Bob Hamilton


Robert T. Hamilton was an American professional golfer.

Career

He was born and raised in Evansville, Indiana. He attended and graduated from Evansville Reitz High School in 1934.
Hamilton won ten professional titles, including one major, the PGA Championship in 1944 at Manito Golf and Country Club in Spokane, Washington. Then a match play event, he defeated heavily favored Byron Nelson in the finals, 1 up. Hamilton was a three-time winner of the Indiana Open, winning in 1938, 1942, and 1966. He won five times on the PGA Tour, including the 1948 New Orleans Open, one stroke ahead of runner-up Roberto De Vicenzo. Hamilton was also a member of the 1949 Ryder Cup team.
Hamilton also served as the golf pro at Fort Lewis, south of Seattle, during the latter stages of World War II; he was also a member of the Warriors, the inter-base team. Individually, he placed 3rd in the Pacific Northwest Servicemen's Championship and 3rd in the Tacoma Open, a PGA Tour event.
Hamilton finished second to Sam Snead in the 1967 Senior PGA Championship at PGA National Golf Club in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida.
In 1975, Hamilton set the overall record for youngest golfer to shoot his age when he shot a 59 at Hamilton Golf Club in Evansville.
In 1990, Hamilton died in his hometown of Evansville, Indiana.

Awards and honors

In 1965, Hamilton was inducted into the Indiana Golf Hall of Fame.

Amateur wins

This list may be incomplete

Professional wins (10)

PGA Tour wins (3)

PGA Tour playoff record
No.YearTournamentOpponentResult
11949Miami Open

Other wins (7)

This list may be incomplete

Major championships

Wins (1)

''Note: The PGA Championship was match play until 1958''

Results timeline

Tournament1950195119521953195419551956195719581959
Masters TournamentT32T404WD
U.S. OpenT42
PGA ChampionshipR64R32SF

Tournament196019611962196319641965196619671968
Masters Tournament
U.S. Open
PGA ChampionshipWDT59

Note: Hamilton never played in The Open Championship.
NT = no tournament
WD = withdrew
CUT = missed the half-way cut
R64, R32, R16, QF, SF = round in which player lost in PGA Championship match play
"T" indicates a tie for a place

Summary

  • Most consecutive cuts made – 11
  • Longest streak of top-10s – 2