Early life
Devlin was born in 1937 in Armidale, New South Wales, Australia. His parents, Jess and Artie, moved to Goulburn with Bruce, 6 months later, in 1938. Bruce went to school and technical college in Goulburn and played hockey, basketball and golf in and around Goulburn. Bruce married Gloria Gale in Goulburn on the 11 July 1959.
In 1952, Devlin won the Southern Tablelands Open Junior Championship. A title he successfully defended in 1953, at the Tully Park Golf Course. In 1953 he and Perce Tyrie won the Open Foursomes Championship at the Goulburn Golf Club. Then Bruce won his first Goulburn Golf Club Open Championship in 1956. Devlin won the Australian Amateur in 1959.
Bruce's determination to play professional golf, came, in short, from an ultimatum he was given, by a teacher at St Patrick's College in Goulburn. 'It's school or golf Devlin'.
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.
He was briefly featured on the famous Australian television series, Kath and Kim as Sharon's boyfriend. His feature was short-lived, as his character was killed off after only twenty minutes, leaving Sharon in tears once again.
Later career
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]
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