Bob Charles
New Zealand's first left-handed major champion and a prolific winner across five decades.
Sir Robert James Charles, born on 14 March 1936, is a New Zealand professional golfer. He made history in 1963 by winning The Open Championship, becoming the first left-handed golfer ever to claim a men's major title. Charles first gained attention as an 18-year-old amateur when he won the 1954 New Zealand Open. Remarkably, he later made the cut in that same tournament in 2007 at age 71. Over his career, he accumulated 80 tournament victories, placing him among New Zealand's most accomplished golfers. He is one of only three New Zealanders—alongside Michael Campbell and Ryan Fox—to have won a men's major championship.
Quick Facts
- Full name
- Robert James Charles
- Born
- 14 March 1936
- Birthplace
- Carterton, New Zealand
- Weight
- 79 kg / 174 lb
- Residence
- Florida
- U.S.; Canterbury
- New Zealand
- Spouse
- Verity Aldridge (1962)
- Children
- 2
- Masters
- T15: 1963
Facts from the source article.
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