1938 - Men (All)
The winners in the category "1938 - Men (All)" are shown in the table below, which also includes relevant information on venues, scores and prize money.
Majors
x
The Masters Tournament (5th) (April 2-4; played as the Augusta National Invitation Tournament). Second-placed Ralph Guldahl (USA) and Harry Cooper (USA) finished 2 shots behind Picard (USA). A front-nine of 32 in the closing round set Picard on his way to the first of his two major championship victories. [Augusta National GC, Augusta, GA].
Majors
R&A
The Open Championship (73rd) (July 6-8). Second-placed James "Jimmy" Adams (Scot) finished 2 shots behind Whitcombe (Eng). [Royal St George's GC, Sandwich, Kent].
Majors
USGA
The US Open (42nd) (June 9-11). Second-placed Dick Metz (USA) finished 6 shots behind defending champion Guldahl (USA). [Cherry Hills CC, Englewood, nr Denver, CO].
Majors
PGA of America
The US PGA Championship (21st) (July 10-16). Short-hitting Paul Runyan (USA) beat long-hitting Sam Snead (USA) 8 and 7 in the 36-hole final. [Shawnee Inn & CC, Shawnee on Delaware, Pennsylvania].
Amateur
R&A
The Amateur Championship (49th). Yates (USA) beat Cecil Ewing (Ire) 3 and 2 in the final. [Old Course, Royal Troon GC, Troon, Ayrshire].
Amateur
USGA
The US Amateur Championship (42nd) (Sept 12-17). William "Willie" Turnesa (USA) beat B. Patrick "Pat" Abbott 8 and 7 in the 36-hole final. [Oakmont CC, nr Pittsburgh, PA].
America
x
Played as the Argentine Open (Abierto de la Republica/Argentina). Second-placed Andres Perez (Arg) and Martin Pose (Arg) finished 1 shot behind Runyan (USA). [Ituzaingo GC, San Antonio de Padua, nr Buenos Aires].
America
WGA
Played as the Western Open (June 14-16). Second-placed Sam Snead (USA) finished 7 shots behind Ralph Guldahl (USA), who recorded his third straight win in this event. [Westwood CC, St Louis, Missouri].
America
x
Played as the Canadian Open (Aug 18-20, 22). Sam Snead (USA) beat defending champion "Lighthorse" Harry Cooper (Eng/USA) in a Monday playoff. The two players both scored 67 in the 18-hole playoff, which then required an additional nine hole playoff (Snead 34, Cooper 39). [Mississaugua G&CC, Mississauga, Ont.].
America
x
Played as the Chicago Open (July 22-24). Second-placed Ralph Guldahl (USA) finished 1 shot behind Sam Snead (USA). Reduced to 54 holes after first round lost to rain. [No.4 (North) course, Olympia Fields CC, nr Chicago, IL; first two rounds also used the No.1 (South) course].
America
x
Played as the Los Angeles Open (Jan 7-10). Second-placed Johnny Revolta (USA) finished 4 shots behind Thomson (Scot/USA), who posted his first win in a significant national tournament. Babe Didrikson played in this event, becoming the first woman to play in a men's professional golf tournament. She missed the cut, but it was at this event that she met her future husband, George Zaharias. [Wilson course, Griffith Park, Los Angeles, CA].
America
Hershey
Played as the Hershey Four-Ball (Sept 1-4; 126-hole round-robin match play event with eight two-man teams. The teams scored +1 for each hole they won and -1 for each hole they lost during the seven rounds played). Second-placed Paul Runyan (USA) & Sam Snead (USA) finished 15 pts behind the winning team of Ben Hogan (USA) & Vic Ghezzi (USA), who won $550 each. Hogan & Ghezzi's medal score of 458 set a new record of 53-under-par for a seven round best-ball event. Hogan recorded his first win as a professional. [West Course, Hershey CC, Hershey, PA].
America
Hershey
Played as the Hershey Four-Ball (Sept 1-4; 126-hole round-robin match play event with eight two-man teams. The teams scored +1 for each hole they won and -1 for each hole they lost during the seven rounds played). Second-placed Paul Runyan (USA) & Sam Snead (USA) finished 15 pts behind the winning team of Ben Hogan (USA) & Vic Ghezzi (USA), who won $550 each. Hogan & Ghezzi's medal score of 458 set a new record of 53-under-par for a seven round best-ball event. Hogan recorded his first win as a professional. [West Course, Hershey CC, Hershey, PA].
Played as the Hollywood Open.
Played as the Inverness Invitational.
America
x
Played as the Kansas City Invitational (June 3-5; next played in 1946). Second-placed Paul Runyan (USA) finished 3 shots behind Penna (Italy/USA). During the tournament two spectators were killed by lightning. [Hillcrest CC, Kansas City, MO].
Played as the Lake Placid Open.
America
Metropolitan GA
Played as the Metropolitan Open (May 12-14). Second-placed Sam Snead (USA) finished 3 shots behind defending champion Jimmy Hines (USA). [Fresh Meadow CC, Flushing, NY; this A.W Tillinghast-designed course no longer exists. In 1946, Fresh Meadow CC took over, moved to and renamed the course of the defunct Lakeville G&CC at Lake Success, L.I.].
America
x
Played as the Miami Open (Dec 15-18). Second-placed Henry Picard (USA) finished 1 shot behind Harold "Jug" McSpaden (USA). [Miami Springs G&CC, Miami, FL; at the time known as Miami Springs Municipal Course].
America
x
Played as the inaugural Crescent City Open (Feb 19-21). Second-placed Harold "Jug" McSpaden (USA) finished 4 shots behind "Lighthorse" Harry Cooper (Eng/USA). [Bayou Oaks at City Park, New Orleans, LA. Played on what was known as City Park's No.1 (East) course; now part of the South course).
America
x
Played as the North & South Open (March 23-25). Second-placed Paul Runyan (USA) finished 6 shots behind Vic Ghezzi (USA). [No.2 Course, Pinehurst Resort, North Carolina].
America
x
Played as the Oakland Open (Jan 28-30). Second-placed Jimmy Hines (USA) and Charlie Sheppard (USA) finished shots behind "Lighthorse" Harry Cooper (Eng/USA), who snatched victory with an eagle-3 at the last hole. [Sequoyah CC, Oakland, California].
Played as the Palm Beach Round Robin.
America
x
Played as the inaugural Panama Open. Won by defending champion Vincent (USA). [GC de Panama, Panama City, Panama].
America
Bing Crosby
Played as the Bing Crosby Pro-Am (Jan 16/17; 36-hole event). Second-placed Jimmy Hines (USA) finished 2 shots behind defending champion Snead (USA). [Rancho Sante Fe GC, nr San Diego, CA].
America
x
Texas Open not played in 1938.
America
x
Played as the Thomasville Open (Feb 25-27). Second-placed and defending champion Dick Metz (USA) finished 4 shots behind Byron Nelson (USA), who recorded his fifth PGA Tour win. [Glen Arven CC, Thomasville, Georgia].
America
x
Played as the Westchester 108-Hole Open (Sept 21-27; one-off PGA Tour event). Second-placed Billy Burke (USA) finished 2 shots behind Sam Snead (USA). First round postponed for two days due to heavy rain on the planned opening day (Weds 21st). [Fenway GC, Scarsdale, NY].
Played as the White Sulphur Springs Open.
America
x
Played as the inaugural Greater Greensboro Open (March 26-28). Second-placed Johnny Revolta (USA) finished 5 shots behind Snead (USA), who recorded the first of his eight wins in this event. [Sedgefield CC and Starmount Forest CC, Greensboro, NC].
Europe
x
Played as the Belgian Open (July 12-14). Arthur Lacey (Eng) finished 13 shots behind Cotton (Eng), who recorded his third win in this event. Cotton had been the club professional at Waterloo GC (1933-36). [Royal Waterloo GC, Ferme Blaret, Rhode-Saint-Genese, nr Brussels. This course closed following the Club's move to a new location].
Europe
News of the World
Played as the News of the World Match Play (Sept 13-16). Rees (Wales) beat Eddie Whitcombe (Eng) 4 and 3 in the 36-hole final, to win this title for the second time in three years. Ernest Whitcombe (Eddie's father) was runner-up in this event in 1936, and the winner in 1924. Charles Whitcombe (Eddie's uncle) was the winner in 1928 and 1930. [Old course, Walton Heath GC, Walton on the Hill, Surrey].
Europe
x
Played as the Czechoslovak Open (Aug 24-26; the last Czechoslovak Open). Second-placed Bill Laidlaw (Scot) finished 11 shots behind defending champion Henry Cotton (Eng). [Karlovy Vary GC, Carlsbad, West Bohemia, Czechoslovakia (now Czechia)].
Europe
Daily Mail
Played as the Daily Mail £2000 Tournament. Second-placed Dai Rees (Wales) finished 4 shots behind Perry (Eng). [Northumberland GC, Gosforth Park, nr Newcastle upon Tyne].
Europe
Dunlop
Played as the Dunlop-Metropolitan £750 Tournament. Second-placed Henry Cotton (Eng) finished 6 shots behind Perry (Eng). [West course, Wentworth Club, Virginia Water, Surrey].
Europe
Dunlop
Played as the Dunlop-Southport £1600 Tournament (for the last time until 1946 due to WW2). Second-placed Arthur Lees (Eng) finished 2 shots behind Curtis (Eng). [Southport & Ainsdale GC, Southport, Merseyside].
Europe
x
Played as the Dutch Open (July 16/17) (25th). Second-placed Cecil Denny (Eng) finished 3 shots behind Padgham (Eng). [Koninklijke (Royal) Haagsche G&CC, Wassenaar, nr The Hague].
Europe
x
Played as the Swiss Open. Won by Jean Saubaber (Fra). Tournament played over 36 holes. [G&CC Zurich, Zumikon, nr Zurich, Switzerland].
Europe
x
Played as the Open de France. Second-placed Pierre Hausséguy (Fra) finished 5 shots behind defending champion Dallemagne (Fra). This was the last of three French Open wins for Dallemagne. [G&CC Fourqueux, Fourqueux, nr Paris].
Europe
x
Played as the German Open. Won by defending champion Cotton (Eng). [Frankfurter GC, Niederrad, Frankfurt am Main].
Europe
x
Played as the Irish Open. Second-placed Henry Cotton (Eng) finished 2 shots behind Locke (RSA), who recorded his first win in Europe. [Portmarnock GC, nr Dublin, Ireland].
Europe
x
Played as the Italian Open (for the last time until 1947 due to World War II). Pulvio Travaini (Italy) finished in second place behind Van Donck (Belg), who claimed the first of his four Italian Open wins. [GC Villa d'Este, Montorfano, nr Como, Lombardy].
Europe
Penfold
Played as the Penfold £1,000 League Tournament (12 top British professionals played against each other in a league format; they played two matches per day). Second-placed Reg Whitcombe (Eng) and Bert Gadd (Eng) finished 1 point behind Percy Alliss (Eng), who won seven and halved two of his eleven matches. [Sandy Lodge GC, Northwood, London].
Europe
Silvertown Co.
Played as the Silver King Tournament. Second-placed Alf Perry (Eng) and Eddie Whitcombe (Eng) finished 2 shots behind Charles Whitcombe (Eng). Eddie was the son of Ernest Whitcombe, Charles's brother. [High course, Moor Park GC, Rickmansworth, Herts].
Europe
x
Not played due to the Spanish Civil War.
Europe
Yorkshire Eve. News
Played as the Yorkshire Evening News £750 Tournament (June 2-4). Alf Perry (Eng) beat Vernon Greenhalgh (Eng) 8 and 6 in the 36-hole final. [Leeds GC, Leeds, West Yorkshire].
Asia
x
Played as the Philippine Open. Defending champion Larry Montes (Phil) finished second behind Norman Von Nida (Aus). [East course, Wack Wack G&CC, Manila, Philippines].
Japan
JGA
Played as the Japan Open (Oct 11-13; Japanese major ch'ship). Won by Rin (Taiw). [Fujisawa CC, Fujisawa, Kanagawa, Jpn; course closed - now site of Kanagawa Prefectural Sports Centre in Fujisawa].
Japan
Japan E&W PGAs
Played as the Japan PGA Championship (Sept 12-15; Japanese major ch'ship). Toda (Jpn) beat Seiji Inoue (Jpn) 7 and 5 in the final. [Takarazuka GC, Takarazuka, Hyogo, Jpn].
Aus/NZ
x
Played as the Australian Open (Aug 18-20). Second-placed Norman Von Nida (Aus) finished 14 shots behind Ferrier (Aus, amateur). [Royal Adelaide GC, Seaton, Adelaide, SA].
Aus/NZ
x
Played as the Australian PGA Ch'ship. Cremin (Aus) beat C. Booth (Aus) 2 and 1 in the final. [Royal Adelaide GC, Seaton, Adelaide, SA].
Aus/NZ
x
Played as the New Zealand Open (November). Second-placed Andrew "Andy" Shaw (Scot/NZ) and Basil J. Smith Jr (NZ) finished 3 shots behind 20-year-old Locke (S Africa). [Otago GC, Balmacewen, Dunedin, NZ].
Aus/NZ
x
Played as the New Zealand PGA Championship (Nov 13-16). Norman Fuller (NZ) beat Alf Guy (NZ) 4 and 3 in the 36-hole final. [Otago GC, Balmacewen, Dunedin, NZ].
Africa
SA Golf Union
Played as the South African Professional Match Play Ch'ship. Locke (S Africa) beat Sid Brews (S Africa) 4 and 3 in the 36-hole final. [Maccauvlei GC, Vereeniging, Free State, RSA].
Played as the South African Open. Second-placed Sid Brews (S Africa) finished 5 shots behind defending champion Locke (S Africa), who had turned professional earlier in 1938. This was the third of nine South African Open wins for Locke. [Maccauvlei Golf Club, Vereeniging, Free State, RSA].
Awards
PGA of America
Snead (USA) won the PGA of America Vardon Trophy, based on a season-long points accumulation.
Awards
PGA of America
Snead (USA) was the PGA Tour 1938 leading money winner, with earnings of $19,543 on the Tour.
Awards
British PGA
Cotton (Eng) won the Harry Vardon Trophy as the British PGA Tour 1938 Order of Merit winner. Award based on lowest scoring average in the season's top six professional events. Cotton's 72.87 was based on 16 rounds played; he entered four of the six events. Reg Whitcombe (Eng) was second with 73.35.
Chevron Championship: Carlton Woods near Houston in Texas provides the stage for the first women’s major championship of 2025, where Nelly Korda defends her title. (April 24-27).
Soudal Open: successor to the Belgian Open, the Soudal Open takes place on the quiet, wooded North course of Rinkven Golfclub. Belgian stars Thomas Pieters and Nicolas Colsaerts will be vying for top honours. (May 22-25).
Rory McIlroy: with his 2025 win in The Masters, Rory joined the pantheon of golfing greats who have achieved a career Grand Slam of men’s majors ... Gene Sarazen, Ben Hogan, Gary Player, Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods are the only others in this select band.
Bernhard Langer: he may have played in his last Masters Tournament, but the 67-year-old German will be trying to extend his own record, and win a 13th senior major title at the 36th Regions Tradition. (May 15-18).
Marco Simone Golf & Country Club: With a clubhouse that might befit a Roman Emperor, and a golf course to match, you can be sure of a memorable outing at Rome's most talked about golf facility.
Jim Fazio's original layout was much changed to create a modern Ryder Cup course ... now one of the Eternal City's (and Italy's) most revered.
Here at Prince’s Golf Club you'll find 27 excellent holes of links golf. Just over the fence and sharing similar terrain is Royal St George’s; but Prince’s is far from overshadowed by its venerable neighbour. The three nine-hole loops at Prince's, laid out over gently undulating terrain, are sure to bring a smile of satisfaction to all lovers of links golf.
Stay&Play at Prince's: excellent onsite Lodge accommodation available
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