfer but a great role model and, by all accounts, a wonderful man.
Related Articles -
Bobby Jones, golfer, grand slam, golf, masters tournament, U.S. Open,
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