An amazing performance, but.....

[Bob_Huntley]

Mickleson today was quite awesome, however, why cut off the records prior to fifty years ago?

An old friend, Bobby Locke, had some astounding results in the US  back in '47 and'"48.

In total he spent just over two-and-a-half years playing in the USA, competing in 59 tournaments, winning 11 of them, finishing runner-up on 10 occasions, taking third eight times and fourth five times. His 16-shot margin of victory in the Chicago Victory National Championship in 1948 remains a PGA record to this day.

Bob

[ed_getka]

That's interesting, I wasn't aware of that record cutoff. Any idea when that was instituted? I had no idea Bobby Locke was that dominant when he was in the US.

[JohnH]

Not to mention his 4 top 5's in the US Open between '47 and '51..... he had quite a stretch.

[Jfaspen]

What'd you guys think of the two driver play by Phil.. Having one made to draw, the other fade...  

It really took me by surprise.. Although the tournament was won with his iron/putting play..

I'll be curious to see if he tries it next week.

jf

[Bob_Huntley]

Another amazing feat was Locke's win in the Goodall (not Rich's) Round Robin Tournament in 1947. He was had 66 points in winning, the runner-up had 33 points. I believe Hogan, Snead, Demaret and Mangrum were in the field.


Bob

[William King]

Mickleson today was quite awesome, however, why cut off the records prior to fifty years ago?

The golf channel reported this evening that the record victory margin is 17 by 3 golfers around the turn of the century. Bobby Locke and one other were second on the list both winning by 15 (locke twice).

[John Kirk]

Tiger won the US Open by 15 in 2000.

I understand Bobby Locke had a very unusual putting technique, cutting across the ball from the inside, imparting a hook like spin on the ball.  He was also considered to be a great putter.

So Bob, you knew Bobby Locke?  Cool.  Could you possible verify the hook putt story?  

[Tom Jefferson]

It would be cool to hear from Bob Huntley about his friendship with Bobby Locke.  

In my youthful passion of all things golf I heard the testimony about Locke's record and his prowess with the putter.  Yes, he did hit his putts from the inside, with a wristy stroke, and was acknowledged as one of the best putters of all time.

Billy Casper was the next great putter, who also putted from the inside to outside.  Of course we all know that after the initial (nearly instantaneous) 'hook' spin, that the roll became 'over the top.'

As I remember it, Mr. Locke was disliked by many tour professionals, obstensibly because he was so (relatively) dominant.

Tom

[Bob_Huntley]

Tom,

Bobby Locke was not disliked by the majority of the pros but some of them did not like a furriner running off with the money. They got him banned from the Tour because he went to the UK to play in the Open Championship and not play in an US tourney.

As I heard it, Sam Snead, after his drubbing in South Africa by Locke, told him to play in the States. Snead then told Clayton Heafner that if anyone offered him a bet against Locke, to take it. Lloyd Mangrum did and Locke beat him like a drum, at one time losing his Cadillac to Heafner, plus a bunch of money.

As for his putting stroke he copied Walter Hagen. It looked like a shut face going back was always perfectly square at impact.

Bob