Bob Charles (golfer)
Sir Robert James Charles is a New Zealand professional golfer. His achievements over five decades rank him among the most successful left-handed golfers of all time, being the first lefty to win a golf major, winning more than 70 titles, and beating his age twice during a tournament as a 71-year-old.
Although Charles plays golf left-handed, he is naturally right-handed.
Early years
Born in Carterton, a small town in the Wairarapa district in New Zealand's North Island, Charles lived in Masterton where he worked as a bank teller. He won the New Zealand Open at Heretaunga on 8 November 1954, as an 18-year-old amateur.Charles decided to hone his skills as an amateur first, and remained in his bank employment for a further six years. He represented New Zealand several times in international amateur tournaments during this period.
Professional career
Charles turned professional in 1960 and the next year won the New Zealand PGA Championship and soon after ventured overseas to the European and North American circuits.In 1963, Charles won his first PGA Tour event in the United States, the Houston Classic, the first PGA Tour event won by a left-handed golfer. Later that year he won The Open Championship at Royal Lytham and St. Annes. After four rounds his 277 was level with American Phil Rodgers. Charles won the 36-hole playoff by eight shots.
Charles has won about 80 tournaments around the world. As well as his PGA Tour victories, his win in the 1969 World Matchplay Championship was considered one of his best. He won the Senior British Open 30 years after winning his British Open title. He remains, along with Michael Campbell, one of only two New Zealanders to win a men's major golf championship.
In 2007 Charles became the oldest golfer to make a cut on the European Tour at the Michael Hill New Zealand Open. Charles shot a 68 in the second round, beating his age by three strokes. He would go on to finish in a tie for 23rd place.
Charles's move to the Senior PGA Tour was very lucrative and successful with 23 titles; and in three years 1988, 1989 and 1993, he recorded lowest scoring average. He finished second on the European Seniors Tour's 2007 Wentworth Senior Masters at the age of 71. He was the first left-hander to win a major, but also the first lefty to be inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame, in the veterans category. He was inducted in 2008. He would remain the only lefty inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame until Phil Mickelson was elected in 2011.
At the Senior British Open Championship in 2010, Charles announced in an ESPN interview that he would retire from golf, stating that he was "74 years old, traveling this world for 50 years, and it's time to slow down and spend more time on my farm in New Zealand with my family."
Personal life
Charles is a sporting hero in New Zealand, not only for his achievements but also for his demeanour and philanthropy regarding junior golfers. He was also a role model worldwide for left-handed golfers. Until Canadian Mike Weir won The Masters in 2003, Charles was the only golfer with a left-handed swing to have won a major.In the 1971 Queen's Birthday Honours, Charles was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire, for services to sport. In the 1992 New Year Honours, he was promoted to Commander of the Order of the British Empire for services to golf. In the 1999 New Year Honours, Charles was appointed a Knight Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit, for services to golf. In the 2011 New Year Honours 2011, Charles was appointed as a Member of the Order of New Zealand, New Zealand's highest civilian honour, for services to New Zealand.
Charles married his wife Verity in 1962 and they have two children, Beverly and David. David is a golf director in the United States. He is a successful golf course designer having had major input into the Formosa Country Club east of Auckland, Millbrook at the resort town of Queenstown, and The Dunes course at Matarangi on the Coromandel Peninsula. He was also consultant to the Clearwater course, near Christchurch, designed by golf architect John Darby. He has four grandchildren, Beverly has two children Jacqui and James, who live in the UK. David also has two, Robert and Caroline who live in the US.
Charles has played in the Gary Player Invitational several times to assist Gary Player raise funds for various underprivileged children's causes.
Professional wins (79)
PGA Tour wins (6)
No. | Date | Tournament | Winning score | Margin of victory | Runner-up |
1 | 21 Apr 1963 | Houston Classic | −12 | 1 stroke | ![]() |
2 | 13 Jul 1963 | The Open Championship | −3 | Playoff | ![]() |
3 | 21 Feb 1965 | Tucson Open Invitational | −17 | 4 strokes | ![]() |
4 | 1 Oct 1967 | Atlanta Classic | −6 | 2 strokes | ![]() ![]() ![]() |
5 | 23 Jun 1968 | Canadian Open | −6 | 2 strokes | ![]() |
6 | 7 Apr 1974 | Greater Greensboro Open | −14 | 1 stroke | ![]() ![]() |
PGA Tour playoff record
No. | Year | Tournament | Opponent | Result |
1 | 1963 | The Open Championship | ![]() | Won 36-hole playoff; Charles: E, Rodgers: +8 |
2 | 1965 | Lucky International Open | ![]() | Lost to birdie on second extra hole |
3 | 1970 | Greater New Orleans Open | ![]() ![]() | Barber won with birdie on second extra hole |
European Tour wins (4)
European Tour playoff recordNo. | Year | Tournament | Opponents | Result |
1 | 1978 | Greater Manchester Open | ![]() ![]() ![]() | Barnes won with birdie on first extra hole |
Sunshine Tour wins (1)
No. | Date | Tournament | Winning score | Margin of victory | Runners-up |
1 | 3 Feb 1973 | South African Open | −6 | 3 strokes | ![]() ![]() |
PGA Tour of Australasia wins (5)
PGA Tour of Australasia playoff record
No. | Year | Tournament | Opponent | Result |
1 | 1974 | New Zealand Open | ![]() ![]() | Gilder won with birdie on third extra hole Newton eliminated by par on second hole |
2 | 1981 | New Zealand PGA Championship | ![]() | Lost to birdie on first extra hole |
PGA Tour satellite wins (1)
- 1983 Tallahassee Open
European circuit wins (6)
- 1961 Bowmaker Tournament
- 1962 Swiss Open, Daks Tournament, Engadine Open
- 1963 Open Championship
- 1969 Piccadilly World Match Play Championship
New Zealand circuit wins (19)
- 1954 New Zealand Open
- 1961 New Zealand PGA Championship, Caltex Tournament
- 1962 Caltex Tournament
- 1963 Wattie's Tournament
- 1966 New Zealand Open, Wattie's Tournament, Metalcraft Tournament, Forest Products Tournament
- 1967 New Zealand Wills Masters, Caltex Tournament, Wattie's Tournament
- 1968 Wattie's Tournament, Caltex Tournament
- 1969 Spalding Masters
- 1970 New Zealand Open
- 1971 Otago Charity Classic, Caltex Tournament
- 1972 Spalding Masters
Senior PGA Tour wins (23)
No. | Year | Tournament | Opponent | Result |
1 | 1987 | PaineWebber World Seniors Invitational | ![]() | Lost to birdie on first extra hole |
2 | 1988 | Senior Players Reunion Pro-Am | ![]() ![]() ![]() | Moody won with birdie on first extra hole |
3 | 1988 | U.S. Senior Open | ![]() | Lost 18-hole playoff; Player: −4, Charles: −2 |
4 | 1989 | GTE Suncoast Classic | ![]() ![]() ![]() | Won with birdie on third extra hole Ferree and Hill eliminated on first hole with birdie |
5 | 1989 | General Tire Las Vegas Classic | ![]() ![]() | Coody won with birdie on second extra hole |
6 | 1995 | Hyatt Regency Maui Kaanapali Classic | ![]() | Won with birdie on third extra hole |
7 | 1996 | Las Vegas Senior Classic | ![]() ![]() | Colbert won with par on fourth extra hole Charles eliminated with par on first hole |
8 | 1998 | Home Depot Invitational | ![]() | Lost to par on third extra hole |
9 | 1998 | Kroger Senior Classic | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() | Baiocchi won with birdie on second extra hole |
European Senior Tour wins (1)
Other senior wins (14)
- 1986 Mazda Champions
- 1987 Mauna Lani Invitational
- 1988 Fuji Electric Grandslam, 1st National Bank Classic
- 1989 Fuji Electric Grandslam, Senior British Open
- 1990 Fuji Electric Grandslam, Kintetsu Home Senior, Daikyo Senior Invitational
- 1991 Kintetsu Home Senior
- 1998 Office Depot Father/Son Challenge
- 2004 Liberty Mutual Legends of Golf – Raphael Division
- 2009 Liberty Mutual Legends of Golf – Demaret Division
- 2010 Liberty Mutual Legends of Golf – Demaret Division
Major championships
Wins (1)
1Defeated Phil Rodgers in a 36-hole playoff.Results timeline
AmateurProfessional
CUT = missed the halfway cut
WD = withdrew
QF, SF = Round in which player lost in match play
"T" indicates a tie for a place.
Source for The Masters:
Source for U.S. Open:
Source for The British Open:
Source for PGA Championship:
Source for 1958 Amateur Championship:
Summary
- Most consecutive cuts made – 11
- Longest streak of top-10s – 3
Team appearances
- Eisenhower Trophy : 1958, 1960
- Commonwealth Tournament : 1959