Bruce Devlin

Last updated

Bruce Devlin
Personal information
Full nameBruce William Devlin
Born (1937-10-10) 10 October 1937 (age 86)
Armidale, New South Wales, Australia
Height6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
Weight158 lb (72 kg; 11.3 st)
Sporting nationalityFlag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia
Residence Weatherford, Texas, U.S.
SpouseGloria
Career
Turned professional1961
Former tour(s) PGA Tour
Champions Tour
Professional wins32
Number of wins by tour
PGA Tour8
PGA Tour of Australasia1
PGA Tour Champions1
Other22
Best results in major championships
Masters Tournament 4th: 1964, 1968
PGA Championship T6: 1965
U.S. Open T6: 1965
The Open Championship 5th: 1964
Achievements and awards
New Zealand Golf Circuit
money list winner
1963

Bruce William Devlin (born 10 October 1937) is an Australian professional golfer, sportscaster and golf course designer. [1]

Contents

Early life

Devlin was born in Armidale, New South Wales, Australia. Devlin won the Australian Amateur in 1959.

Professional career

In 1961, Devlin turned pro and joined the PGA Tour the following year. During his PGA Tour career, he had eight victories all of which occurred between 1964 and 1972. In 1972, he earned $119,768 and finished eighth on the money list. [2]

In 1970 Devlin teamed with David Graham to represent Australia in the 18th World Cup in Buenos Aires, Argentina. The Australian team held a record advantage of 19 strokes going into the final round. After each of the two Australians shot one-over-par-scores of 73 in the last round, they still won, with a record aggregate of 32-under-par 544 over 144 holes, by eight strokes and finished second and third individually. [3] [4] Devlin and Graham again represented Australia in the 1971 World Cup, but when Devlin was not selected for the event the year after, Graham refused to play and neither Graham nor Devlin participated in any World Cup events again. [5]

At the 72nd hole of the 1975 Andy Williams-San Diego Open Invitational, Devlin shot a 10 after hitting multiple shots into the water in front of the 18th green of the Torrey Pines South Course. [6] The pond was thereafter nicknamed "Devlin’s Billabong". [7]

Devlin is one of only four golfers to have scored a double eagle (three-under-par) at the Masters Tournament. He achieved this in the first round of the 1967 Masters, holing a 4-wood from 248 yards on the par-5 8th hole.

Senior career, golf course designer and television commentator

On the Senior PGA Tour, Devlin won one tournament, the 1995 FHP Health Care Classic. At the end of the 1998 golf season, Devlin decided to retire from the Senior PGA Tour to concentrate on his Golf Course Architecture and Design business and his commitment to ESPN's golf telecasts. [8]

The main focus of Devlin's career in the past 30 years has been his work as a Golf Course Architect and Designer. Devlin has designed and built more than 150 golf courses throughout the world including Australia, Japan, Scotland, the Bahamas, and the United States. About two-thirds of the golf courses he designed have been in Florida and Texas. Many of these courses have hosted all of the professional golf tours, including: The Houston Open, HealthSouth LPGA Classic, Key Biscayne Golf Classic, and The Nike Cleveland Open. His golf design business is based in Scottsdale, Arizona.

Devlin has also worked as a television commentator. He worked for NBC from 1977 to 1982; ESPN from 1983 to 1987; and since 1999 has occasionally covered professional golf for ESPN. [1]

Private life

Devlin married Gloria in the late 1950s. They have three children, eight grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren. [1]

Amateur wins

this list may be incomplete

Professional wins (32)

PGA Tour wins (8)

No.DateTournamentWinning scoreMargin of
victory
Runner(s)-up
115 Mar 1964 St. Petersburg Open Invitational −16 (69-64-69-70=272)4 strokes Flag of the United States.svg Dan Sikes
222 May 1966 Colonial National Invitation E (67-68-70-75=280)1 stroke Flag of the United States.svg R. H. Sikes
33 Sep 1966 Carling World Open −6 (73-70-74-69=286)1 stroke Flag of the United States.svg Billy Casper
427 Apr 1969 Byron Nelson Golf Classic −3 (71-66-70-70=277)1 stroke Flag of the United States.svg Frank Beard, Flag of Australia (converted).svg Bruce Crampton
58 Feb 1970 Bob Hope Desert Classic −21 (67-68-68-70-66=339)4 strokes Flag of the United States.svg Larry Ziegler
628 Jun 1970 Cleveland Open −12 (69-69-66-64=268)4 strokes Flag of the United States.svg Steve Eichstaedt
78 May 1972 Houston Open −10 (69-70-67-72=278)2 strokes Flag of the United States.svg Tommy Aaron, Flag of the United States.svg Lou Graham,
Flag of the United States.svg Doug Sanders
820 Aug 1972 USI Classic −13 (69-68-69-69=275)3 strokes Flag of the United States.svg Lee Elder

PGA Tour playoff record (0–3)

No.YearTournamentOpponent(s)Result
1 1968 Bing Crosby National Pro-Am Flag of the United States.svg Billy Casper, Flag of the United States.svg Johnny Pott Pott won with birdie on first extra hole
2 1969 Atlanta Classic Flag of the United States.svg Bert Yancey Lost to birdie on second extra hole
3 1972 Cleveland Open Flag of Australia (converted).svg David Graham Lost to birdie on second extra hole

PGA Tour of Australia wins (1)

No.DateTournamentWinning scoreMargin of
victory
Runner-up
14 Dec 1983 Air New Zealand Shell Open −10 (67-67-66=200)*1 stroke Flag of the United States.svg Bobby Clampett

*Note: The 1983 Air New Zealand Shell Open was shortened to 54 holes due to rain.

New Zealand Golf Circuit wins (3)

No.DateTournamentWinning scoreMargin of
victory
Runner(s)-up
17 Sep 1963 Wills Classic −6 (69-74-71-71=287)4 strokes Flag of Australia (converted).svg Ted Ball, Flag of Australia (converted).svg Kel Nagle
221 Sep 1963 Caltex Tournament −18 (68-68-69-69=274)3 strokes Flag of Australia (converted).svg Darrell Welch
328 Sep 1963 New Zealand Open −11 (68-70-66-69=273)1 stroke Flag of Australia (converted).svg Peter Thomson

Other Australian wins (16)

Other wins (3)

Senior PGA Tour wins (1)

No.DateTournamentWinning scoreMargin of
victory
Runner-up
15 Mar 1995 FHP Health Care Classic −10 (64-66=130)*Playoff Flag of the United States.svg Dave Eichelberger

*Note: The 1995 FHP Health Care Classic was shortened to 36 holes due to rain.

Senior PGA Tour playoff record (1–0)

No.YearTournamentOpponentResult
1 1995 FHP Health Care Classic Flag of the United States.svg Dave Eichelberger Won with birdie on second extra hole

Results in major championships

Tournament19621963196419651966196719681969
Masters Tournament CUT4T15T28T104T19
U.S. Open CUTCUTT6T26T23T9T10
The Open Championship CUTT335T8T4T8T10T16
PGA Championship T39T6T28WDT32
Tournament1970197119721973197419751976197719781979
Masters Tournament T31T13T5T8T31T15T19T42
U.S. Open T8T27T65CUTT60CUT
The Open Championship T25T37T26T18T39
PGA Championship T18T13CUTT24T22T50T51
Tournament1980198119821983
Masters Tournament T31CUT
U.S. Open T12T26T10T65
The Open Championship
PGA Championship T30CUT
  Top 10
  Did not play

WD = withdrew
CUT = missed the half-way cut
"T" indicates a tie for a place

Summary

TournamentWins2nd3rdTop-5Top-10Top-25EventsCuts made
Masters Tournament 00035101715
U.S. Open 0000571713
The Open Championship 0002581312
PGA Championship 0000151411
Totals000516306151

Team appearances

these lists may be incomplete

Amateur

Professional

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References

  1. 1 2 3 "About Bruce Devlin". The Devlin Foundation. Retrieved 20 February 2024.
  2. "Biographical Information from golfpodium.com". Archived from the original on 28 September 2011.
  3. Jenkins, Dan (23 November 1970). "Australia's Cup Runneth (32) Under". Sports Illustrated. pp. 28–29.
  4. "Aussies win cup – but Roberto gets the cheers". The Straits Times. 17 November 1970. p. 23.
  5. James, Russell (18 September 2012). "Chapter 4". David Graham: From Ridicule to Acclaim. Ryan Publishing. ISBN   9781876498702.
  6. 40th Anniversary – PGA Tour at Torrey Pines Archived 9 May 2008 at the Wayback Machine
  7. "Featured hole: Torrey Pines".
  8. "Bruce Devlin Golf Course Designer – Career Highlights as Professional Golfer".