Tommy Armour
Armour enlisted and joined the Tank Corps, where he rose to Staff Major, but a nasty mustard gas explosion ended his active service, blinding him. As he convalesced in a war hospital, regaining the sight in his right eye, he went back to golf to build up his strength. Before long he had decided to play seriously. Tommy's application to Lothianburn Golf Club was accepted on March
15th, 1919. He brought with him a playing handicap of +2, and a formidable reputation,
especially for his long iron play. He played in various team matches, including
the Lothians Team Tournament and the Inter Club, but was unsuccessful in winning
the club championship. The 1920's ushered in a golden era of sports, and Armour, playing
all his competitive golf out of Lothianburn, quickly made his mark with a victory
in the 1920 French Amateur. Later that year he gave a good showing in the American
National Amateur, losing to Francis Ouimet in the fifth round. These achievements
were recognised with Honorary Membership in 1922. Within two years, Tommy, by
now a full-time golfer, had emmigrated to the States and turned Professional.
By 1926 he was a member of the US team in the first International
professional matches between the United States and Great Britain, becoming the
first golfer ever to represent both the United States and Britain in international
play. Tommy's biggest win undoubtably came in 1927, when he held off the likes of Bobby Jones, Harry Cooper, Leo Diegel and Johnny Farrell to win the U.S. Open at Oakmont. He added the USPGA title in 1930, beating Gene Sarazen in the
final, and took the British Open in 1931 at Carnoustie. Armour was head professional at the exclusive Boca Raton Hotel
and Club in Boca Raton, from 1929 to 1948. During the winter and early spring
months, he devoted his full-time efforts to teaching golf and soon gained a reputation
as one of the great teachers. In 1953, Armour published his seminal instruction
book 'How to Play Your Best Golf All of the Time'. A further book 'A Round of
Golf with Tommy Armour' (1956), introduced readers to the mental side of the game,
and golf psychology became a serious subject of study. A famed raconteur, a master bridge player, a classical violinist and a gifted businessman, Tommy Armour had an enviable social life, counting amongst his close friends the flamboyant Walter Hagen and the hard-living Babe Ruth. Tommy Armour was elected to Golf's Hall of Fame in 1942. The 'Silver
Scot' passed away on September 12, 1968, just 12 days shy of his 72nd birthday.
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Born
on September 24, 1894 in Edinburgh, Scotland, Tommy Armour attended Fettes College
and Edinburgh University and was a prominent amateur golfer in Scotland until
the outbreak of the Great War. 