Who's who: Bruce Devlin

  • 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: Bruce Devlin

  • Name:

    Bruce William Devlin
  • Country:

    Australia
  • Born:

    Oct 10, 1937 in Armidale, NSW, Australia.
  • Original/Home Club:

    Armidale GC, NSW
  • Occupation:

    Professional golfer; golf course architect; golf commentator.
  • Turned Pro:

    1961

Roll of Honour

Australian Amateur champion (1959). Total professional wins (31), including Australasian Tour (19), PGA Tour (8) and Senior PGA Tour (1).

Golf course design

Devlin was involved in over 150 design projects around the world. Many of his designs, and particularly those in the United States, were collaborative efforts working with Robert von Hagge. Devlin's best known work includes, but is not limited to:

AUSTRALIA: Gold Creek GC, Canberra (1996) / Ocean Shores, NSW (with von Hagge, 1972). / The Lakes, Sydney (redesign with von Hagge, 1967).

UNITED STATES (with Robert von Hagge unless specified otherwise): Boone Links, KY (1979) / Colony West, FL (1970) / Crandon Key Biscayne, FL (1972) / Crown Colony, TX (1979) / Eagle Vail, CO (1974) / Eastwood GC, FL (1977) / Emerald Hills, FL (1969) / Hillcrest, FL (1965) / Links at Boynton Beach, FL (1984) / Quail Hollow, ID (1982) / Secession GC, SC (solo project, 1992) / The Cliffs, TX (1988) / Trump Doral (Silver course, 1984) / Tucson Natl, AZ (Catalina course, 1962) / Woodlands CC, TX (Tournament course, 1978).

EUROPE: Fairmont St Andrews, Scotland (Kittocks course, 2002).

Did you know?

After the 1998 Senior PGA Tour season, Devlin retired from competitive tournament golf to concentrate on his golf course architecture business and his television commentary engagements with NBC and ESPN.

Top tournaments won by Bruce Devlin

1995
America
130 (-10)
$112,500
FHP Health

Category

America

Winner (holder)

Devlin, Bruce

Score

130 (-10)

Prize money

$112,500

Title sponsor

FHP Health

Played as the FHP Health Care Classic (March 3-5). Devlin (Aus) beat Dave Eichelberger (USA) with a 22-foot birdie putt at the second playoff hole, to record his only win on the Snr PGA Tour and end a 23-year drought without a PGA Tour or Snr PGA Tour win. Reduced to 36 holes after final round was rained out. [Ojai Valley Inn & CC, Ojai, nr Ventura, California].

1983
Aus/NZ
200 (-10)
Air NZ/Shell

Category

Aus/NZ

Winner (holder)

Devlin, Bruce

Score

200 (-10)

Prize money

Title sponsor

Air NZ/Shell

Played as the Air New Zealand Shell Open (Dec 1-4). Second-placed Bobby Clampett (USA) finished 1 shot behind Devlin (Aus), who birdied the last hole for a final round 4-under-par 66 and the title. Event reduced to 54 holes due to bad weather wiping out the third round. [Titirangi GC, New Lynn, Auckland, NZ].

1972
America
Pleasant Valley, Mass.
275 (-13)
$40,000
USI

Category

America

Winner (holder)

Devlin, Bruce

Venue

Pleasant Valley, Mass.

Score

275 (-13)

Prize money

$40,000

Title sponsor

USI

Played as the USI Classic (Aug 17-20). Second-placed Lee Elder (USA) finished 3 shots behind Bruce Devlin (Aus), who recorded the last of his eight PGA Tour wins. [Pleasant Valley CC, Sutton, MA].

1972
America
Westwood GC, TX
278 (-10)
$25,000
x

Category

America

Winner (holder)

Devlin, Bruce

Venue

Westwood GC, TX

Score

278 (-10)

Prize money

$25,000

Title sponsor

x

Played as the Houston Open (May 4-8). Second-placed Doug Sanders (USA), Tommy Aaron (USA) and Lou Graham (USA) finished 2 shots behind Bruce Devlin (Aus). Monday finish after Sunday's final round was rained out. [Westwood GC, Houston, TX. At the time Westwood CC].

1970
Aus/NZ
Surfers Paradise
275
x

Category

Aus/NZ

Winner (holder)

Devlin, Bruce

Venue

Surfers Paradise

Score

275

Prize money

Title sponsor

x

Played as the Australian PGA Ch'ship. T. Woolbank, P. Harvey and J. Dyer finished in second place behind Devlin (Aus). [Surfers Paradise, Gold Coast, Qld., Aus].

1970
Europe
278 (-10)
£23,060
Alcan

Category

Europe

Winner (holder)

Devlin, Bruce

Score

278 (-10)

Prize money

£23,060

Title sponsor

Alcan

Played as the Alcan Golfer of the Year Championship (Sept 17-20). Second-placed Bob Rosburg (USA) finished 7 shots behind Bruce Devlin (Aus). [Portmarnock GC, nr Dublin, Ireland].

1970
America
La Quinta CC, Cal
339 (-21)
$25,000
x

Category

America

Winner (holder)

Devlin, Bruce

Venue

La Quinta CC, Cal

Score

339 (-21)

Prize money

$25,000

Title sponsor

x

Played as the Bob Hope Desert Classic (Feb 4-8). Second-placed Larry Ziegler (USA) finished 4 shots behind Devlin (Aus), who recorded his fifth PGA Tour win. [La Quinta CC, Coachella Valley, CA. Earlier rounds also at: Bermuda Dunes CC; Indian Wells CC; Eldorado CC].

1970
America
Aurora CC
268 (-12)
$30,000
x

Category

America

Winner (holder)

Devlin, Bruce

Venue

Aurora CC

Score

268 (-12)

Prize money

$30,000

Title sponsor

x

Played as the Cleveland Open (June 25-28). Second-placed Steve Eichstaedt (USA) finished 4 shots behind Bruce Devlin (Aus). [Aurora CC, Aurora, nr Cleveland, OH].

Category

Aus/NZ

Winner (holder)

Devlin, Bruce

Score

277

Prize money

Title sponsor

x

Played as the Australian PGA Ch'ship. T. Murakami (Jpn) finished in second place behind Devlin (Aus).

1969
America
Preston Trail
277 (-3)
$20,000
x

Category

America

Winner (holder)

Devlin, Bruce

Venue

Preston Trail

Score

277 (-3)

Prize money

$20,000

Title sponsor

x

Played as the Byron Nelson Golf Classic (April 24-27). Second-placed Frank Beard (USA) and Bruce Crampton (Aus) finished 1 shot behind Devlin (Aus). [Preston Trail GC, Dallas, TX].

Category

America

Winner (holder)

Devlin, Bruce

Score

280 (E)

Prize money

$22,000

Title sponsor

x

Played as the Colonial National Invitation (May 19-22). Second-placed Richard "R.H." Sikes (USA) finished 1 shot behind Bruce Devlin (Aus), who recorded his second PGA Tour win. [Colonial CC, Ft Worth, TX].

Category

Europe

Winner (holder)

Devlin, Bruce

Score

273

Prize money

Title sponsor

x

Played as the Open de France. Second-placed Kel Nagle (Aus) finished 4 shots behind Devlin (Aus). [Vert course, Saint Cloud GC, Garches, nr Paris].

Category

Aus/NZ

Winner (holder)

Devlin, Bruce

Score

273 (-11)

Prize money

Title sponsor

x

Played as the New Zealand Open (Sept 26-29). Second-placed Peter Thomson (Aus) finished 1 shots behind Devlin (Aus). [Wanganui GC, Belmont Links, Whanganui, NZ].

Category

Aus/NZ

Winner (holder)

Devlin, Bruce

Score

282

Prize money

amateur

Title sponsor

x

Played as the Australian Open (Aug 18-20). Second-placed Edward "Ted" Ball (Aus, amateur) finished 1 shot behind Devlin (Aus, amateur, described in the press as a master plumber). [Lake Karrinyup CC, Perth, WA, Aus].

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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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