Who's who: Bobby Nichols

  • 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: Bobby Nichols

  • Name:

    Robert Herman "Bobby" Nichols
  • Country:

    USA
  • Born:

    April 14, 1936 in Louisville, Kentucky.
  • Original/Home Club:

  • Occupation:

    Professional golfer
  • Turned Pro:

    1960

Roll of Honour

MAJORS (1): US PGA Championship (1964). Ryder Cup player (1967). PGA Tour wins (11).

Did you know?

Nichols was the head golf professional at Firestone Country Club in Akron, Ohio, for several years. In 1975 while playing with Jerry Heard and Lee Trevino at the Western Open, he was struck by lightning.

Top tournaments won by Bobby Nichols

1989
America
Quail Creek, OK
209 (-7)
$45,000
Southwestern Bell

Category

America

Winner (holder)

Nichols, Bobby

Venue

Quail Creek, OK

Score

209 (-7)

Prize money

$45,000

Title sponsor

Southwestern Bell

Played as the Southwestern Bell Classic. Nichols (USA) beat Orville Moody (USA) with a birdie at the third playoff hole to record his first (and only) US Snr Tr win. [Quail Creek G&CC, Oklahoma City, OK].

1986
America
Jeremy Ranch
249 (-39)
$33,750
x

Category

America

Winner (holder)

Nichols, Bobby

Venue

Jeremy Ranch

Score

249 (-39)

Prize money

$33,750

Title sponsor

x

Played as the Showdown Classic (unofficial two-man better-ball event; Snr Tr player paired with a PGA Tr player). Second-placed Harold Henning (RSA) & Denis Watson (Zim) finished 2 shots behind Curt Byrum (USA) & Bobby Nichols (USA). [Jeremy Ranch G&CC, Park City, nr Salt Lake City, Utah].

1974
America
270 (-10)
$40,000
x

Category

America

Winner (holder)

Nichols, Bobby

Score

270 (-10)

Prize money

$40,000

Title sponsor

x

Played as the Canadian Open (July 25-28). Second-placed John Schlee (USA) and Larry Ziegler (USA) finished 4 shots behind Bobby Nichols (USA), who recorded the last of his 12 PGA Tour wins. [Mississaugua G&CC, Mississauga, Ont.].

1974
America
275 (-13)
$34,000
Andy Williams

Category

America

Winner (holder)

Nichols, Bobby

Score

275 (-13)

Prize money

$34,000

Title sponsor

Andy Williams

Played as the Andy Williams San Diego Open Invitational (Jan 24-27). Second-placed Rod Curl (USA) and Gene Littler (USA) finished 1 shot behind Nichols (USA). [South course, Torrey Pines, La Jolla, CA].

Category

America

Winner (holder)

Nichols, Bobby

Score

272 (-16)

Prize money

$50,000

Title sponsor

x

Played as the Westchester Classic (Aug 2-5). Nichols (USA) beat Bob Murphy (USA) with a birdie at the second playoff hole, to record his 10th PGA Tour win. [West course, Westchester CC, Rye, NY].

1965
America
Sharpstown CC
273 (-11)
$12,000
x

Category

America

Winner (holder)

Nichols, Bobby

Venue

Sharpstown CC

Score

273 (-11)

Prize money

$12,000

Title sponsor

x

Played as the Houston Classic (April 15-18). Second-placed Bruce Devlin (Aus) and Chi Chi Rodríguez (Puerto Rico) finished 1 shot behind Bobby Nichols (USA). [Sharpstown CC, Houston, TX. Now called Sharpstown Park (Municipal) Golf Course].

1964
Majors
Columbus CC
271 (-9)
$18,000
PGA of America

Category

Majors

Winner (holder)

Nichols, Bobby

Venue

Columbus CC

Score

271 (-9)

Prize money

$18,000

Title sponsor

PGA of America

The US PGA Championship (46th) (July 16-19). Second-placed Jack Nicklaus (USA) and Arnold Palmer (USA) finished 3 shots behind Nichols (USA), who recorded his first and only major championship win. [Columbus CC, Columbus, Ohio].

1963
America
Inglewood GC, WA
272 (-16)
$5,300
x

Category

America

Winner (holder)

Nichols, Bobby

Venue

Inglewood GC, WA

Score

272 (-16)

Prize money

$5,300

Title sponsor

x

Played as the Seattle Open (Sept 12-15). Second-placed Raymond Floyd (USA) and Stan Leonard (Can) finished 2 shots behind Bobby Nichols (USA). [Inglewood GC, Kenmore, nr Seattle, WA].

Category

America

Winner (holder)

Nichols, Bobby

Score

278 (-2)

Prize money

$9,000

Title sponsor

x

Played as the Houston Classic (April 19-23). Bobby Nichols (USA) beat Dan Sikes (USA) with an eagle-three at the first sudden-death playoff hole, after both tied on 71 in an 18-hole three-way Monday playoff. Tour rookie Jack Nicklaus (USA) shot 75 in the 18-hole playoff. [Memorial Park GC, Houston, TX].

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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). 

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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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