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Honoring
the Silver Scot |
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By
Steve Ethun
Vice President of Communications
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Tommy
Armour |
In an era of golf dominated by the likes of Jones, Sarazen and
Hagen, Tommy Armour went to great lengths to distinguish himself
both on and off the golf course. In fact, the Silver Scot, as
he was nicknamed, was the second of only eight golfers to win
three of golf’s Majors: the U.S. Open (1927), PGA Championship
(1930), and the the British Open (1931). After a career that
included 40 victories, he became one of the game’s greatest
teachers – from beginners to golf’s greatest champions.
Born in Edinburgh, Scotland, on Sept. 24, 1894, Armour did not
take up golf until a World War I injury convinced him to learn
the sport as a type of physical therapy. He remained an amateur
until 1924, but tournament victories in England, Scotland and
France helped him make the decision to move to the United States
and turn professional.
As a player, he was known for the great strength in his hands,
allowing him to become one of the all-time great strikers of
fairway woods and longer clubs. He was somewhat of a conservative,
as evidenced by this famous quote: “It is not solely the
capacity to make great shots that makes champions, but the essential
quality of making very few bad shots.” He was most dominant
from 1927-1931, a five-year period that saw him win 16 times,
including his three major championships and the 1929 Western
Open.
Although his fame was widespread by the time his professional
days ended in 1935, it continued to flourish as he became known
as one of the great teachers of the game. He split time teaching
at Winged Foot in the summer and the Boca Raton Hotel in the
winter. He differed from most teachers of his day, who still
concentrated on intricate mechanics. His ideas were much more
simple, centered around three thoughts: focus on the shot, provide
a firm grip, and swing away. His teachings were made available
to the masses when he penned the best-selling book, How
to Play the Best Golf of Your Life, All the Time.
For his accomplishments as both a player and teacher of the
game, Armour was postumously inducted into the World Golf Hall
of Fame in 1976 after passing Sept. 11, 1968, at the age of
73.
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