Charles Whitcombe (golfer)


Charles Albert Whitcombe was an English golfer. He was born in Berrow, Burnham-on-Sea, Somerset, the second of the three Whitcombe brothers who were all successful English professional golfers in the 1920s and 1930s and – despite never winning The Open Championship like his younger brother Reg – could be considered the most prominent of the three, winning the British PGA Matchplay Championship twice and captaining the Ryder Cup side four times.

Career

Whitcombe was the head professional of Crews Hill Golf Club, until his retirement. Previous to that, Whitcombe finished fifth in The Open Championship in 1922, three shots behind the winner and beaten only by Walter Hagen, Jim Barnes, George Duncan and Jock Hutchison – the players who between them had won 8 of the previous 9 major championships. Whitcombe would enjoy several other high finishes in the Championship, beaten by players including Bobby Jones, Gene Sarazen and Henry Cotton, but only once again came as close to winning, in 1935, when he finished third, three shots behind Alf Perry at Muirfield.
Whitcombe won the British PGA Matchplay Championship in 1928 and 1930, and also won the Irish Open in 1930. Both of his Matchplay championship victories came in finals against a young Henry Cotton, by 12 years Whitcombe's junior. In 1931, 1935, and 1937 Whitcombe was selected as playing captain of the Great Britain and Ireland Ryder Cup side, having also played in every side from 1927 to 1933, and was then non-playing captain in 1949.
In 1937, Whitcombe was the first winner of the Harry Vardon Trophy, which was presented to the player with the best average in the major stroke play events.

Tournament wins

Results in major championships

Tournament1920192119221923192419251926192719281929
U.S. OpenCUT
The Open Championship5T6DQWDT246CUTT39

Tournament194019411942194319441945194619471948
U.S. OpenNTNTNTNT
The Open ChampionshipNTNTNTNTNTNTCUTT32

Note: Whitcombe never played in the Masters Tournament nor the PGA Championship.

NT = No tournament

WD = withdrew

DQ = disqualified

CUT = missed the half-way cut

"T" indicates a tie for a place

Team appearances