Tommy Armour
Encyclopedia
Thomas Dickson Armour (September 24, 1894 – September 11, 1968) was a Scottish-American professional golfer
. He was nicknamed The Silver Scot.
Armour was born in Edinburgh
, Scotland, and educated at Fettes College
and the University of Edinburgh
.
During his service in World War I
, Armour rose from a private to Staff Major in the Tank Corps
. His conduct earned him an audience with George V
. However, he lost his sight to a mustard gas explosion and surgeons had to add a metal plate to his head and left arm. During his convalescence, he regained the sight of his right eye and took to golfing.
Armour won the French Amateur tournament in 1920. He moved to the United States and met Walter Hagen
, who gave him a job as secretary of the Westchester-Biltmore Club
. He became a U.S. citizen at this time. In 1924 Armour became a professional golfer.
Armour won the 1927 U.S. Open
, 1930 PGA Championship
, and the 1931 Open Championship
. His 1930 campaign was overshadowed by Bobby Jones
' Grand Slam, and Armour seems to have been overlooked.
At the Shawnee Open in 1927, Armour shot the first ever "Archaeopteryx" (15 or more over par) when he shot a 23 on a par 5, for 18-over par. This still stands as the highest score on one hole in PGA history. This historic performance happened just one week after winning the U.S. Open.
Armour retired from professional golf after the 1935 season and taught at the Boca Raton Club in Florida, for $50 a lesson. His pupils included Babe Didrikson Zaharias and Lawson Little
.
During World War II
, Armour played in exhibitions for USO
and Red Cross.
Armour cowrote a book How to Play Your Best Golf All the Time (1953) with Herb Graffis
. It became a best seller and for many years was the biggest-selling book ever authored on golf. A series of 8mm films based on the book were released by Castle Films including Short Game parts I and II, Long Hitting Clubs, Grip and Stance.
Armour died in Larchmont
, New York, and was cremated at the Ferncliff Cemetery
in Hartsdale
, New York, but is not interred there. Some modern golf equipment is still marketed in his name.
Armour is succeeded by his grandson, Tommy Armour III
, who is a two-time winner on the PGA Tour
and currently holds the record for the lowest total score on 72 holes (254), which he set in his second PGA Tour victory at the Valero Texas Open
.
Armour was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame
in 1976.
Major championships
are shown in bold.
1 Defeated Harry Cooper in an 18-hole playoff: Armour 76 (+4), Cooper 79 (+7).
Note: The PGA Championship was match play until 1958
NYF = Tournament not yet founded
NT = No tournament
DNP = Did not play
WD = Withdrew
CUT = missed the half-way cut
R64, R32, R16, QF, SF, F = Round in which player lost in match play
"T" indicates a tie for a place
Green background for wins. Yellow background for top-10.
Source for U.S. Open and U.S. Amateur: USGA Championship Database
The Amateur Championship sources: 1920, 1921.
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;...
. He was nicknamed The Silver Scot.
Armour was born in Edinburgh
Edinburgh
Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area...
, Scotland, and educated at Fettes College
Fettes College
Fettes College is an independent school for boarding and day pupils in Edinburgh, Scotland with over two thirds of its pupils in residence on campus...
and the University of Edinburgh
University of Edinburgh
The University of Edinburgh, founded in 1583, is a public research university located in Edinburgh, the capital of Scotland, and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The university is deeply embedded in the fabric of the city, with many of the buildings in the historic Old Town belonging to the university...
.
During his service in World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, Armour rose from a private to Staff Major in the Tank Corps
Tank Corps
Tank Corps may refer to:* Tank Corps, later Royal Tank Corps, early name of the Royal Tank Regiment* Tank Corps , a type of Red Army formation used up to World War II...
. His conduct earned him an audience with George V
George V of the United Kingdom
George V was King of the United Kingdom and the British Dominions, and Emperor of India, from 6 May 1910 through the First World War until his death in 1936....
. However, he lost his sight to a mustard gas explosion and surgeons had to add a metal plate to his head and left arm. During his convalescence, he regained the sight of his right eye and took to golfing.
Armour won the French Amateur tournament in 1920. He moved to the United States and met Walter Hagen
Walter Hagen
Walter Charles Hagen was a major figure in golf in the first half of the 20th century. His tally of eleven professional majors is third behind Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods . He won the U.S. Open twice, and in 1922 he became the first native-born American to win the British Open, which he went on...
, who gave him a job as secretary of the Westchester-Biltmore Club
Westchester Country Club
The Westchester Country Club was founded by John McEntee Bowman, who hired Walter Travis to design two golf courses in the Town of Harrison, New York as a luxury resort hotel. The West Course was designed for championship play and has hosted PGA tournaments since 1963...
. He became a U.S. citizen at this time. In 1924 Armour became a professional golfer.
Armour won the 1927 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...
, 1930 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...
, and the 1931 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...
. His 1930 campaign was overshadowed by Bobby Jones
Bobby Jones (golfer)
Robert Tyre "Bobby" Jones Jr. was an American amateur golfer, and a lawyer by profession. Jones was the most successful amateur golfer ever to compete on a national and international level...
' Grand Slam, and Armour seems to have been overlooked.
At the Shawnee Open in 1927, Armour shot the first ever "Archaeopteryx" (15 or more over par) when he shot a 23 on a par 5, for 18-over par. This still stands as the highest score on one hole in PGA history. This historic performance happened just one week after winning the U.S. Open.
Armour retired from professional golf after the 1935 season and taught at the Boca Raton Club in Florida, for $50 a lesson. His pupils included Babe Didrikson Zaharias and Lawson Little
Lawson Little
William Lawson Little, Jr. was an American professional golfer who also had a distinguished amateur career....
.
During World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, Armour played in exhibitions for USO
United Service Organizations
The United Service Organizations Inc. is a private, nonprofit organization that provides morale and recreational services to members of the U.S. military, with programs in 160 centers worldwide. Since 1941, it has worked in partnership with the Department of Defense , and has provided support and...
and Red Cross.
Armour cowrote a book How to Play Your Best Golf All the Time (1953) with Herb Graffis
Herb Graffis
Herb Graffis was an American golf writer and administrator. In recognition of his efforts to promote the sport, he was elected to the World Golf Hall of Fame in 1977....
. It became a best seller and for many years was the biggest-selling book ever authored on golf. A series of 8mm films based on the book were released by Castle Films including Short Game parts I and II, Long Hitting Clubs, Grip and Stance.
Armour died in Larchmont
Larchmont, New York
Larchmont is a village in Westchester County, New York. The population was 5,864 at the 2010 census. It is located within the town of Mamaroneck, on the shore of Long Island Sound, northeast of Midtown Manhattan...
, New York, and was cremated at the Ferncliff Cemetery
Ferncliff Cemetery
Ferncliff Cemetery and Mausoleum is located on Secor Road in the hamlet of Hartsdale, town of Greenburgh, Westchester County, New York, about 25 miles north of Midtown Manhattan. It was founded in 1902, and is non-sectarian...
in Hartsdale
Hartsdale, New York
Hartsdale is a hamlet and a census-designated place located in the town of Greenburgh, Westchester County, New York. The population was 5,293 at the 2010 census.-Geography:Hartsdale is located at ....
, New York, but is not interred there. Some modern golf equipment is still marketed in his name.
Armour is succeeded by his grandson, Tommy Armour III
Tommy Armour III
Thomas Dickson "Tommy" Armour III is an American professional golfer.Armour first joined the PGA Tour in 1981 at the age of 21. He has two career PGA Tour victories, winning the 1990 Phoenix Open and the 2003 Valero Texas Open...
, who is a two-time winner 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...
and currently holds the record for the lowest total score on 72 holes (254), which he set in his second PGA Tour victory at the Valero Texas Open
Valero Texas Open
The Valero Texas Open is an official tournament on the PGA Tour. It dates back to 1922 when it was first called the Texas Open; San Antonio-based Valero Energy Corporation took over naming rights in 2002. It is played at The Oaks Course at the TPC San Antonio. In 2003, it was the site of the...
.
Armour was 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 1976.
PGA Tour wins (25)
- 1920 (1) Pinehurst Fall Pro-Am Bestball (as an amateur, with Leo Diegel)
- 1925 (1) Florida West Coast Open
- 1926 (1) Winter Pro Golf Championship
- 1927 (5) Long Beach OpenLong Beach OpenThe Long Beach Open was a golf tournament on the PGA Tour. It was held in Long Beach, California at the Virginia Country Club from 1926 to 1930 and at the Lakewood Country Club from 1949 to 1951.-Winners:Lakewood Park Open*1951 Cary Middlecoff...
, El Paso OpenEl Paso Open (PGA Tour)The El Paso Open was a golf tournament on the PGA Tour in the late 1920s and the 1950s. It was played at the El Paso Country Club in El Paso, Texas...
, U.S. OpenU.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...
, Canadian Open, Oregon OpenOregon OpenThe Oregon Open is the Oregon state open golf tournament, open to both amateur and professional golfers. It is organized by the Pacific Northwest section of the PGA of America. It was first played in 1905 and has been played annually since 1925 at a variety of courses around the state... - 1928 (4) Metropolitan OpenMetropolitan OpenThe Metropolitan Open is golf tournament organized by the Metropolitan Golf Association. It has been played annually since 1905 and is the third oldest "Open" golf tournament in the United States after the U.S. Open and the Western Open. It is held at member clubs in New York, New Jersey, and...
, Philadelphia Open ChampionshipPhiladelphia Open ChampionshipThe Philadelphia Open Championship is an annual golf tournament played in the Philadelphia, Pennsylvania area. It is organized by the Golf Association of Philadelphia. It has been played annually since 1903 at member clubs in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Delaware. It was considered a PGA Tour...
, Pennsylvania Open ChampionshipPennsylvania Open ChampionshipThe Pennsylvania Open Championship is the Pennsylvania state open golf tournament, open to both amateur and professional golfers. It is organized by the Pennsylvania Golf Association. It has been played annually since 1912 at a variety of courses around the state...
, Sacramento OpenSacramento Open (PGA Tour)The Sacramento Open was a golf tournament on the PGA Tour from 1926 to 1938. It was held in Sacramento, California at two different courses. In the 1920s, it was played at the Del Paso Country Club... - 1929 (1) Western OpenWestern OpenThe Western Open, a professional golf tournament, was first played in 1899. At the time of its 2006 playing, the Western Open was the 3rd oldest active PGA Tour tournament, after the British Open and U.S. Open...
- 1930 (3) Canadian Open, PGA ChampionshipPGA ChampionshipThe 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...
, St. Louis Open - 1931 (1) The Open ChampionshipThe 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...
- 1932 (3) Miami International Four-BallMiami International Four-BallThe Miami International Four-Ball was a golf tournament on the PGA Tour from 1924 to 1954. It was played primarily at what is now the Miami Springs Golf and Country Club in Miami, Florida...
(with Ed Dudley), Mid-South Bestball (with Al WatrousAl WatrousAlbert Andrew Watrous was an American professional golfer who played on the PGA Tour in the 1920s and 1930s....
), Miami OpenMiami OpenThe Miami Open was a golf tournament on the PGA Tour from 1924 to 1955. It was played at what is now the Miami Springs Golf and Country Club in Miami, Florida. The event was played in December from 1924 to 1926 and from 1937 to 1955... - 1934 (2) Canadian Open, Pinehurst Fall Pro-Pro (with Bobby CruickshankBobby CruickshankRobert Allan Cruickshank was a prominent Scottish professional golfer on the PGA of America circuit from the early 1920s to the mid-1930s. He was born in Grantown-on-Spey, Scotland.-Career:...
) - 1935 (1) Miami OpenMiami OpenThe Miami Open was a golf tournament on the PGA Tour from 1924 to 1955. It was played at what is now the Miami Springs Golf and Country Club in Miami, Florida. The event was played in December from 1924 to 1926 and from 1937 to 1955...
- 1936 (1) Walter Olson Golf Tournament (tie with Willie MacfarlaneWillie MacfarlaneWilliam "Willie" Macfarlane was a Scottish professional golfer....
) - 1938 (1) Mid-South Open
Major championships
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...
are shown in bold.
Wins (3)
| Year | Championship | 54 Holes | Winning Score | Margin | Runner-up |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1927 | 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... |
1 shot deficit | +13 (78–71–76–76=301) | Playoff 1 |  Harry CooperHarry Cooper (golfer) Harry E. Cooper was a prominent PGA Tour golfer of the 1920s and 1930s. After he retired from competitive golf, he became a well-regarded instructor, into his 90s.... |
| 1930 | 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... |
n/a | 1 up | Gene Sarazen Gene Sarazen Gene Sarazen was an American professional golfer, one of the world's top players in the 1920s and 1930s. He is one of five golfers to win all the current major championships in his career, the Career Grand Slam:U.S... |
|
| 1931 | 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... |
5 shot deficit | (73–75–77–71=296) | 1 stroke |  José JuradoJosé Jurado José Jurado was a professional golfer in the sport’s Golden Age. Born in Buenos Aires, he was the first Argentine to travel to major international championships and is thus often credited as the “Father of Argentine Professional Golf” or the “Godfather of Argentinean Golf.” He is perhaps best... |
1 Defeated Harry Cooper in an 18-hole playoff: Armour 76 (+4), Cooper 79 (+7).
Note: The PGA Championship was match play until 1958
Results timeline
| Tournament | 1920 | 1921 | 1922 | 1923 | 1924 | 1925 | 1926 | 1927 | 1928 | 1929 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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... |
T48 | DNP | DNP | WD | T13 | T38 | T9 | 1 | 16 | T5 |
| 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 | 13 | DNP | CUT | 10 |
| 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 | QF | DNP | QF | R32 | DNP |
| U.S. Amateur | QF | R16 | R32 | 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... |
R64 | R64 | DNP | DNP | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Tournament | 1930 | 1931 | 1932 | 1933 | 1934 | 1935 | 1936 | 1937 | 1938 | 1939 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Masters | NYF | NYF | NYF | NYF | DNP | T37 | T20 | T8 | DNP | T12 |
| 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... |
6 | T46 | T21 | T4 | T50 | WD | T22 | CUT | 23 | T22 |
| 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 | 1 | T15 | 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... |
1 | QF | DNP | DNP | R16 | F | R64 | R64 | DNP | DNP |
| Tournament | 1940 | 1941 | 1942 | 1943 | 1944 | 1945 | 1946 | 1947 | 1948 | 1949 | 1950 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Masters | 38 | 38 | T29 | NT | NT | NT | 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... |
T12 | CUT | NT | NT | NT | NT | CUT | CUT | WD | DNP | 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... |
NT | NT | NT | NT | NT | NT | 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 | NT | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP |
NYF = Tournament not yet founded
NT = No tournament
DNP = Did not play
WD = Withdrew
CUT = missed the half-way cut
R64, R32, R16, QF, SF, F = Round in which player lost in match play
"T" indicates a tie for a place
Green background for wins. Yellow background for top-10.
Source for U.S. Open and U.S. Amateur: USGA Championship Database
The Amateur Championship sources: 1920, 1921.