Bob Charles (golfer)
Encyclopedia
Sir Robert James Charles, ONZ
, KNZM
, CBE
(born 14 March 1936) is a New Zealand professional golfer
whose achievements over five decades rank him among the most successful left-handed golfers of all time, being the first lefty to win a golf major
, winning more than 70 titles, and beating his age twice during a tournament as a 71 year-old.
district in New Zealand’s
North Island
, Charles lived in Masterton
where he worked as a bank teller and demonstrated great golfing potential. He caused a sensation on 8 November 1954 when, as an 18 year old amateur, he beat a top international field to win the New Zealand Open
at Heretaunga
. The media was full of praise for this slight young man who equalled the open record of 280, and there were many predictions for an imminent venture in the professional ranks and a lucrative career.
Charles decided to hone his skills as an amateur first, and remained in his bank employment for a further six years, but all the while continued to show exceptional putting prowess which helped immensely later on the professional circuits. He represented New Zealand several times in international amateur tournaments during this period.
In 1963, Charles really came to notice when he won his first PGA Tour
event in the United States, the Houston Classic, the first PGA Tour event won by a left-handed golfer. His greatest moment came later that year when he won the British Open
at Royal Lytham and St. Annes
. After four rounds (68,72,66,71) his 277 was level with American Phil Rodgers
. Charles won the 36-hole playoff by eight shots.
Charles has won about 80 tournaments around the world, and has finished in the top five countless times. As well as his important PGA victories, his win in the 1969 World Matchplay Championship was considered one of his best. He was also thrilled when in 1993 he won the Senior British Open 30 years after winning his British Open title. He remains, along with Michael Campbell
, one of only two New Zealanders to win a men's major golf championship
.
In 2007 Charles became the oldest golfer to make a cut on the European Tour at the Michael Hill New Zealand Open. Charles shot a 68 in the second round, beating his age by three strokes. He would go on to finish in a tie for 23rd place.
Charles's move to the Senior PGA Tour (now called Champions Tour
) was very lucrative and successful with 23 titles; and in three years 1988, 1989 and 1993, he recorded lowest scoring average. He finished second on the European Seniors Tour
's 2007 Wentworth Senior Masters
at the age of 71. He was the first left-hander to win a major, but also the first lefty to be inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame
, in the veterans category. He was inducted in 2008. He would remain the only lefty inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame until Phil Mickelson
was elected in 2011.
At the Senior British Open Championship
in 2010, Charles announced in an ESPN
interview that he would retire from golf, stating that he was "74 years old, traveling this world for 50 years, and it's time to slow down and spend more time on my farm in New Zealand with my family."
won The Masters in 2003, Charles was the only golfer with a left-handed swing to have won a major.
Charles was made a Member of the Order of the British Empire
(OBE) from Queen Elizabeth
in 1972 and advanced to Commander in the same Order in 1992. He became Sir Bob Charles in 1999 when made a Knight Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit
. On 31 December 2010, he was appointed to the Order of New Zealand
for services to New Zealand.
Charles married his wife Verity in 1962 and they have two children, Beverly and David. David is a golf director in the United States. He is a successful golf course designer having had major input into the Formosa Country Club east of Auckland
, Millbrook
at the resort town of Queenstown
, and the nine-hole course at Matarangi
on the Coromandel Peninsula
. He was also consultant to the Clearwater course, near Christchurch, designed by golf architect John Darby.
Charles has played in the Gary Player Invitational several times to assist Gary Player
raise funds for various underprivileged children's causes.
Major championship
is shown in bold.
1Defeated Phil Rodgers in a 36-hole playoff (Charles 69–71=140, Rodgers 72–76=148).
Professional
LA = Low Amateur
NYF = Tournament not yet founded
NT = No tournament
DNP = Did not play
WD = Withdrew
"T" indicates a tie for a place
DNQ = Did not qualify for match play portion
R256, R128, R64, R32, R16, QF, SF = Round in which player lost in match play
Green background for wins. Yellow background for top-10
Source for The Masters: www.masters.com
Source for U.S. Open: USGA Championship Database
Source for The British Open: www.opengolf.com
Source for PGA Championship: PGA Championship Media Guide
Source for 1958 British Amateur: The Glasgow Herald, 6 June 1958, pg. 4.
Order of New Zealand
The Order of New Zealand is the highest honour in New Zealand's honours system, created "to recognise outstanding service to the Crown and people of New Zealand in a civil or military capacity"...
, KNZM
New Zealand Order of Merit
The New Zealand Order of Merit is an order established in 1996 "for those persons who in any field of endeavour, have rendered meritorious service to the Crown and nation or who have become distinguished by their eminence, talents, contributions or other merits."The order includes five...
, CBE
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
(born 14 March 1936) is a New Zealand professional golfer
Professional golfer
In golf the distinction between amateurs and professionals is rigorously maintained. An amateur who breaches the rules of amateur status may lose his or her amateur status. A golfer who has lost his or her amateur status may not play in amateur competitions until amateur status has been reinstated;...
whose achievements over five decades rank him among the most successful left-handed golfers of all time, being the first lefty to win a golf major
Men's major golf championships
The men's major golf championships, commonly known as the Major Championships, and often referred to simply as the majors, are the four most prestigious annual tournaments in professional golf...
, winning more than 70 titles, and beating his age twice during a tournament as a 71 year-old.
Early years
Born in Carterton, a small town in the WairarapaWairarapa
Wairarapa is a geographical region of New Zealand. It occupies the south-eastern corner of the North Island, east of metropolitan Wellington and south-west of the Hawke's Bay region. It is lightly populated, having several rural service towns, with Masterton being the largest...
district in New Zealand’s
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
North Island
North Island
The North Island is one of the two main islands of New Zealand, separated from the much less populous South Island by Cook Strait. The island is in area, making it the world's 14th-largest island...
, Charles lived in Masterton
Masterton
Masterton is a large town and local government district in the Wellington Region of New Zealand. It is the largest town in the Wairarapa, a region separated from Wellington by the Rimutaka ranges...
where he worked as a bank teller and demonstrated great golfing potential. He caused a sensation on 8 November 1954 when, as an 18 year old amateur, he beat a top international field to win the New Zealand Open
New Zealand Open
The BMW New Zealand Open is the leading men's golf tournament in New Zealand. In 2011, it will be hosted by The Clearwater Resort in Christchurch from 1–4 December. The tournament is being promoted by New Zealand Golf...
at Heretaunga
Heretaunga
There are two places in New Zealand called Heretaunga. For the region in Hawke's Bay see Heretaunga Plains.Heretaunga is a suburb of Upper Hutt located in the lower North Island of New Zealand. The suburb takes its name from a Hawkes Bay district that early european settlers in the Hutt Valley used...
. The media was full of praise for this slight young man who equalled the open record of 280, and there were many predictions for an imminent venture in the professional ranks and a lucrative career.
Charles decided to hone his skills as an amateur first, and remained in his bank employment for a further six years, but all the while continued to show exceptional putting prowess which helped immensely later on the professional circuits. He represented New Zealand several times in international amateur tournaments during this period.
Professional career
Charles turned professional in 1960 and the next year won the New Zealand PGA Championship and soon after ventured overseas to the European and North American circuits.In 1963, Charles really came to notice when he won his first PGA Tour
PGA Tour
The PGA Tour is the organizer of the main men's professional golf tours in the United States and North America...
event in the United States, the Houston Classic, the first PGA Tour event won by a left-handed golfer. His greatest moment came later that year when he won the British Open
The Open Championship
The Open Championship, or simply The Open , is the oldest of the four major championships in professional golf. It is the only "major" held outside the USA and is administered by The R&A, which is the governing body of golf outside the USA and Mexico...
at Royal Lytham and St. Annes
Royal Lytham & St Annes Golf Club
Royal Lytham & St Annes Golf Club in Lytham St Annes, Lancashire, England, is one of the courses in the Open Championship rotation. The Women's British Open has also been played on the course four times: once prior to being designated a major championship by the LPGA Tour, and three times since.The...
. After four rounds (68,72,66,71) his 277 was level with American Phil Rodgers
Phil Rodgers
Phil Rodgers is an American professional golfer.Rodgers was born in San Diego, California. He won the 1958 NCAA Division I Championship while playing at the University of Houston...
. Charles won the 36-hole playoff by eight shots.
Charles has won about 80 tournaments around the world, and has finished in the top five countless times. As well as his important PGA victories, his win in the 1969 World Matchplay Championship was considered one of his best. He was also thrilled when in 1993 he won the Senior British Open 30 years after winning his British Open title. He remains, along with Michael Campbell
Michael Campbell
Michael Shane Campbell, CNZM is a New Zealand golfer who is best known for having won the 2005 U.S. Open and the richest prize in golf, the £1,000,000 HSBC World Match Play Championship, in the same year. He is a member of the European Tour.Ethnically, he is predominantly Māori, from the Ngati...
, one of only two New Zealanders to win a men's major golf championship
Men's major golf championships
The men's major golf championships, commonly known as the Major Championships, and often referred to simply as the majors, are the four most prestigious annual tournaments in professional golf...
.
In 2007 Charles became the oldest golfer to make a cut on the European Tour at the Michael Hill New Zealand Open. Charles shot a 68 in the second round, beating his age by three strokes. He would go on to finish in a tie for 23rd place.
Charles's move to the Senior PGA Tour (now called Champions Tour
Champions Tour
The Champions Tour, a golf tour run by the PGA Tour, hosts a series of events annually in the United States and the United Kingdom for golfers 50 years of age and older. Many of the PGA Tour's most successful golfers have gone on to play on the Champions Tour.The Senior PGA Championship, founded in...
) was very lucrative and successful with 23 titles; and in three years 1988, 1989 and 1993, he recorded lowest scoring average. He finished second on the European Seniors Tour
European Seniors Tour
The European Seniors Tour is a professional tour for male golfers aged 50 and over run by the PGA European Tour.The Tour was founded in 1992. In 2008 it had a total prize fund of €7,729,284, so it is much further behind the U.S.-based Champions Tour in relative prize money than the main European...
's 2007 Wentworth Senior Masters
Wentworth Senior Masters
Wentworth Senior Masters is a men's professional golf tournament on the European Seniors Tour. It was first played in 1997, when it was won by one of golf's all time greats, Gary Player of South Africa. It is staged at the Wentworth Club on the western fringes of London, which is the location of...
at the age of 71. He was the first left-hander to win a major, but also the first lefty to be inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame
World Golf Hall of Fame
The World Golf Hall of Fame is located at World Golf Village near St. Augustine, Florida, in the United States, and it is unusual among sports halls of fame in that a single site serves both men and women. It is supported by a consortium of 26 golf organizations from all over the world.The Hall of...
, in the veterans category. He was inducted in 2008. He would remain the only lefty inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame until Phil Mickelson
Phil Mickelson
Philip Alfred Mickelson is an American professional golfer. He has won four major championships and a total of 39 events on the PGA Tour. He has reached a career high world ranking of 2nd in multiple years. He is nicknamed "Lefty" for his left-handed swing, even though he is otherwise right-handed...
was elected in 2011.
At the Senior British Open Championship
Senior British Open Championship
The Senior Open Championship, or simply The Senior Open is a professional golf tournament for men aged 50 and over. It is run by The R&A, the same body that organises The Open Championship. Prize money won in the event is official money on both the Champions Tour and the European Seniors Tour...
in 2010, Charles announced in an ESPN
ESPN
Entertainment and Sports Programming Network, commonly known as ESPN, is an American global cable television network focusing on sports-related programming including live and pre-taped event telecasts, sports talk shows, and other original programming....
interview that he would retire from golf, stating that he was "74 years old, traveling this world for 50 years, and it's time to slow down and spend more time on my farm in New Zealand with my family."
Personal life
Charles is a sporting hero in New Zealand, not only for his achievements but also for his demeanour and philanthropy regarding junior golfers. He was also a role model worldwide for left-handed golfers. Until Canadian Mike WeirMike Weir
Michael Richard Weir, CM, O.Ont is a Canadian professional golfer on the PGA Tour. He spent over 110 weeks in the top-10 of the Official World Golf Rankings between 2001 and 2005. He is best known for winning the Masters in 2003....
won The Masters in 2003, Charles was the only golfer with a left-handed swing to have won a major.
Charles was made a Member of the Order of the British Empire
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
(OBE) from Queen Elizabeth
Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom
Elizabeth II is the constitutional monarch of 16 sovereign states known as the Commonwealth realms: the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Jamaica, Barbados, the Bahamas, Grenada, Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, Tuvalu, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Belize,...
in 1972 and advanced to Commander in the same Order in 1992. He became Sir Bob Charles in 1999 when made a Knight Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit
New Zealand Order of Merit
The New Zealand Order of Merit is an order established in 1996 "for those persons who in any field of endeavour, have rendered meritorious service to the Crown and nation or who have become distinguished by their eminence, talents, contributions or other merits."The order includes five...
. On 31 December 2010, he was appointed to the Order of New Zealand
Order of New Zealand
The Order of New Zealand is the highest honour in New Zealand's honours system, created "to recognise outstanding service to the Crown and people of New Zealand in a civil or military capacity"...
for services to New Zealand.
Charles married his wife Verity in 1962 and they have two children, Beverly and David. David is a golf director in the United States. He is a successful golf course designer having had major input into the Formosa Country Club east of Auckland
Auckland
The Auckland metropolitan area , in the North Island of New Zealand, is the largest and most populous urban area in the country with residents, percent of the country's population. Auckland also has the largest Polynesian population of any city in the world...
, Millbrook
Millbrook Resort
Millbrook Resort is a luxury resort near Queenstown, New Zealand. It is located 4 kilometres to the west of the historic gold-mining town of Arrowtown...
at the resort town of Queenstown
Queenstown, New Zealand
Queenstown is a resort town in Otago in the south-west of New Zealand's South Island. It is built around an inlet called Queenstown Bay on Lake Wakatipu, a long thin Z-shaped lake formed by glacial processes, and has spectacular views of nearby mountains....
, and the nine-hole course at Matarangi
Matarangi
Matarangi is a small modern tourist town on the Coromandel Peninsula of New Zealand.The small town consists of 300 permanent residents and over 7000 holiday residents during the summer periods of late December to February....
on the Coromandel Peninsula
Coromandel Peninsula
The Coromandel Peninsula lies in the North Island of New Zealand. It is part of the Waikato Region and Thames-Coromandel District and extends 85 kilometres north from the western end of the Bay of Plenty, forming a natural barrier to protect the Hauraki Gulf and the Firth of Thames in the west...
. He was also consultant to the Clearwater course, near Christchurch, designed by golf architect John Darby.
Charles has played in the Gary Player Invitational several times to assist Gary Player
Gary Player
Gary Player DMS; OIG is a South African professional golfer. With his nine major championship victories, he is widely regarded as one of the greatest players in the history of golf. He was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 1974. Player has won 165 tournaments on six continents over six...
raise funds for various underprivileged children's causes.
PGA Tour wins (6)
- 1963 (2) Houston Classic, British OpenThe Open ChampionshipThe Open Championship, or simply The Open , is the oldest of the four major championships in professional golf. It is the only "major" held outside the USA and is administered by The R&A, which is the governing body of golf outside the USA and Mexico...
- 1965 (1) Tucson Open Invitational
- 1967 (1) Atlanta Classic
- 1968 (1) Canadian Open
- 19741974 PGA TourThe 1974 PGA Tour season was played from January 3 to November 3. The season consisted of 44 official money events. Johnny Miller won the most tournaments, eight, including the first three events. There were 10 first-time winners. The tournament results and award winners are listed...
(1) Greater Greensboro Open
Major championship
Men's major golf championships
The men's major golf championships, commonly known as the Major Championships, and often referred to simply as the majors, are the four most prestigious annual tournaments in professional golf...
is shown in bold.
European Tour wins (4)
- 1972 John Player ClassicJohn Player ClassicThe John Player Classic was the richest golf tournament in Britain between 1970 and 1973. In 1972 and 1973 it was an event on the fledgling PGA European Tour....
, Dunlop Masters - 1973 Scandinavian Enterprise OpenScandinavian Enterprise OpenThe Scandinavian Enterprise Open was a golf tournament on the European Tour that was played in Sweden until 1990, when it had a prize fund of £400,000, which was mid-range for the tour at that time....
- 1974 Swiss Open
Australasian wins (8)
- 1954 New Zealand OpenNew Zealand OpenThe BMW New Zealand Open is the leading men's golf tournament in New Zealand. In 2011, it will be hosted by The Clearwater Resort in Christchurch from 1–4 December. The tournament is being promoted by New Zealand Golf...
(as an amateur) - 1961 New Zealand PGA ChampionshipNew Zealand PGA ChampionshipThe New Zealand PGA Championship is a golf tournament on the PGA Tour of Australasia. It is currently known for sponsorship reasons as the HSBC New Zealand PGA Championship. It has been played since 1920, with some gap periods. It was originally a match play event and switched to stroke play in 1965...
- 1966 New Zealand OpenNew Zealand OpenThe BMW New Zealand Open is the leading men's golf tournament in New Zealand. In 2011, it will be hosted by The Clearwater Resort in Christchurch from 1–4 December. The tournament is being promoted by New Zealand Golf...
- 1970 New Zealand OpenNew Zealand OpenThe BMW New Zealand Open is the leading men's golf tournament in New Zealand. In 2011, it will be hosted by The Clearwater Resort in Christchurch from 1–4 December. The tournament is being promoted by New Zealand Golf...
- 1973 New Zealand OpenNew Zealand OpenThe BMW New Zealand Open is the leading men's golf tournament in New Zealand. In 2011, it will be hosted by The Clearwater Resort in Christchurch from 1–4 December. The tournament is being promoted by New Zealand Golf...
- 1978 Air New Zealand/Shell Open
- 1979 New Zealand PGA ChampionshipNew Zealand PGA ChampionshipThe New Zealand PGA Championship is a golf tournament on the PGA Tour of Australasia. It is currently known for sponsorship reasons as the HSBC New Zealand PGA Championship. It has been played since 1920, with some gap periods. It was originally a match play event and switched to stroke play in 1965...
- 1980 New Zealand PGA ChampionshipNew Zealand PGA ChampionshipThe New Zealand PGA Championship is a golf tournament on the PGA Tour of Australasia. It is currently known for sponsorship reasons as the HSBC New Zealand PGA Championship. It has been played since 1920, with some gap periods. It was originally a match play event and switched to stroke play in 1965...
Other wins (12)
- 1961 Bowmaker Tournament, Caltex Open
- 1962 Daks TournamentDaks TournamentThe Daks Tournament was a golf tournament of the European circuit from 1950 to 1971. It was played at a number of different locations in England.-Tournament hosts:-Winners:*1971 Neil Coles and Brian Huggett *1970 Neil Coles*1969 Brian Huggett...
(tie with Dai ReesDai ReesDavid James Rees, CBE was one of the Britain's leading golfers either side of World War II.The winner of many prestigious tournaments in Britain, Europe and farther afield, Rees is best remembered as the captain of the Great Britain Ryder Cup team which defeated the United States at Lindrick Golf...
), Caltex Open, Swiss Open - 1963 Watties Open
- 1966 Watties Open, Caltex Open
- 1968 Watties Open
- 1969 Piccadilly World Match Play Championship
- 1973 South African Open
- 1983 Tallahassee Open
Senior PGA Tour wins (23)
- 19871987 Senior PGA TourThe 1987 Senior PGA Tour was the eighth season since the Senior PGA Tour officially began in 1980 . The season consisted of 32 official money events with purses totalling $8,905,000, including three majors. Chi Chi Rodriguez won the most tournaments, seven...
(3) Vintage Chrysler Invitational, GTE Classic, Sunwest Bank Charley Pride Senior Golf ClassicSunwest Bank Charley Pride Senior Golf ClassicThe Sunwest Bank Charley Pride Senior Golf Classic was a golf tournament on the Champions Tour from 1986 to 1991. It was played in Albuquerque, New Mexico at the Four Hills Country Club.... - 19881988 Senior PGA TourThe 1988 Senior PGA Tour was the ninth season since the Senior PGA Tour officially began in 1980 . The season consisted of 34 official money events with purses totalling $10,370,000, including three majors. Bob Charles and Gary Player won the most tournaments, five...
(5) NYNEX/Golf Digest Commemorative, Sunwest Bank Charley Pride Senior Golf ClassicSunwest Bank Charley Pride Senior Golf ClassicThe Sunwest Bank Charley Pride Senior Golf Classic was a golf tournament on the Champions Tour from 1986 to 1991. It was played in Albuquerque, New Mexico at the Four Hills Country Club....
, Rancho Murieta Senior Gold Rush, Vantage presents Bank One Senior Golf Classic, Pepsi Senior ChallengePepsi Senior ChallengeThe Pepsi Senior Challenge was a golf tournament on the Champions Tour from 1986 to 1988. It was played in Roswell, Georgia at the Horseshoe Bend Country Club.The purse for the 1988 tournament was US$300,000, with $45,000 going to the winner.-Winners:... - 19891989 Senior PGA TourThe 1989 Senior PGA Tour was the 10th season since the Senior PGA Tour officially began in 1980 . The season consisted of 35 official money events with purses totalling $13,345,000 , including four majors. Bob Charles won the most tournaments, five...
(5) GTE Suncoast Classic, NYNEX/Golf Digest Commemorative, Digital Seniors Classic, Sunwest Bank Charley Pride Senior Golf ClassicSunwest Bank Charley Pride Senior Golf ClassicThe Sunwest Bank Charley Pride Senior Golf Classic was a golf tournament on the Champions Tour from 1986 to 1991. It was played in Albuquerque, New Mexico at the Four Hills Country Club....
, Fairfield Barnett Space Coast ClassicFairfield Barnett Space Coast ClassicThe Fairfield Barnett Space Coast Classic was a golf tournament on the Champions Tour from 1980 to 1990. It was played in Melbourne, Florida at the Suntree Country Club.The purse for the 1990 tournament was US$300,000, with $45,000 going to the winner... - 19901990 Senior PGA TourThe 1990 Senior PGA Tour was the 11th season since the Senior PGA Tour officially began in 1980 . The season consisted of 38 official money events with purses totalling $17,800,000, including four majors. Lee Trevino won the most tournaments, seven...
(2) Digital Seniors Classic, GTE Kaanapali Classic - 19911991 Senior PGA TourThe 1991 Senior PGA Tour was the 12th season since the Senior PGA Tour officially began in 1980 . The season consisted of 37 official money events with purses totalling $18,925,000, including four majors. Mike Hill won the most tournaments, five...
(1) GTE Suncoast Classic - 19921992 Senior PGA TourThe 1992 Senior PGA Tour was the 13th season since the Senior PGA Tour officially began in 1980 . The season consisted of 37 official money events with purses totalling $20,600,000, including four majors. Lee Trevino won the most tournaments, five...
(2) Raley's Senior Gold Rush, Transamerica Senior Golf Championship - 19931993 Senior PGA TourThe 1993 Senior PGA Tour was the 14th season since the Senior PGA Tour officially began in 1980 . The season consisted of 38 official money events with purses totalling $26,500,000, including four majors. Dave Stockton won the most tournaments, five...
(3) Doug Sanders Celebrity ClassicDoug Sanders Celebrity ClassicThe Doug Sanders Celebrity Classic was a golf tournament on the Champions Tour from 1988 to 1994. It was played in Kingwood, Houston, Texas at the Deerwood Club.The purse for the 1994 tournament was US$500,000, with $75,000 going to the winner...
, Bell Atlantic Classic, Quicksilver Classic - 19951995 Senior PGA TourThe 1995 Senior PGA Tour was the 16th season since the Senior PGA Tour officially began in 1980 . The season consisted of 38 official money events with purses totalling $33,650,000, including four majors. Jim Colbert and Bob Murphy won the most tournaments, four...
(1) Hyatt Regency Maui Kaanapali Classic - 19961996 Senior PGA TourThe 1996 Senior PGA Tour was the 17th season since the Senior PGA Tour officially began in 1980 . The season consisted of 39 official money events with purses totalling $37,400,000, including four majors. Jim Colbert won the most tournaments, five...
(1) Hyatt Regency Maui Kaanapali Classic
Other senior wins (14)
- 1986 Mazda Champions (with Amy AlcottAmy AlcottAmy Alcott is an American professional golfer. She became a member of the LPGA Tour in 1975, and won five major championships and 29 LPGA Tour events in all. She is a member of the World Golf Hall of Fame....
) - 1987 Mauna Lani Invitational
- 1988 Fuji Electric Grandslam, 1st National Bank Classic
- 1989 Fuji Electric Grandslam, Senior British Open
- 1990 Fuji Electric Grandslam, Kintetsu Home Senior, Daikyo Senior Invitational
- 1991 Kintetsu Home Senior
- 1998 Office Depot Father/Son Challenge (with son David)
- 2004 Liberty Mutual Legends of GolfLiberty Mutual Legends of GolfThe Liberty Mutual Legends of Golf is a golf tournament on the Champions Tour. It is played annually in April currently in Savannah, Georgia at The Westin Savannah Harbor Resort. Liberty Mutual is the main sponsor of the tournament...
– Raphael Division (with Stewart GinnStewart GinnStewart Ginn is an Australian professional golfer.Ginn was born in Melbourne. He grew up behind the twelfth green of the Royal Melbourne Golf Club and started caddying at the age of ten. In the 1970s and 1980s he won several professional tournaments on the PGA Tour of Australasia and one on the...
) - 2009 Liberty Mutual Legends of GolfLiberty Mutual Legends of GolfThe Liberty Mutual Legends of Golf is a golf tournament on the Champions Tour. It is played annually in April currently in Savannah, Georgia at The Westin Savannah Harbor Resort. Liberty Mutual is the main sponsor of the tournament...
– Demaret Division (with Gary PlayerGary PlayerGary Player DMS; OIG is a South African professional golfer. With his nine major championship victories, he is widely regarded as one of the greatest players in the history of golf. He was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 1974. Player has won 165 tournaments on six continents over six...
) - 2010 Liberty Mutual Legends of GolfLiberty Mutual Legends of GolfThe Liberty Mutual Legends of Golf is a golf tournament on the Champions Tour. It is played annually in April currently in Savannah, Georgia at The Westin Savannah Harbor Resort. Liberty Mutual is the main sponsor of the tournament...
– Demaret Division (with Gary PlayerGary PlayerGary Player DMS; OIG is a South African professional golfer. With his nine major championship victories, he is widely regarded as one of the greatest players in the history of golf. He was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 1974. Player has won 165 tournaments on six continents over six...
)
Wins (1)
| Year | Championship | 54 Holes | Winning Score | Margin | Runner(s)-up |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1963 | The Open Championship The Open Championship The Open Championship, or simply The Open , is the oldest of the four major championships in professional golf. It is the only "major" held outside the USA and is administered by The R&A, which is the governing body of golf outside the USA and Mexico... |
1 shot lead | −7 (68–72–66–71=277) | Playoff1 |  Phil RodgersPhil Rodgers Phil Rodgers is an American professional golfer.Rodgers was born in San Diego, California. He won the 1958 NCAA Division I Championship while playing at the University of Houston... |
1Defeated Phil Rodgers in a 36-hole playoff (Charles 69–71=140, Rodgers 72–76=148).
Results timeline
Amateur| Tournament | 1958 | 1959 |
|---|---|---|
| The Masters | CUT | DNP |
| U.S. Open U.S. Open (golf) The United States Open Championship, commonly known as the U.S. Open, is the annual open golf tournament of the United States. It is the second of the four major championships in golf, and is on the official schedule of both the PGA Tour and the European Tour... |
DNP | DNP |
| The Open Championship The Open Championship The Open Championship, or simply The Open , is the oldest of the four major championships in professional golf. It is the only "major" held outside the USA and is administered by The R&A, which is the governing body of golf outside the USA and Mexico... |
CUT | DNP |
| The Amateur Championship The Amateur Championship The Amateur Championship is a golf tournament which is held annually in the United Kingdom. It is one of the two leading individual tournaments for amateur golfers, alongside the U.S. Amateur... |
QF | DNP |
Professional
| Tournament | 1960 | 1961 | 1962 | 1963 | 1964 | 1965 | 1966 | 1967 | 1968 | 1969 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Masters | DNP | DNP | T25 | T15 | T40 | T45 | CUT | CUT | 19 | T29 |
| U.S. Open U.S. Open (golf) The United States Open Championship, commonly known as the U.S. Open, is the annual open golf tournament of the United States. It is the second of the four major championships in golf, and is on the official schedule of both the PGA Tour and the European Tour... |
DNP | DNP | DNP | T19 | 3 | CUT | CUT | CUT | T7 | CUT |
| The Open Championship The Open Championship The Open Championship, or simply The Open , is the oldest of the four major championships in professional golf. It is the only "major" held outside the USA and is administered by The R&A, which is the governing body of golf outside the USA and Mexico... |
DNP | CUT | 5 | 1 | T17 | CUT | T37 | CUT | T2 | 2 |
| PGA Championship PGA Championship The PGA Championship is an annual golf tournament conducted by the PGA of America as part of the PGA Tour. It is one of the four major championships in men's professional golf, and is the golf season's final major, usually played in mid-August, customarily four weeks after The Open Championship... |
DNP | DNP | DNP | T13 | T19 | T41 | DNP | DNP | T2 | T35 |
| Tournament | 1970 | 1971 | 1972 | 1973 | 1974 | 1975 | 1976 | 1977 | 1978 | 1979 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Masters | 17 | CUT | T22 | T29 | CUT | CUT | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP |
| U.S. Open U.S. Open (golf) The United States Open Championship, commonly known as the U.S. Open, is the annual open golf tournament of the United States. It is the second of the four major championships in golf, and is on the official schedule of both the PGA Tour and the European Tour... |
T3 | T13 | CUT | 11 | CUT | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP |
| The Open Championship The Open Championship The Open Championship, or simply The Open , is the oldest of the four major championships in professional golf. It is the only "major" held outside the USA and is administered by The R&A, which is the governing body of golf outside the USA and Mexico... |
T13 | T18 | T15 | T7 | CUT | T12 | CUT | T43 | T48 | T10 |
| PGA Championship PGA Championship The PGA Championship is an annual golf tournament conducted by the PGA of America as part of the PGA Tour. It is one of the four major championships in men's professional golf, and is the golf season's final major, usually played in mid-August, customarily four weeks after The Open Championship... |
T26 | T13 | T58 | DNP | T73 | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP |
| Tournament | 1980 | 1981 | 1982 | 1983 | 1984 | 1985 | 1986 | 1987 | 1988 | 1989 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Masters | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP |
| U.S. Open U.S. Open (golf) The United States Open Championship, commonly known as the U.S. Open, is the annual open golf tournament of the United States. It is the second of the four major championships in golf, and is on the official schedule of both the PGA Tour and the European Tour... |
DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP |
| The Open Championship The Open Championship The Open Championship, or simply The Open , is the oldest of the four major championships in professional golf. It is the only "major" held outside the USA and is administered by The R&A, which is the governing body of golf outside the USA and Mexico... |
T60 | T35 | CUT | DNP | T47 | WD | T19 | DNP | T20 | DNP |
| PGA Championship PGA Championship The PGA Championship is an annual golf tournament conducted by the PGA of America as part of the PGA Tour. It is one of the four major championships in men's professional golf, and is the golf season's final major, usually played in mid-August, customarily four weeks after The Open Championship... |
DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP |
| Tournament | 1990 | 1991 | 1992 | 1993 | 1994 | 1995 | 1996 | 1997 | 1998 | 1999 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Masters | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP |
| U.S. Open U.S. Open (golf) The United States Open Championship, commonly known as the U.S. Open, is the annual open golf tournament of the United States. It is the second of the four major championships in golf, and is on the official schedule of both the PGA Tour and the European Tour... |
DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP |
| The Open Championship The Open Championship The Open Championship, or simply The Open , is the oldest of the four major championships in professional golf. It is the only "major" held outside the USA and is administered by The R&A, which is the governing body of golf outside the USA and Mexico... |
CUT | DNP | DNP | DNP | CUT | CUT | 71 | DNP | DNP | CUT |
| PGA Championship PGA Championship The PGA Championship is an annual golf tournament conducted by the PGA of America as part of the PGA Tour. It is one of the four major championships in men's professional golf, and is the golf season's final major, usually played in mid-August, customarily four weeks after The Open Championship... |
DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP |
| Tournament | 2000 | 2001 |
|---|---|---|
| The Masters | DNP | DNP |
| U.S. Open U.S. Open (golf) The United States Open Championship, commonly known as the U.S. Open, is the annual open golf tournament of the United States. It is the second of the four major championships in golf, and is on the official schedule of both the PGA Tour and the European Tour... |
DNP | DNP |
| The Open Championship The Open Championship The Open Championship, or simply The Open , is the oldest of the four major championships in professional golf. It is the only "major" held outside the USA and is administered by The R&A, which is the governing body of golf outside the USA and Mexico... |
CUT | CUT |
| PGA Championship PGA Championship The PGA Championship is an annual golf tournament conducted by the PGA of America as part of the PGA Tour. It is one of the four major championships in men's professional golf, and is the golf season's final major, usually played in mid-August, customarily four weeks after The Open Championship... |
DNP | DNP |
LA = Low Amateur
NYF = Tournament not yet founded
NT = No tournament
DNP = Did not play
WD = Withdrew
"T" indicates a tie for a place
DNQ = Did not qualify for match play portion
R256, R128, R64, R32, R16, QF, SF = Round in which player lost in match play
Green background for wins. Yellow background for top-10
Source for The Masters: www.masters.com
Source for U.S. Open: USGA Championship Database
Source for The British Open: www.opengolf.com
Source for PGA Championship: PGA Championship Media Guide
Source for 1958 British Amateur: The Glasgow Herald, 6 June 1958, pg. 4.
See also
- Golfers with most PGA Tour winsGolfers with most PGA Tour winsThis is a list of golfers who have won five or more official money events on the PGA Tour.Players under 50 years of age are shown in bold. On his 50th birthday a golfer becomes eligible to compete on the Champions Tour, and he is unlikely to add to his tally of PGA Tour wins after that date This is...
- Golfers with most PGA Tour of Australasia winsGolfers with most PGA Tour of Australasia winsThis is a list of golfers who have recorded the most tournament wins on the PGA Tour of Australasia since it was established in 1911. It is currently known as the PGA Tour of Australasia. It was previously named the Australian Tour from 1973 to 1991. This list contains golfers who have won any...
- Golfers with most Champions Tour winsGolfers with most Champions Tour winsThis is a list of all the golfers who have won ten or more official events on the U.S. based Champions Tour, the leading golf tour in the world for men aged 50 and above. The list is up-to-date through August 7, 2011.-See also:...
- Golfers with most major championship wins