George Duncan (golfer)

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George Duncan
— Golfer —
George Duncan, professional golfer.JPG
Duncan, c. 1907
Personal information
Born (1883-09-16)16 September 1883
Methlick, Scotland
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Leeds, England
Nationality  Scotland
Career
Status Professional
Professional wins 20
Best results in major championships
(wins: 1)
Masters Tournament DNP
U.S. Open 6th: 1922
The Open Championship Won: 1920
PGA Championship DNP

George Duncan (16 September 1883 – 15 January 1964) was a Scottish professional golfer. He was also a golf course designer. His much sought-after professional teaching and swing analysis skills lead to him being referred to as "the pro's pro." He won the 1920 Open Championship.

Early life

Duncan was born in Methlick, Aberdeenshire, Scotland, on 16 September 1883.[1] He was first apprenticed as a carpenter and rejected a chance to become a professional footballer at Aberdeen to become a golf professional.

Golf career

Duncan was well known for his fast pace of play; he would simply walk to his ball, drop his limbs into his stance immediately, and hit the ball. If he ever studied the line and shape of his shot, he had done it before he reached his ball, for there was no pause when he got to it. As for practice swings, he regarded them as totally unnecessary and barely legal – close to practising on the course.[2]

1920 Open Championship

In 1920, he won the first post World War I Open Championship at Royal Cinque Ports in Kent, in one of the greatest comebacks in Open Championship history. After shooting 80 in his first two rounds, Duncan was thirteen shots behind the leader, Abe Mitchell, before the final two rounds were played, but made up the deficit to win by two shots from Sandy Herd.[3] His rounds were 80-80-71-72=303. He is the last player to win a golf major with a score of 80 for a round.[4]

1922 Open Championship

Although he did not win the British Open in 1922, his third round of that Open was included as one of the 25 greatest rounds of golf ever played in the Guinness Book of Golf Records Facts and Champions. His third round 69 was only the third round shot under 70 in British Open history; a major achievement given the limitations of the golf technology of the day. He just failed to win the 1922 Open, eventually losing to Walter Hagen by a margin of one stroke. The scene of his demise was a dip in the fairway in front of the 18th green from which he fluffed a chip shot to a position five yards short of the pin. He eventually missed the crucial putt for a tie with Hagen, which led to the short position in front of the 18th being ironically named "Duncan's Hollow."

Ryder Cup

He played for Great Britain in the Ryder Cup in 1927, 1929, and 1931. He was playing captain in 1929 when Great Britain was the victorious side.

Death and legacy

Duncan died on 15 January 1964 in Leeds, England.[5] He is best remembered for winning the 1920 Open Championship.

Tournament wins (20)

This list may be incomplete.

Major championship is shown in bold.

Major championships

Wins (1)

Year Championship 54 holes Winning score Margin Runner-up
1920 The Open Championship 2 shot deficit 80-80-71-72=303 2 strokes Scotland Sandy Herd

Results timeline

Duncan played in only The Open Championship and the U.S. Open.

Tournament 1903 1904 1905 1906 1907 1908 1909
U.S. Open DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP
The Open Championship CUT CUT CUT T8 T7 T18 T21
Tournament 1910 1911 1912 1913 1914 1915 1916 1917 1918 1919
U.S. Open DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP NT NT DNP
The Open Championship 3 8 4 DNP T10 NT NT NT NT NT
Tournament 1920 1921 1922 1923 1924 1925 1926 1927 1928 1929
U.S. Open DNP T8 6 DNP DNP DNP DNP CUT DNP DNP
The Open Championship 1 5 T2 T6 T6 T28 T21 DNP T18 22
Tournament 1930 1931 1932 1933 1934 1935 1936 1937
U.S. Open DNP CUT DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP
The Open Championship CUT T36 CUT CUT DNP CUT DNP CUT

NT = No tournament
DNP = Did not play
CUT = missed the half-way cut
"T" indicates a tie for a place
Green background for wins. Yellow background for top-10

References

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  2. Caddie in the Golden Age - Ernest Hargreaves
  3. Zullo, Allan, "Astonishing but True Golf Facts", Andrew McMeels Publishing, Forest Fairview, North Carolina, 2001.
  4. http://www.pgatour.com/2010/r/07/17/notebook/index.html
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Template:1927 Great Britain Ryder Cup team Template:1929 Great Britain Ryder Cup team

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