Tommy Armour
Name:
Tommy Dickson ArmourCountry:
ScotlandLived:
[1895-1968]. Born on Sept 24, 1895 in Edinburgh. Died on Sept 11, 1968 in Larchmont, New York (aged 73).Original/Home Club:
Edinburgh, ScotlandOccupation:
Professional golfer; golf instructor; golf writer.Turned Pro:
1924MAJORS (3): US Open (1927); US PGA (1930); The Open (1931). PGA Tour wins (25). World Golf Hall of Fame (inducted in 1976).
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.
America
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].
America
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].
America
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].
The Open Championship (66th) (June 3-5). Second-placed José Jurado (Arg) finished 1 shot behind Armour (USA). [Championship Course, Carnoustie Golf Links, Angus].
America
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].
Majors
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.].
America
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].
America
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.].
Majors
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].
124th US Open: the No.2 Course at Pinehurst once again plays host to this most illustrious championship (June 13-16). Wyndham Clark defends his title, having won at Los Angeles CC in 2023.
79th Women’s US Open: the second women’s major championship of the season gets underway at Lancaster CC in Pennsylvania. It’s the second time the championship has been held here.
(May 30-June 2).
Nelly Korda: won the Mizuho Americas Open (May 16-19) at Liberty National GC, continuing her extraordinary form in LPGA events. This was her sixth win in seven starts in 2024.
Xander Schauffele: recorded his first major championship win, and second record-equalling low score of 62 in a major. Only he, Branden Grace, Rickie Fowler and Shane Lowry have achieved this feat in a men’s major championship.
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
You can subscribe to the Where2Golf channel on YT if you like to see more video content. You'll find a "Subscribe" button on any of our YouTube videos. Or if you want a quick and direct access subscribe here. Once done, any new published videos will show up in your Subscriptions feed.
