# Bobby Cruickshank

Robert Allan Cruickshank (16 November 1894 – 27 August 1975) was a Scottish-born golfer who played primarily in the United States. He competed in the PGA of America circuit in the 1920s and 1930s, the forerunner of the PGA Tour. He was twice runner-up at the U.S Open.

## Early life

Born in Grantown-on-Spey in rural northern Scotland, Cruickshank learned his golf as a boy playing over the town's course. As a teenager he also worked there as a caddie.
In that era, country houses around Grantown-on-Spey were often rented to rich Edinburgh families for the summer. A wealthy widow named Mrs. Isabella Usher made an offer to Cruickshank's parents to provide an education for their two sons in Edinburgh. In the autumn of 1909, Cruickshank and his younger brother John moved south. Mrs. Usher became their legal guardian and they lived at her house in the city's Murrayfield district. They were educated at the nearby Daniel Stewart's College.
He was also becoming an outstanding golfer and met and became friends with another rising local golfer, Tommy Armour. Armour and Cruikshank played together regularly over the Braid Hills course. Bobby also became a member of Turnhouse Golf Club on the west of the city.
Cruickshank served in the British Army in World War I. Captured in action by the Germans, he was a prisoner of war and later successfully escaped.

## Amateur career

On returning from the war, Cruickshank won what was then Edinburgh's top amateur competition (the Edinburgh Coronation Cup) in both 1919 and 1920. The tournament was played at Braid Hills course which is still the city's premier municipal course. Representing his old school's former pupils (Stewart's FP Golf Club) Cruickshank was part of a team which won the Evening Dispatch Trophy. He also reached the final rounds of the British Amateur Championship played at Muirfield in the summer of 1920.

## Professional career

In 1921, Cruickshank turned professional and moved to the United States, as suggested by his mentor and friend, Tommy Armour. He rose to prominence in the U.S. after reaching the last four of the PGA Championship in both 1922 and 1923. He lost both times to eventual champion Gene Sarazen. Cruickshank was also twice runner-up in the U.S. Open. In 1923, he finished second to Bobby Jones down by two shots after an 18 hole playoff at Inwood Country Club, New York. In 1932, he was beaten by Gene Sarazen at Fresh Meadow Country Club, New York.
Cruickshank came home to Scotland to play at Muirfield in the 1929 Open Championship. Despite only bringing two clubs with him and borrowing the rest from the Gullane professional, he finished sixth. In a nod to his old school, Cruickshank wore his Stewart's College tie while playing in the second round of the championship. He won £10 for sixth place while that years "Champion Golfer", Walter Hagen, won £75.
Cruickshank won 17 tour events in his career and his greatest year was 1927, when he won the Los Angeles and Texas Opens and finished as the leading money winner for the year. His last victory on tour was in 1936 and he had 16 top-10 finishes in major championships.
Cruickshank was a club pro in Richmond, Virginia, in 1930s and 1940s, and later in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He was also a winter pro in Florida.

## Personal life

Early in his adult life he was married to Helen.
Cruickshank died after a brief illness at age 80 in Delray Beach, Florida. His wife Nellie (1895–1965) died ten years earlier in Pittsburgh.

## Professional wins (29)
### PGA Tour wins (17)

* 1921 (2) St. Joseph Open (as an amateur), New York State Open
* 1924 (1) Colorado Open
* 1926 (2) North and South Open, Mid-South Pro-Am Bestball
* 1927 (5) Los Angeles Open, Texas Open, South Central Open, North and South Open, Westchester Open
* 1928 (1) Maryland Open
* 1929 (1) Westchester Open
* 1934 (3) National Capital Open, British Colonial Open, Pinehurst Fall Pro-Pro (with Tommy Armour)
* 1935 (1) Orlando Open
* 1936 (1) Virginia Open

### Other wins (12)

this list may be incomplete
* 1925 Miami International Four-Ball (with Johnny Farrell)
* 1927 Miami International Four-Ball (with Tommy Armour)
* 1933 Virginia Open
* 1934 Virginia Open
* 1935 Virginia Open
* 1937 Virginia Open
* 1938 Mid South Pro/Pro (with Tommy Armour; tie with Henry Picard and Jack Grout)
* 1939 Virginia Open
* 1943 North and South Open
* 1945 Middle Atlantic PGA Championship
* 1949 Tri-State PGA Championship
* 1950 Tri-State PGA Championship

## Results in major championships

| Tournament | 1920 | 1921 | 1922 | 1923 | 1924 | 1925 | 1926 | 1927 | 1929 |
| U.S. Open | | T26 | T28 | 2 | T4 | | T49 | T11 | T42 |
| The Open Championship | | | | | | | | | 6 |
| PGA Championship | | R16 | SF | SF | R16 | R16 | R32 | R32 | |
| The Amateur Championship | R64 | | | | | | | | |
| Tournament | 1930 | 1931 | 1932 | 1933 | 1934 | 1935 | 1936 | 1937 | 1938 | 1939 |
| Masters Tournament | NYF | NYF | NYF | NYF | T28 | T9 | T4 | 17 | T18 | |
| U.S. Open | | T36 | T2 | T43 | T3 | T14 | CUT | 3 | T46 | T25 |
| The Open Championship | | | | | | | | T42 | | |
| PGA Championship | | | QF | R16 | | | R16 | | | |
| Tournament | 1940 | 1941 | 1942 | 1943 | 1944 | 1945 | 1946 | 1948 | 1949 |
| Masters Tournament | WD | | T15 | NT | NT | NT | | | |
| U.S. Open | CUT | | NT | NT | NT | NT | T38 | | T42 |
| The Open Championship | NT | NT | NT | NT | NT | NT | | T32 | |
| PGA Championship | | | | NT | | | | | |
| Tournament | 1950 | 1951 | 1954 | 1955 | 1957 |
| Masters Tournament | | | | | |
| U.S. Open | T25 | CUT | CUT | CUT | CUT |
| The Open Championship | | | | | |
| PGA Championship | | R64 | | | |
NYF = tournament not yet founded 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
Source: British Amateur