Who's who: Tommy Armour

  • Photo of Tommy Armour
  • scotland.png
  • Photo of Tommy Armour
  • scotland.png

Who's who: Tommy Armour

  • Name:

    Tommy Dickson Armour
  • Country:

    Scotland
  • Lived:

    [1895-1968]. Born on Sept 24, 1895 in Edinburgh. Died on Sept 11, 1968 in Larchmont, New York (aged 73).
  • Original/Home Club:

    Edinburgh, Scotland
  • Occupation:

    Professional golfer; golf instructor; golf writer.
  • Turned Pro:

    1924

Roll of Honour

MAJORS (3): US Open (1927); US PGA (1930); The Open (1931). PGA Tour wins (25). World Golf Hall of Fame (inducted in 1976).

Did you know?

Born in Edinburgh, Scotland in 1895, Armour fought with great distinction in the First World War, where he rose from the rank of Private to Staff Major in the British Army's Tank Corps. He emigrated to the USA in the early 1920s and took American citizenship.

During his professional career Armour won three major championships, the US Open (1927), US PGA Championship (1930) and Open Championship (1931); the Masters Tournament was not launched until 1934 when Armour was aged almost 40.

Known as the 'Silver Scot' he is credited with having stated that 'golf is an awkward set of bodily contortions designed to produce a graceful result.' To unravel the mysteries of the contortions, Armour and Herb Graffis co-wrote one of the best-selling instruction books about golf, 'How to Play Your Best Golf All the Time.' Armour's grandson Tommy Armour III also became a professional golfer, recording two wins on the PGA Tour.

Armour retired from full-time professional golf in 1935 and continued his golf professional duties at Boca Raton Club in Florida, charging $50 a lesson. He spent many of his summers in suburban New York City, where he was a member of Winged Foot Golf Club. His name lives on in the golf equipment possessed by many discerning golfers worldwide, not least in the still very highly-rated Tommy Armour "Silver Scot" irons.

Top tournaments won by Tommy Armour

1935
America
Miami Springs G&CC
281 (+1)
$500
x

Category

America

Winner (holder)

Armour, Tommy

Venue

Miami Springs G&CC

Score

281 (+1)

Prize money

$500

Title sponsor

x

Played as the Miami Open (Jan 4-7). Second-placed Bobby Cruickshank (Scot) finished 3 shots behind Tommy Armour (Scot/USA). [Miami Springs G&CC, Miami, FL; at the time known as Miami Springs Golf Club].

1934
America
Lakeview GC, Ont.
287 (+7)
$500
x

Category

America

Winner (holder)

Armour, Tommy

Venue

Lakeview GC, Ont.

Score

287 (+7)

Prize money

$500

Title sponsor

x

Played as the Canadian Open (Aug 2-4). Second-placed Ky Laffoon (USA) finished 2 shots behind three-time Canadian Open winner Tommy Armour (Scot/USA). [Lakeview GC, Mississauga, Ont].

1932
America
Miami Springs G&CC
285 (-7)
$800
x

Category

America

Winner (holder)

Armour, Tommy

Venue

Miami Springs G&CC

Score

285 (-7)

Prize money

$800

Title sponsor

x

Played as the Miami Open (Jan 1-3). Second-placed John Kinder (USA) finished 9 shots behind Tommy Armour (Scot/USA), who won this title for the second time in four years. [Miami Springs G&CC, Miami, FL; at the time known as Miami Springs Municipal Course].

Category

Majors

Winner (holder)

Armour, Tommy

Score

296

Prize money

£100

Title sponsor

R&A

The Open Championship (66th) (June 3-5). Second-placed José Jurado (Arg) finished 1 shot behind Armour (USA). [Championship Course, Carnoustie Golf Links, Angus].

Category

America

Winner (holder)

Armour, Tommy

Score

273 (-7)

Prize money

$500

Title sponsor

x

Played as the Canadian Open (July 24-26, 30). Tommy Armour (Scot/USA) beat defending champion Leo Diegel (USA) by 3 shots in a 36-hole Wednesday playoff (Armour 69, 69; Diegel 69, 72). [Hamilton G&CC, Ancaster, Ontario].

1930
Majors
Fresh Meadow CC
1 hole
PGA of America

Category

Majors

Winner (holder)

Armour, Tommy

Venue

Fresh Meadow CC

Score

1 hole

Prize money

Title sponsor

PGA of America

The US PGA Championship (13th) (Sept 9-13). Tommy Armour (Scot/USA) beat Gene Sarazen (USA) 1-up in the 36-hole final. At the time, Sarazen was the club professional at Fresh Meadow CC. [Fresh Meadow CC, Flushing, NY; this A.W Tillinghast-designed course no longer exists. In 1946, Fresh Meadow CC took over, moved to and renamed the course of the defunct Lakeville G&CC at Lake Success, L.I.].

1929
America
Ozaukee CC
273 (-7)
$500
WGA

Category

America

Winner (holder)

Armour, Tommy

Venue

Ozaukee CC

Score

273 (-7)

Prize money

$500

Title sponsor

WGA

Played as the Western Open (Aug 21-24). Second-placed Horton Smith (USA) finished 8 shots behind wire-to-wire winner Tommy Armour (Scot/USA). [Ozaukee CC, Mequon, nr Milwaukee, WI].

1927
America
288 (-4)
$400
x

Category

America

Winner (holder)

Armour, Tommy

Score

288 (-4)

Prize money

$400

Title sponsor

x

Played as the Canadian Open (Aug 4-6). Second-placed and defending champion Macdonald "Mac" Smith (Scot/USA) finished 1 shot behind Tommy Armour (Scot/USA). [Toronto GC, Mississauga, Ont.].

1927
Majors
301 (+13)
$500
USGA

Category

Majors

Winner (holder)

Armour, Tommy

Score

301 (+13)

Prize money

$500

Title sponsor

USGA

The US Open (31st) (June 14-17). Armour (USA) beat Harry Cooper (USA) in an 18-hole playoff: Armour 76 (+4), Cooper 79 (+7). [Oakmont CC, nr Pittsburgh, PA].

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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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