Bobby Jones 1930 Grand Slam

Lore & Background

Jones is most famous for his unique 'Grand Slam,' consisting of his victory in all four major golf tournaments of his era (the open and amateur championships in both the U.S. and the U.K.) in a single calendar year (1930). In all Jones played in 31 majors, winning 13 and placing among the top ten finishers 27 times. After retiring from competitive golf in 1930, Jones founded and helped design the Augusta National Golf Club soon afterwards in 1933. He also co-founded the Masters Tournament, which has been annually staged by the club since 1934 (except for 1943–45, when it was canceled due to World War II).

Reader's Guide

Jones was the most successful amateur golfer ever to compete at a national and international level. During his peak from 1923 to 1930, he dominated top-level amateur competition, and competed very successfully against the world's best professional golfers. Jones often beat stars such as Walter Hagen and Gene Sarazen, the era's top pros. Jones earned his living mainly as a lawyer, and competed in golf only as an amateur, primarily on a part-time basis, and chose to retire from competition at age 28, though he earned significant money from golf after that, as an instructor and equipment designer.

Did You Know?

• Jones was the first player to win 'The Double,' both the Open Championship and the U.S. Open Championships in the same year (1926).
• Jones made a bet on himself achieving the Grand Slam with British bookmakers early in 1930 at odds of 50–1, and collected over $60,000 when he did it.
• Jones represented the United States in the Walker Cup five times, winning nine of his 10 matches, and the U.S. won the trophy all five times.
• Jones suffered from a rare neurological condition called syringomyelia, which eventually robbed him of the ability to walk. He died of cardiovascular disease in 1971.