Who's who: Bob Goalby

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Who's who: Bob Goalby

  • Name:

    Robert George "Bob" Goalby
  • Country:

    USA
  • Lived:

    [1929-2022]. Born on March 14, 1929 in Belleville, Illinois, and died there on Jan 19, 2022 (aged 92).
  • Original/Home Club:

    St Clair CC (firstly as a caddie).
  • Occupation:

    Professional golfer, course designer and NBC golf commentator.
  • Turned Pro:

    1952

Roll of Honour

MAJORS (1): The Masters (1968). Ryder Cup player (1963). PGA Tour wins (11). Senior PGA Tour wins (2).

Golf course design

Goalby designed a number of courses in and around his hometown of Belleville, Illinois.

Did you know?

The son of a coal miner, Goalby gained his first experiences of golf as a caddie at the nearby St Clair Country Club. Joining the professional golf ranks in 1952 after serving with the U.S. military in the Korean War, Goalby went on to claim 11 PGA Tour wins between 1958 and 1971.

His biggest triumph came in the 1968 Masters Tournament, when he was aged 42. At the end of the final round Goalby found himself tied with Roberto De Vicenzo, and fully expected to play the Argentinian in an 18-hole playoff the following day. However, De Vicenzo's card had been wrongly marked by his playing partner Tommy Aaron, who recorded a par-4 for De Vicenzo at the 17th hole, when in fact he had a birdie-3. De Vicenzo signed his card without noticing the error, the incorrect par-4 stood, and Vicenzo lost out to Goalby by one shot.

Top tournaments won by Bob Goalby

1983
America
Jeremy Ranch
256 (-32)
$25,000
x

Category

America

Winner (holder)

Goalby, Bob

Venue

Jeremy Ranch

Score

256 (-32)

Prize money

$25,000

Title sponsor

x

Played as the Shootout at Jeremy Ranch (unofficial two-man better-ball event; Snr Tr player paired with a PGA Tr player). Second-placed Billy Casper (USA) & Jim Nelford (Can) finished 1 shot behind (USA) behind Bob Goalby (USA) & Mike Reid (USA). [Jeremy Ranch G&CC, Park City, nr Salt Lake City, Utah].

1982
America
273 (-15)
$31,500
Peter Jackson

Category

America

Winner (holder)

Goalby, Bob

Score

273 (-15)

Prize money

$31,500

Title sponsor

Peter Jackson

Played as the Peter Jackson Champions (June 24-27). Second-placed Gene Littler (USA) finished 1 shot behind Goalby (USA), who recorded the second of his two Snr PGA Tour wins. [St Charles CC, Winnipeg, Manitoba].

1981
America
Marlborough CC
208 (-2)
$25,000
Marlborough CC

Category

America

Winner (holder)

Goalby, Bob

Venue

Marlborough CC

Score

208 (-2)

Prize money

$25,000

Title sponsor

Marlborough CC

Played as the inaugural Marlborough Classic. Second-placed Art Wall Jr (USA) finished 2 shots behind first-time US Snr Tr winner Goalby (USA). [Marlborough CC, Marlborough, Massachusetts].

1970
America
280 (-4)
$20,000
x

Category

America

Winner (holder)

Goalby, Bob

Score

280 (-4)

Prize money

$20,000

Title sponsor

x

Played as the Heritage Golf Classic (Nov 26-29). Second-placed Lanny Wadkins (USA) finished 4 shots behind Goalby (USA), who recorded his tenth PGA Tour win. [Harbour Town Links, Sea Pines Resort, Hilton Head, SC].

1968
Majors
277 (-11)
$20,000
x

Category

Majors

Winner (holder)

Goalby, Bob

Score

277 (-11)

Prize money

$20,000

Title sponsor

x

The Masters Tournament (32nd) (April 11-14). Second-placed Roberto De Vicenzo (Arg) finished 1 shot behind Goalby (USA). De Vicenzo should have tied with Goalby on 277, but he incorrectly signed for a 4 on the 17th hole in the final round, when he had actually made a birdie 3. The signed scorecard could not be amended, meaning De Vicenzo missed out on the chance of a playoff. [Augusta National GC, Augusta, GA].

Category

America

Winner (holder)

Goalby, Bob

Score

269 (-15)

Prize money

$13,200

Title sponsor

x

Played as the San Diego Open Invitational (Jan 12-15). Second-placed Gay Brewer (USA) finished 1 shot behind Goalby (USA). [Riverwalk GC, San Diego, CA; at the time known as Stardust CC].

1962
America
Wethersfield CC
271 (-13)
$5,300
x

Category

America

Winner (holder)

Goalby, Bob

Venue

Wethersfield CC

Score

271 (-13)

Prize money

$5,300

Title sponsor

x

Played as the Insurance City Open (Aug 2-5). Bob Goalby (USA) beat Art Wall Jr (USA) with a birdie at the seventh playoff hole, to record his fifth PGA Tour win. A year earlier the event also went to a seven hole playoff. [Wethersfield CC, nr Hartford, CT].

1961
America
275 (-9)
$7,500
x

Category

America

Winner (holder)

Goalby, Bob

Score

275 (-9)

Prize money

$7,500

Title sponsor

x

Played as the Los Angeles Open (Jan 6-9; PGA Tour season opener). Second-placed Eric Brown (Scot) and Art Wall Jr (USA) finished 3 shots behind Goalby (USA). [Rancho Park GC, Los Angeles, CA].

1960
America
272 (-12)
$2,800
x

Category

America

Winner (holder)

Goalby, Bob

Score

272 (-12)

Prize money

$2,800

Title sponsor

x

Played as the Coral Gables Open (Dec 8-11). Second-placed Dow Finsterwald (USA) finished 1 shot behind Bob Goalby (USA), who recorded his second PGA Tour win. [The Biltmore, Coral Gables, Miami, FL].

1958
America
Starmount Forest
275 (-9)
$2,000
x

Category

America

Winner (holder)

Goalby, Bob

Venue

Starmount Forest

Score

275 (-9)

Prize money

$2,000

Title sponsor

x

Played as the Greater Greensboro Open (April 10-13). Second-placed Dow Finsterwald (USA), Don January (USA), Tony Lema (USA), Sam Snead (USA) and Art Wall Jr (USA) finished 2 shots behind first-time PGA Tour winner Goalby (USA). [Starmount Forest CC, Greensboro, NC].

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