Brian Barnes
Name:
Brian BarnesCountry:
ScotlandLived:
[1945-2019]. Born on June 3, 1945 in Addington, nr Croydon, Surrey, England. Died on Sept 9, 2019 in West Sussex, England, aged 74.Original/Home Club:
Burnham & Berrow GC (where his father was Club Secretary).Occupation:
Professional golfer, writer, TV commentator.Turned Pro:
1964Ryder Cup player (1969, '71, '73, '75, '77, '79). Total professional wins (19), including European Tour (9), European Snr Tour (2) and Champions Tour (1), as well as wins in Africa and Australia. European Senior Tour Order of Merit winner (1995).
Although sounding very English, Barnes was the son of a Turnberry-born Scottish father and Glaswegian mother. As such, he represented Scotland during his playing career. One of the most colourful characters on the British golfing scene in the 1970s, '80s and early-90s, Barnes' playing career was brought to a premature end in 2000 by severe arthritis. Throughout the 1970s, Barnes finished every season inside the top 10 of the European Tour Order of Merit.
Amongst his many notable golfing achievements, the pipe-smoking Barnes beat Jack Nicklaus twice on the same day in the 1975 Ryder Cup at Laurel Valley, Pennsylvania. In the morning singles round, the Golden Bear was felled 4&2 by Barnes. On the first-tee of the afternoon singles round, Nicklaus promised Barnes he wouldn't win again. He did, 2&1.
Barnes was married to Hilary Faulkner, the daughter of golf professional and Open Championship winner Max Faulkner. After Barnes finished his professional playing career, he continued his contribution to golf as a writer and television commentator.
America
AT&T
Played as the AT&T Canada Senior Open (June 18-21; formerly du Maurier Champions). Second-placed Dana Quigley (USA), Bruce Summerhays (USA) and Tom Jenkins (USA) finished 2 shots behind Barnes (Scot), who recorded his only Snr PGA Tour win. [Glencoe G&CC, Calgary, Alberta, Canada].
Europe
x
Played as the Senior British Open (10th) (July 25-28). Second-placed Bob Charles (NZ) and David Oakley (USA) finished 3 shots behind defending champion Barnes (Scot). [Dunluce Links, Royal Portrush GC, Co. Antrim, N. Ireland].
Europe
x
Played as the Senior British Open (9th) (July 27-30). Barnes (Scot) beat Bob Murphy (USA) at the third playoff hole. [Dunluce Links, Royal Portrush GC, Co. Antrim, N. Ireland].
Awards
Eurpn Snr Tr
Barnes (Scot) won the Eurpn Snrs Tr 1995 Order of Merit and associated John Jacobs Trophy, with earnings of £63,620 on the Tour. John Morgan (Eng) was second with £57,984; Brian Huggett (Wales) was third with £50,011.
Africa
B&H
Played as the Benson & Hedges Kenya Open. Won by Barnes (Scot). [Muthaiga GC, Nairobi, Kenya].
Europe
Haig Whisky
Played as the Haig Whisky TPC (Sept 10-13). Barnes (Scot) beat Brian Waites (Eng) with a par at the fourth playoff hole, to record the last of his nine European Tour wins. [East course, Dalmahoy Hotel & CC, nr Edinburgh].
Europe
x
Played as the Portuguese Open (Apr 12-15; European Tr season-opener). Second-placed Francisco Abreu (Esp) finished 2 shots behind Brian Barnes (Scot). [Old course, Vilamoura GC, Algarve, Portugal].
Europe
x
Played as the Italian Open. Barnes (Scot) beat Dale Hayes (RSA) in a sudden-death playoff. [Red course, GC Monticello, Cassina Rizzardi, nr Como].
Europe
x
Played as the Greater Manchester Open (June 15-18). Barnes (Scot) beat Bob Charles (NZ), Nick Job (Eng) and Denis Durnian (Eng) with a birdie at the first playoff hole. [Wilmslow GC, Mobberley, Knutsford, Cheshire].
Europe
x
Played as the Spanish Open. Second-placed Howard Clark (Eng) finished 2 shots behind Barnes (Scot). [Real (Royal) GC El Prat, El Prat de Llobregat, nr Barcelona Airport. Club now located in Terrassa, nr Barcelona].
Europe
Sun Alliance
Played as the Sun Alliance Match Play Championship (Sept 2-5). Barnes (Scot) beat Craig DeFoy (Wales) 3 and 2 in the 18-hole final. [Kings Norton GC, Alvechurch, nr Birmingham].
Europe
x
Played as the French Open. Second-placed Neil Coles (Eng), Eamonn Darcy (Ire), John O'Leary (Ire) and Dale Hayes (RSA) finished 2 shots behind Barnes (Scot). [Vallée course, Racing Club de France (RCF), La Boulie GC, Versailles, nr Paris].
Europe
x
Played as the Dutch Open (Aug 8-11). Second-placed Peter Oosterhuis (Eng), Simon Owen (NZ) and Eddie Polland (N.Ire) finished 5 shots behind Barnes (Scot), the only player to finish under par. Event reduced to 54 holes due to bad weather. [Hilversumsche GC, Hilversum, nr Amsterdam].
Europe
Martini
Played as the Martini International (June 8-10). Second-placed Jack Newton (Aus) finished 1 shot behind Barnes (Scot). [Abridge GC, Stapleford Tawney, Essex].
Europe
Agfacolor
Played as the Agfacolor Film Tournament (May 22-24). Second-placed Bernard Gallacher (Scot) finished 3 shots behind 23-year-old Brian Barnes (Scot), who recorded his first win on the British professional tour. [Stoke Park CC, Stoke Poges, Bucks].
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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