Who's who: Alf Padgham

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Who's who: Alf Padgham

  • Name:

    Alfred Harry "Alf" Padgham
  • Country:

    England
  • Lived:

    [1906-1966]. Born on July 2, 1906 in Caterham, Surrey. Died on March 4, 1966 in West Wickham, Kent (aged 59).
  • Original/Home Club:

    Royal Ashdown Forest GC
  • Occupation:

    Professional golfer
  • Turned Pro:

    c.1926

Roll of Honour

MAJORS (1): The Open (1936). Ryder Cup player (1933, '35, '37). At least 20 wins on the British and Irish professional circuit between 1930 and 1950. Captain of the British PGA (1936).

Did you know?

The purple patch in Padgham's career came in 1936, when he won the Open Championship at Royal Liverpool, and recorded wins in four other prestigious events on the British professional circuit. During his career he also recorded victories in the Dutch, German and Irish Opens.

Top tournaments won by Alf Padgham

1947
Europe
285
£300
Silvertown Co.

Category

Europe

Winner (holder)

Padgham, Alf

Score

285

Prize money

£300

Title sponsor

Silvertown Co.

Played as the Silver King Tournament. Second-placed Sam King (Eng) finished 4 shots behind Padgham (Eng). [High course, Moor Park GC, Rickmansworth, Herts].

Category

Europe

Winner (holder)

Padgham, Alf

Score

301

Prize money

£525

Title sponsor

Daily Mail

Played as the Daily Mail £2500 Tournament. Second-placed and defending champion Charlie Ward (Eng) finished 3 shots behind Padgham (Eng). [Royal Lytham & St Annes GC, nr Blackpool, Lancs].

1939
Europe
285
£200
Silvertown Co.

Category

Europe

Winner (holder)

Padgham, Alf

Score

285

Prize money

£200

Title sponsor

Silvertown Co.

Played as the Silver King Tournament (for the last time until 1946, due to WW2). Padgham (Eng) beat Dick Burton in a 36-hole playoff. Burton retired after 33 holes, with Padgham 9 shots ahead at the time. [High course, Moor Park GC, Rickmansworth, Herts].

Category

Europe

Winner (holder)

Padgham, Alf

Score

281

Prize money

fl.500

Title sponsor

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].

1936
Majors
287
£100
R&A

Category

Majors

Winner (holder)

Padgham, Alf

Score

287

Prize money

£100

Title sponsor

R&A

The Open Championship (71st) (June 25-27). Second-placed James "Jimmy" Adams (Scot) finished 1 shot behind Padgham (Eng). [Royal Liverpool GC, Hoylake, Wirral, Merseyside].

1936
Europe
Bramshot GC
284
£500
Daily Mail

Category

Europe

Winner (holder)

Padgham, Alf

Venue

Bramshot GC

Score

284

Prize money

£500

Title sponsor

Daily Mail

Played as the Daily Mail £2000 Tournament (for the first time since 1927). Second-placed Sam King (Eng) finished 3 shots behind Padgham (Eng). [Bramshot GC, Fleet, Hampshire. Course was requisitioned by the Air Ministry in 1940, and did not reopen after WW2].

Category

Europe

Winner (holder)

Padgham, Alf

Score

282

Prize money

£315

Title sponsor

Dunlop

Played as the Dunlop-Southport £1600 Tournament. Second-placed Dick Burton (Eng) finished 2 shots behind Padgham (Eng). [Southport & Ainsdale GC, Southport, Merseyside].

1936
Europe
280
£200
Silvertown Co.

Category

Europe

Winner (holder)

Padgham, Alf

Score

280

Prize money

£200

Title sponsor

Silvertown Co.

Played as the inaugural Silver King Tournament. Second-placed Henry Cotton (Eng) finished 1 shot behind Padgham (Eng). [High course, Moor Park GC, Rickmansworth, Herts].

1935
Europe
3 & 2
£300
News of the World

Category

Europe

Winner (holder)

Padgham, Alf

Score

3 & 2

Prize money

£300

Title sponsor

News of the World

Played as the News of the World Match Play (Sept 11-14). Padgham (Eng) beat Percy Alliss (Eng) 3 and 2 in the 36-hole final. [Royal Mid-Surrey GC, Richmond, Surrey].

Category

Europe

Winner (holder)

Padgham, Alf

Score

285

Prize money

Title sponsor

x

Played as the German Open. Won by Padgham (Eng). [Mittelrheinischer Golfclub, Bad Ems, nr Koblenz].

1934
Europe
37th hole
£150
Yorkshire Eve. News

Category

Europe

Winner (holder)

Padgham, Alf

Score

37th hole

Prize money

£150

Title sponsor

Yorkshire Eve. News

Played as the Yorkshire Evening News £750 Tournament (June 7-9). Alf Padgham (Eng) beat Sid Brews (S Africa) at the 37th hole in the final. [Moortown GC, nr Leeds, W Yorks, England].

Category

Europe

Winner (holder)

Padgham, Alf

Score

279

Prize money

£300

Title sponsor

Dunlop

Played as the Dunlop-Southport Tournament. Second-placed Henry Cotton (Eng) finished 2 shots behind Padgham (Eng). [Southport & Ainsdale GC, Southport, Merseyside].

Category

Europe

Winner (holder)

Padgham, Alf

Venue

Cork GC

Score

283

Prize money

Title sponsor

x

Played as the Irish Open. Henry Cotton (Eng) finished in second place behind Padgham (Eng). [Cork GC, Little Island, Cork, Co. Cork].

1931
Europe
5 & 4
£300
News of the World

Category

Europe

Winner (holder)

Padgham, Alf

Score

5 & 4

Prize money

£300

Title sponsor

News of the World

Played as the News of the World Match Play (Sept 22-25). Padgham (Eng) beat Mark Seymour (Eng) 5 and 4 in the 36-hole final. [Royal Mid-Surrey GC, Richmond, Surrey].

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