Who's who: Bill Mehlhorn

  • Torrey Pines - South course, host of the Farmers Insurance Open
  • Prince's GC, England
  • Torrey Pines - South course, host of the Farmers Insurance Open
  • Terras da Comporta, Dunas
  • Monte Rei G&CC
  • Marco Simone GC (Italy); host of the Ryder Cup 2023
  • Pebble Beach host of the US Open; US Women's Open; Pebble Beach Pro-Am
  • Marco Simone GC

Who's who: Bill Mehlhorn

  • Name:

    William Earl Mehlhorn
  • Also known as:

    Billy; Wild Bill
  • Country:

    USA
  • Lived:

    [1898-1989]. Born on Dec 2, 1898 in Elgin, Illinois. Died on April 5, 1989 in Miami, Florida (aged 90).
  • Original/Home Club:

  • Occupation:

    Professional golfer, club pro, instructor and course designer.
  • Turned Pro:

    1920

Roll of Honour

Ryder Cup player (1927 ... the first edition). Multiple wins on the PGA Tour (19) in the 1920s.

Did you know?

The frequent wearing of cowboy hats while playing golf, earned Mehlhorn the nickname "Wild Bill". Despite his 19 PGA Tour wins and numerous top ten finishes in the "majors", a major championship title eluded him.

Top tournaments won by Bill Mehlhorn

1930
America
La Gorce CC
285 (+1)
$5,000
x

Category

America

Winner (holder)

Mehlhorn, Bill

Venue

La Gorce CC

Score

285 (+1)

Prize money

$5,000

Title sponsor

x

Played as the La Gorce Open (March 20-22). Second-placed and defending champion Horton Smith (USA) finished 1 shot behind Bill Mehlhorn (USA), who recorded the last of his 19 PGA Tour wins. [La Gorce CC, Miami Beach, FL].

1929
America
Lido GC, NY
288 (E)
Metropolitan GA

Category

America

Winner (holder)

Mehlhorn, Bill

Venue

Lido GC, NY

Score

288 (E)

Prize money

Title sponsor

Metropolitan GA

Played as the Metropolitan Open (July 18-20). Second-placed Wilfred "Wiffy" Cox (USA) finished 3 shots behind Bill Mehlhorn (USA). [Lido GC, Lido Beach, NY; at the time Lido CC].

1929
America
277 (-7)
$1,500
x

Category

America

Winner (holder)

Mehlhorn, Bill

Score

277 (-7)

Prize money

$1,500

Title sponsor

x

Played as the Texas Open (Jan 25-27). Second-placed Horton Smith (USA) finished 4 shots behind defending champion "Wild Bill" Mehlhorn (USA), who clinched the win with a course record 66 (-5) and 67 (-4) on Sunday in the final two rounds. [Brackenridge Park GC, San Antonio, TX].

1928
America
Willow Springs, TX
297 (+13)
$1,500
x

Category

America

Winner (holder)

Mehlhorn, Bill

Venue

Willow Springs, TX

Score

297 (+13)

Prize money

$1,500

Title sponsor

x

Played as the Texas Open (Feb 5-7). Second-placed "Lighthorse" Harry Cooper (Eng/USA) finished 1 shot behind "Wild Bill" Mehlhorn (USA). [Willow Springs GC, San Antonio, TX].

Category

America

Winner (holder)

Mehlhorn, Bill

Score

291 (+3)

Prize money

$1,250

Title sponsor

x

Played as the inaugural Hawaiian Open (Nov 28, Dec 1/2, 4). "Wild Bill" Mehlhorn (USA) beat Fred Morrison (USA) in an 18-hole Tuesday playoff (Mehlhorn 73, Morrison 71). [Waialae CC, Honolulu, Hawaii].

1924
America
Calumet CC
293 (+5)
$500
WGA

Category

America

Winner (holder)

Mehlhorn, Bill

Venue

Calumet CC

Score

293 (+5)

Prize money

$500

Title sponsor

WGA

Played as the Western Open (Sept 4-6). Second-placed Al Watrous (USA) finished 8 shots behind Bill Mehlhorn (USA). [Calumet CC, Homewood, nr Chicago, Illinois].

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Tournaments

Ryder Cup: Rome plays host to the first ever Ryder Cup to be staged in Italy, with the USA defending golf’s greatest team trophy at Marco Simone Golf & Country Club (Sept 29-Oct 1).

Solheim Cup: also in September, also in southern Europe, the 18th Solheim Cup will be contested at Finca Cortesin on the Costa del Sol, with Europe defending after their surprise win in Toledo, Inverness Club (Ohio) in 2021 (Sept 22-24). 

Who's Who

Céline Boutier: with many successes as both an amateur and professional golfer, Boutier added a major championship title to her impressive résumé at this year’s Evian Championship.

Alex Cejka: buffeted by rain and high winds, especially on the high-scoring final day, Čejka prevailed over Pádraig Harrington in a playoff at Royal Porthcawl, to scoop the Senior Open Championship title.

Marco Simone Golf & Country Club

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.

Prince's Golf Club, Kent (UK)

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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