Bob Goalby
Encyclopedia
Robert George Goalby is a former American
professional golfer
on the PGA Tour
, who won the 1968 Masters Tournament
, his lone major championship among 11 Tour wins achieved between 1958 and 1971.
Goalby was born, raised and has lived much of his life in Belleville, Illinois
. He attended the University of Illinois
, where he played on the golf team. He turned professional in 1952. His first Tour win came in 1958, and he won and contended steadily until 1971, when he was 42 years old.
At the 1968 Masters Tournament, Goalby tied Roberto DeVicenzo
at the end of 72 holes of regulation play, and would have had to face an 18-hole playoff the next day, had there not been a mistake on DeVicenzo's scorecard. In the final round, playing partner Tommy Aaron
marked a par-4 on the 17th hole, when DeVicenzo had in fact made a birdie-3. DeVicenzo failed to catch the mistake and signed the scorecard. The rules of golf
state that the higher written score signed by a golfer on his card must stand. As such, the error gave Goalby the championship. Goalby was not personally at fault for anything in the incident. The story received overwhelming attention at the time, and has remained high in public consciousness since. It was recounted in great detail in the 2005 book "The Lost Masters: Grace and Disgrace in '68" by Curt Sampson. The personal relationship between Goalby and DeVicenzo was unaffected by the difficult situation, and the two players formed a partnership years later, for a team event on the Champions Tour
.
Goalby played on the 1963 Ryder Cup
team. He retired from the PGA Tour after winning 11 tournaments. He joined the Senior PGA Tour (now the Champions Tour) in 1979, winning twice, and contributed key ideas to the formation and structure of that new Tour, before retiring to a home in his native Belleville, where he has designed several nearby golf courses.
Goalby's nephew
, Jay Haas
, currently plays on the Champions Tour
, and another nephew Jerry Haas
coaches the Wake Forest University
golf team. His great-nephew, Bill Haas
, plays on the PGA Tour and won the Tour Championship tournament and FedEx Cup in 2011.
Goalby has lent his name each year since 1982 to a charity golf tournament, the Bob Goalby Golf Open, for the benefit of Maur Hill - Mount Academy, a Catholic, international, college preparatory school in Atchison, Kansas
.
Major championship
is shown in bold.
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
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
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;...
on the 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...
, who won the 1968 Masters Tournament
The Masters Tournament
The Masters Tournament, also known as The Masters , is one of the four major championships in professional golf. Scheduled for the first full week of April, it is the first of the majors to be played each year...
, his lone major championship among 11 Tour wins achieved between 1958 and 1971.
Goalby was born, raised and has lived much of his life in Belleville, Illinois
Belleville, Illinois
Belleville is a city in St. Clair County, Illinois, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city has a population of 44,478. It is the eighth-most populated city outside of the Chicago Metropolitan Area and the most populated city south of Springfield in the state of Illinois. It is the county...
. He attended the University of Illinois
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
The University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign is a large public research-intensive university in the state of Illinois, United States. It is the flagship campus of the University of Illinois system...
, where he played on the golf team. He turned professional in 1952. His first Tour win came in 1958, and he won and contended steadily until 1971, when he was 42 years old.
At the 1968 Masters Tournament, Goalby tied Roberto DeVicenzo
Roberto DeVicenzo
Roberto De Vicenzo is a former professional golfer from Argentina. He won more than 230 tournaments worldwide in his career including eight on the PGA Tour and most famously the 1967 Open Championship.-Biography:...
at the end of 72 holes of regulation play, and would have had to face an 18-hole playoff the next day, had there not been a mistake on DeVicenzo's scorecard. In the final round, playing partner Tommy Aaron
Tommy Aaron
Thomas Dean Aaron is a former American professional golfer who was a member of the PGA Tour during the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s. Aaron is best known for winning the 1973 Masters Tournament.- Early years :...
marked a par-4 on the 17th hole, when DeVicenzo had in fact made a birdie-3. DeVicenzo failed to catch the mistake and signed the scorecard. The rules of golf
Rules of golf
The rules of golf are a standard set of regulations and procedures by which the sport of golf should be played. They are jointly written and administered by the R&A the governing body of golf worldwide except in the United States and Mexico, which are the responsibility of the United States Golf...
state that the higher written score signed by a golfer on his card must stand. As such, the error gave Goalby the championship. Goalby was not personally at fault for anything in the incident. The story received overwhelming attention at the time, and has remained high in public consciousness since. It was recounted in great detail in the 2005 book "The Lost Masters: Grace and Disgrace in '68" by Curt Sampson. The personal relationship between Goalby and DeVicenzo was unaffected by the difficult situation, and the two players formed a partnership years later, for a team event on the 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...
.
Goalby played on the 1963 Ryder Cup
1963 Ryder Cup
The 15th Ryder Cup Matches were held at the Atlanta Athletic Club, now known as East Lake Golf Club, at that time located in Atlanta, Georgia. The United States team won the competition by a score of 23 to 9 points....
team. He retired from the PGA Tour after winning 11 tournaments. He joined the Senior PGA Tour (now the Champions Tour) in 1979, winning twice, and contributed key ideas to the formation and structure of that new Tour, before retiring to a home in his native Belleville, where he has designed several nearby golf courses.
Goalby's nephew
Nephew
Nephew is a son of one's sibling or sibling-in-law, and niece is a daughter of one's sibling or a sibling-in-law. Sons and daughters of siblings-in-law are also informally referred to as nephews and nieces respectively, even though there is no blood relation...
, Jay Haas
Jay Haas
Jay Dean Haas is an American professional golfer.Haas was born in St. Louis, Missouri, and grew up in Belleville, Illinois. He attended Wake Forest University and was a member of the NCAA Championship team of the middle 1970s with Curtis Strange and Bob Byman that Golf World has called "the...
, currently plays on the 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...
, and another nephew Jerry Haas
Jerry Haas
Jerry Haas is an American professional golfer who coaches Wake Forest University's golf team and used to play on the PGA Tour, Nationwide Tour and the European Tour.-Amateur career:...
coaches the Wake Forest University
Wake Forest University
Wake Forest University is a private, coeducational university in the U.S. state of North Carolina, founded in 1834. The university received its name from its original location in Wake Forest, north of Raleigh, North Carolina, the state capital. The Reynolda Campus, the university's main campus, is...
golf team. His great-nephew, Bill Haas
Bill Haas
William Harlan Haas is an American professional golfer who plays on the PGA Tour and won the 2011 FedEx Cup. He is the son of former PGA Tour player Jay Haas.-Early life:...
, plays on the PGA Tour and won the Tour Championship tournament and FedEx Cup in 2011.
Goalby has lent his name each year since 1982 to a charity golf tournament, the Bob Goalby Golf Open, for the benefit of Maur Hill - Mount Academy, a Catholic, international, college preparatory school in Atchison, Kansas
Atchison, Kansas
Atchison is a city situated along the Missouri River in the eastern part of Atchison County, located in northeast Kansas, in the Central United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 11,021. It is the county seat and most populous city of Atchison County...
.
PGA Tour wins (11)
- 1958 (1) Greater Greensboro Open
- 1960 (1) Coral Gables Open InvitationalCoral Gables Open InvitationalThe Coral Gables Open Invitational was a golf tournament on the PGA Tour from 1931 to 1937 and 1959 to 1962. It was played at what is now the Miami Biltmore Golf Course in Coral Gables, Florida...
- 1961 (2) Los Angeles Open, St. Petersburg Open InvitationalSt. Petersburg Open InvitationalThe St. Petersburg Open Invitational, first played as the St. Petersburg Open, was a PGA Tour event that was held at three St. Petersburg, Florida, U.S. area clubs for 29 years from 1930 until 1964. The clubs that hosted the event were: St...
- 1962 (2) Insurance City Open Invitational, Denver Open InvitationalDenver Open InvitationalThe Denver Open Invitational was a golf tournament on the PGA Tour that was played intermittently in the Denver, Colorado area from 1947 to 1963. Chi Chi Rodriguez won his first PGA Tour event at the 1963 tournament, which he calls his biggest thrill in golf....
- 1967 (1) San Diego Open Invitational
- 1968 (1) Masters Tournament
- 1969 (1) Robinson Open Golf Classic
- 19701970 PGA TourThe 1970 PGA Tour season was played from January 8 to December 13. The season consisted of 45 official money events. Billy Casper won the most tournaments, four, and there were six first-time winners. The tournament results and award winners are listed below....
(1) Heritage Golf Classic - 19711971 PGA TourThe 1971 PGA Tour season was played from January 7 to December 12. The season consisted of 44 official money events. Lee Trevino won the most tournaments, six, and there were 10 first-time winners. The tournament results and award winners are listed below....
(1) Bahamas National OpenBahamas National OpenThe Bahamas National Open was a golf tournament on the PGA Tour. It was last played in 1971.-Tournament Hosts:This list is incomplete*1971 Lucayan Country Club in Freeport, Bahamas.*1970 Kings Inn & Golf Club in Freeport, Bahamas....
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.
Senior PGA Tour wins (2)
- 19811981 Senior PGA TourThe 1981 Senior PGA Tour was the second season since the Senior PGA Tour officially began in 1980 . The season consisted of seven official money events with purses totalling $1,024,000, including two majors. Miller Barber won the most tournaments, three...
Marlboro Classic - 19821982 Senior PGA TourThe 1982 Senior PGA Tour was the third season since the Senior PGA Tour officially began in 1980 . The season consisted of 11 official money events with purses totalling $1,597,500, including two majors. Miller Barber won the most tournaments, three...
Peter Jackson Champions
Other senior wins (1)
- 1983 Shootout at Jeremy Ranch (with Mike ReidMike Reid (golfer)Michael Daniel Reid is an American professional golfer.Reid was born in Bainbridge, Maryland. He graduated from Brigham Young University in 1976 and turned professional the same year. During his collegiate golf career, Reid was selected for All-American honors from 1973-1976...
)
Wins (1)
| Year | Championship | 54 Holes | Winning Score | Margin | Runner-up |
|---|---|---|
| 1968 1968 Masters Tournament The 1968 Masters Tournament was contested from April 11 to April 14 at Augusta National Golf Club. It was the 32nd Masters Tournament. 74 players entered the tournament and 52 of them made the cut at five-over-par .... |
Masters Tournament | 1 shot deficit |
| 1 stroke |  Roberto De Vicenzo |
Results timeline
| Tournament | 1957 | 1958 | 1959 |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Masters | 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... |
CUT | DNP | T38 |
| 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 | DNP | 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 | T5 |
| Tournament | 1960 | 1961 | 1962 | 1963 | 1964 | 1965 | 1966 | 1967 | 1968 | 1969 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Masters | CUT | 36 | T25 | CUT | T37 | T39 | T59 | CUT | 1 | T40 |
| 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... |
T19 | T2 | T14 | CUT | DNP | CUT | T22 | T6 | T39 | 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... |
DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | 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... |
T32 | T15 | 2 | T17 | CUT | T68 | T49 | T7 | T8 | CUT |
| Tournament | 1970 | 1971 | 1972 | 1973 | 1974 | 1975 | 1976 | 1977 | 1978 | 1979 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Masters | CUT | T36 | T17 | T6 | T22 | CUT | CUT | CUT | 52 | CUT |
| 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... |
T36 | T19 | DNP | T58 | CUT | T63 | 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... |
DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | 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... |
CUT | T46 | T62 | T18 | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP |
| Tournament | 1980 | 1981 | 1982 | 1983 | 1984 | 1985 | 1986 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Masters | CUT | CUT | 46 | CUT | CUT | CUT | CUT |
| 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 |
| 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 | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | 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 = 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