Dave Thomas (golfer)

Dave Thomas
— Golfer —
Personal information
Full name David Charles Thomas
Born (1934-08-16)16 August 1934
Newcastle, England
Died 27 August 2013(2013-08-27) (aged 79)
Spain
Nationality  Wales
Career
Turned professional 1949
Former tour(s) European Tour
Professional wins 17
Best results in major championships
Masters Tournament T30: 1959
U.S. Open CUT: 1964
The Open Championship 2nd/T2: 1958, 1966
PGA Championship DNP

David Charles Thomas (16 August 1934 – 27 August 2013) was a Welsh professional golfer and renowned golf course architect.

Thomas was one of Britain's leading golfers during the 1950s and 1960s with many tournament victories around Europe, including the News of the World Match Play and the Belgian, Dutch and French Open championships. He was runner-up at The Open Championship in 1958 and 1966.[1]

Career

Born in Newcastle upon Tyne, England, Thomas turned professional in 1949, taking up a position as an assistant. He later played tournament golf, and won more than a dozen titles in Britain and around Europe. He also tried his hand in the United States with less success, although he did win a qualifying tournament for the U.S. Open in 1964 and finished second in the St. Paul Open.[1]

In 1958, Thomas finished tied with Peter Thomson after 72 holes in the Open at Royal Lytham, but lost the 36-hole Saturday playoff by four strokes. At Muirfield in 1966, he again finished as runner-up, one stroke behind Jack Nicklaus. Throughout his career, Thomas was renowned for his long, straight, driving, and once hit a drive during a practice round for the 1967 Open at Hoylake onto the green at the 420-yard (384 m) second hole.[1]

Thomas represented Great Britain in the Ryder Cup on four occasions, in 1959, 1963, 1965 and 1967, only being defeated once in his five singles matches. He also represented Wales in the Canada Cup, which later became the World Cup of Golf, on eleven occasions,[1] and again at the Double Diamond Internationals in 1972.

Thomas was elected Captain of the Professional Golfers' Association during their centenary year in 2001, and in 2006 was recognised for his contribution to golf by being made an honorary life member of the PGA.[2]

After retiring from tournament golf due to back and eye problems,[1] Thomas set up a golf course design business. He has designed over 100 courses around the world,[3] and his work includes Hacienda Del Alamo, the Brabazon, Derby and PGA National courses at Ryder Cup venue The Belfry.[2][4]

Thomas died at his home in Spain on 27 August 2013.[5]

Professional wins

This list may be incomplete.

Results in major championships

Tournament 1956 1957 1958 1959
Masters Tournament DNP DNP DNP T30
U.S. Open DNP DNP DNP DNP
The Open Championship T17 T5 2 DNP
Tournament 1960 1961 1962 1963 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969
Masters Tournament DNP DNP DNP DNP CUT DNP CUT T46 DNP DNP
U.S. Open DNP DNP DNP DNP CUT DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP
The Open Championship DNP T23 T8 T26 T14 39 T2 CUT T27 CUT
Tournament 1970 1971 1972
Masters Tournament DNP DNP DNP
U.S. Open DNP DNP DNP
The Open Championship T32 DNP CUT

Note: Thomas never played in th PGA Championship.
DNP = Did not play
CUT = missed the half-way cut
"T" indicates a tie for a place
Yellow background for top-10

Summary

Tournament Wins 2nd 3rd Top-5 Top-10 Top-25 Events Cuts made
Masters Tournament 0 0 0 0 0 0 4 2
U.S. Open 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0
The Open Championship 0 2 0 3 4 7 14 11
PGA Championship 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Totals 0 2 0 3 4 7 19 13

Team appearances

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 Alliss, Peter (1983). The Who's Who of Golf. Orbis Publishing. p. 300. ISBN 0-85613-520-8.
  2. 1 2 "Delighted Dave gets life reward". Manchester Evening News. 8 May 2005. Retrieved 14 August 2009.
  3. ↑ "Dave's course for celebration". The Journal. 1 September 2006. Retrieved 14 August 2009.
  4. ↑ "About Hacienda Del Alamo". Hacienda Golf Properties. Retrieved 30 August 2014.
  5. ↑ Clifford, Richard (28 August 2013). "Tributes pour in for Welsh golfing great Dave Thomas". WalesOnline. Retrieved 28 August 2013.

External links

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