Bob Murphy (golfer)
Encyclopedia
Robert Joseph Murphy, Jr. (born February 14, 1943) is an American professional golfer
who was formerly a member of the PGA Tour
and currently plays on the Champions Tour
. Murphy has won 21 tournaments as a professional.
in Gainesville, Florida
, where he was a member of Sigma Alpha Epsilon
Fraternity
(Florida Upsilon Chapter). While he was an undergraduate, he played for coach Buster Bishop
's Florida Gators men's golf team in National Collegiate Athletic Association
(NCAA) competition from 1964 to 1966. While he was an undergraduate, he won the 1965 U.S. Amateur Championship and the 1966 individual NCAA championship
, and was recognized as an All-American in 1966. He graduated from the University of Florida with a bachelor's degree
in health and human performance in 1966, and was later inducted into the University of Florida Athletic Hall of Fame as a "Gator Great" in 1971.
. He was a member of the victorious U.S. team in the 1975 Ryder Cup
competition. His best finish in a major tournament was a second-place tie at the 1970 PGA Championship
. Murphy won 11 times on the Senior PGA Tour (now the Champions Tour
).
He joined NBC Sports
in November 1999, and is now a tower announcer for the PGA Tour on NBC
.
He was inducted into the Florida Sports Hall of Fame
in 2011.
PGA Tour playoff record (1-5)
LA = Low Amateur
DNP = Did not play
CUT = missed the half-way cut
"T" indicates a tie for a place
Green background for wins. Yellow background for top-10.
Professional golfer
In golf the distinction between amateurs and professionals is rigorously maintained. An amateur who breaches the rules of amateur status may lose his or her amateur status. A golfer who has lost his or her amateur status may not play in amateur competitions until amateur status has been reinstated;...
who was formerly a member of the PGA Tour
PGA Tour
The PGA Tour is the organizer of the main men's professional golf tours in the United States and North America...
and currently plays on the Champions Tour
Champions Tour
The Champions Tour, a golf tour run by the PGA Tour, hosts a series of events annually in the United States and the United Kingdom for golfers 50 years of age and older. Many of the PGA Tour's most successful golfers have gone on to play on the Champions Tour.The Senior PGA Championship, founded in...
. Murphy has won 21 tournaments as a professional.
Early years
Murphy was born in Brooklyn, New York. He was a standout pitcher in his youth, and as a teen led his high school baseball team to the state championship in 1960. After suffering a football injury (which also ended his baseball career), Murphy got started in golf.College career
Murphy attended the University of FloridaUniversity of Florida
The University of Florida is an American public land-grant, sea-grant, and space-grant research university located on a campus in Gainesville, Florida. The university traces its historical origins to 1853, and has operated continuously on its present Gainesville campus since September 1906...
in Gainesville, Florida
Gainesville, Florida
Gainesville is the largest city in, and the county seat of, Alachua County, Florida, United States as well as the principal city of the Gainesville, Florida Metropolitan Statistical Area . The preliminary 2010 Census population count for Gainesville is 124,354. Gainesville is home to the sixth...
, where he was a member of Sigma Alpha Epsilon
Sigma Alpha Epsilon
Sigma Alpha Epsilon is a North American Greek-letter social college fraternity founded at the University of Alabama on March 9, 1856. Of all existing national social fraternities today, Sigma Alpha Epsilon is the only one founded in the Antebellum South...
Fraternity
Fraternities and sororities
Fraternities and sororities are fraternal social organizations for undergraduate students. In Latin, the term refers mainly to such organizations at colleges and universities in the United States, although it is also applied to analogous European groups also known as corporations...
(Florida Upsilon Chapter). While he was an undergraduate, he played for coach Buster Bishop
Buster Bishop
Bernays Emery "Buster" Bishop was an American college golf coach. Bishop was best known for leading the Florida Gators men's golf team of the University of Florida to National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I championships in 1968 and 1973.- Early life and education :Bishop was born in...
's Florida Gators men's golf team in National Collegiate Athletic Association
National Collegiate Athletic Association
The National Collegiate Athletic Association is a semi-voluntary association of 1,281 institutions, conferences, organizations and individuals that organizes the athletic programs of many colleges and universities in the United States...
(NCAA) competition from 1964 to 1966. While he was an undergraduate, he won the 1965 U.S. Amateur Championship and the 1966 individual NCAA championship
NCAA Division I Men's Golf Championships
The NCAA Division I Men's Golf Championships, played in late May or early June, is the top annual competition in U.S. men's collegiate golf. It is a stroke play team competition, starting in 2009 the competition changed to a stroke play/match play competition with the top 8 teams after 54 holes of...
, and was recognized as an All-American in 1966. He graduated from the University of Florida with a bachelor's degree
Bachelor's degree
A bachelor's degree is usually an academic degree awarded for an undergraduate course or major that generally lasts for three or four years, but can range anywhere from two to six years depending on the region of the world...
in health and human performance in 1966, and was later inducted into the University of Florida Athletic Hall of Fame as a "Gator Great" in 1971.
Professional career
Murphy turned professional in 1967, and won five tournaments on the PGA TourPGA Tour
The PGA Tour is the organizer of the main men's professional golf tours in the United States and North America...
. He was a member of the victorious U.S. team in the 1975 Ryder Cup
1975 Ryder Cup
The 21st Ryder Cup Matches were held at the Laurel Valley Golf Club in Ligonier, Pennsylvania.The United States team won the competition by a score of 21 to 11 points...
competition. His best finish in a major tournament was a second-place tie at the 1970 PGA Championship
1970 PGA Championship
The 1970 PGA Championship was the 52nd PGA Championship played August 13-16 at Southern Hills Country Club in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Dave Stockton won the championship and $40,000 out of the total purse of $200,000.-Final leaderboard:-External links:...
. Murphy won 11 times on the Senior PGA Tour (now the Champions Tour
Champions Tour
The Champions Tour, a golf tour run by the PGA Tour, hosts a series of events annually in the United States and the United Kingdom for golfers 50 years of age and older. Many of the PGA Tour's most successful golfers have gone on to play on the Champions Tour.The Senior PGA Championship, founded in...
).
He joined NBC Sports
NBC Sports
NBC Sports is the sports division of the NBC television network. Formerly "a service of NBC News," it broadcasts a diverse array of programs, including the Olympic Games, the NFL, the NHL, MLS, Notre Dame football, the PGA Tour, the Triple Crown, and the French Open, among others...
in November 1999, and is now a tower announcer for the PGA Tour on NBC
PGA Tour on NBC
Golf Channel on NBC is the branding used for broadcasts of golf on the NBC network. The network's coverage has traditionally focused on the main professional golf tours in the United States, alongside other major tournaments...
.
He was inducted into the Florida Sports Hall of Fame
Florida Sports Hall of Fame
The Florida Sports Hall of Fame is an association dedicated to honoring athletes with outstanding achievement in sports in Florida. It has expanded its goals to include encouraging physical fitness among Florida's citizens through the example of its honorees.The FSHOF was founded by the Florida...
in 2011.
Amateur wins (2)
- 1965 U.S. Amateur
- 1966 NCAA championshipNCAA Division I Men's Golf ChampionshipsThe NCAA Division I Men's Golf Championships, played in late May or early June, is the top annual competition in U.S. men's collegiate golf. It is a stroke play team competition, starting in 2009 the competition changed to a stroke play/match play competition with the top 8 teams after 54 holes of...
(individual)
PGA Tour wins (5)
| No. | Date | Tournament | Winning Score | Margin of Victory | Runner(s)-up |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Aug 25, 1968 | Philadelphia Golf Classic | Playoff |  Labron Harris, Jr.Labron Harris, Jr. Labron E. Harris, Jr. is an American professional golfer who played on the PGA Tour in the 1960s and 1970s.Harris was born in Stillwater, Oklahoma and grew up playing the Oklahoma State University practice facility, Lakeside Golf Course... |
|
| 2 | Sep 2, 1968 | Thunderbird Classic Thunderbird Classic The Thunderbird Classic was a golf tournament on the PGA Tour from 1962 to 1968. It was played at two locations, the Upper Montclair Country Club in Clifton, New Jersey in 1962 and 1966-1968 and the Westchester Country Club in Rye, New York in 1963-1965.... |
3 strokes |  Bruce CramptonBruce Crampton Bruce Crampton is an Australian professional golfer.Crampton was born in Sydney, New South Wales, and attended Kogarah High School from 1948-1950. He turned professional in 1953.... , Bob LunnBob Lunn Robert J. Lunn is an American professional golfer who played on the PGA Tour in the 1960s and 1970s.Lunn was born in San Francisco, California. He was the 1963 U.S. Amateur Public Links champion. He turned pro in 1965 and won six times on the PGA Tour. In 1968, he was named Most Improved Golfer of... |
|
| 3 | Sep 7, 1970 1970 PGA Tour The 1970 PGA Tour season was played from January 8 to December 13. The season consisted of 45 official money events. Billy Casper won the most tournaments, four, and there were six first-time winners. The tournament results and award winners are listed below.... |
Greater Hartford Open Invitational | 4 strokes | Paul Harney Paul Harney Paul Harney was an American professional golfer and golf course owner who spent part of his career as a full-time PGA Tour player, but mostly was a club professional, part-time Tour player, and owner-operator of his own course.... |
|
| 4 | Mar 2, 1975 1975 PGA Tour The 1975 PGA Tour season was played from January 9 to October 26. The season consisted of 42 official money events. Jack Nicklaus won the most tournaments, five, and there were eight first-time winners. Johnny Miller won the first two events of the year for the second year in a row... |
Jackie Gleason-Inverrary Classic | 1 stroke | Eddie Pearce Eddie Pearce Eddie Pearce is an American professional golfer.Pearce was born in Fort Myers, Florida and grew up in Temple Terrace, Florida, where, as an infant, his first golf club was placed in his hands by the legendary Babe Didrikson Zaharias. By the time he was 12, he was shooting in the 60s and was... |
|
| 5 | Jun 29, 1986 1986 PGA Tour The 1986 PGA Tour season was played from January 8 to November 2. The season consisted of 45 official money events. Bob Tway won the most tournaments, four, and there were 11 first-time winners. The tournament results, leaders, and award winners are listed below.-Tournament results:The following... |
Canadian Open | 3 strokes | Greg Norman Greg Norman Gregory John Norman AO is an Australian professional golfer and entrepreneur who spent 331 weeks as the world's Number 1 ranked golfer in the 1980s and 1990s... |
PGA Tour playoff record (1-5)
| No. | Year | Tournament | Opponent(s) | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1968 | Philadelphia Golf Classic | Labron Harris, Jr. Labron Harris, Jr. Labron E. Harris, Jr. is an American professional golfer who played on the PGA Tour in the 1960s and 1970s.Harris was born in Stillwater, Oklahoma and grew up playing the Oklahoma State University practice facility, Lakeside Golf Course... |
Won with birdie on third extra hole |
| 2 | 1970 1970 PGA Tour The 1970 PGA Tour season was played from January 8 to December 13. The season consisted of 45 official money events. Billy Casper won the most tournaments, four, and there were six first-time winners. The tournament results and award winners are listed below.... |
Tucson Open | Lee Trevino Lee Trevino Lee Buck Trevino is an American professional golfer. He is an icon for Mexican Americans, and is often referred to as "The Merry Mex" and "Supermex". He won six major championships over the course of his career.-Early life:... |
Lost to birdie on first extra hole |
| 3 | 1972 1972 PGA Tour The 1972 PGA Tour season was played from January 6 to December 3. The season consisted of 46 official money events. Jack Nicklaus won the most tournaments, seven, and there were five first-time winners. The tournament results and award winners are listed below.... |
Hawaiian Open | Grier Jones |
Lost to par on first extra hole |
| 4 | 1973 1973 PGA Tour The 1973 PGA Tour season was played from January 4 to December 1. The season consisted of 48 official money events. Jack Nicklaus won the most tournaments, seven, and there were seven first-time winners. The tournament results and award winners are listed below.-Tournament results:The following... |
Westchester Classic | Bobby Nichols Bobby Nichols Robert Herman Nichols is an American professional golfer, best known for winning the 1964 PGA Championship.Nichols was born in Louisville, Kentucky. He attended St. Xavier High School in Louisville and later played golf at Texas A&M University were his team won the Southwest Conference Championship... |
Lost to birdie on second extra hole |
| 5 | 1974 1974 PGA Tour The 1974 PGA Tour season was played from January 3 to November 3. The season consisted of 44 official money events. Johnny Miller won the most tournaments, eight, including the first three events. There were 10 first-time winners. The tournament results and award winners are listed... |
World Open Golf Championship | Frank Beard, Jack Nicklaus Jack Nicklaus Jack William Nicklaus , nicknamed "The Golden Bear", is an American professional golfer. He won 18 career major championships on the PGA Tour over a span of 25 years and is widely regarded as one of the greatest professional golfers of all time. In addition to his 18 Majors, he was runner-up a... , Johnny MillerJohnny Miller John Laurence Miller is an American professional golfer who played on the PGA Tour. He was one of the top players in the world during the mid-1970s; he ranked second in the world on Mark McCormack's world golf rankings in both 1974 and 1975 behind Jack Nicklaus. He is currently the lead golf... |
Miller won with birdie on second extra hole Murphy eliminated with par on first extra hole |
| 6 | 1981 1981 PGA Tour The 1981 PGA Tour season was played from January 8 to October 25. The season consisted of 44 official money events. Bill Rogers won the most tournaments, four, and there were five first-time winners. The tournament results, leaders, and award winners are listed below.-Tournament results:The... |
Tallahassee Open | Dave Eichelberger Dave Eichelberger Martin Davis Eichelberger, Jr. is an American professional golfer who has won several tournaments at both the PGA Tour and Champions Tour levels.... , Mark O'MearaMark O'Meara Mark Francis O'Meara is an American professional golfer who was a prolific tournament winner on the PGA Tour and around the world from the mid 1980s to the late 1990s... |
Eichelberger won with birdie on first extra hole |
Senior PGA Tour wins (11)
- 19931993 Senior PGA TourThe 1993 Senior PGA Tour was the 14th season since the Senior PGA Tour officially began in 1980 . The season consisted of 38 official money events with purses totalling $26,500,000, including four majors. Dave Stockton won the most tournaments, five...
(2) Bruno's Memorial Classic, GTE North Classic - 19941994 Senior PGA TourThe 1994 Senior PGA Tour was the 15th season since the Senior PGA Tour officially began in 1980 . The season consisted of 37 official money events with purses totalling $29,150,000, including four majors. Lee Trevino won the most tournaments, six...
(2) Raley's Senior Gold Rush, Hyatt Regency Maui Kaanapali Classic - 19951995 Senior PGA TourThe 1995 Senior PGA Tour was the 16th season since the Senior PGA Tour officially began in 1980 . The season consisted of 38 official money events with purses totalling $33,650,000, including four majors. Jim Colbert and Bob Murphy won the most tournaments, four...
(4) The IntelliNet Challenge, PaineWebber Invitational, Nationwide ChampionshipNationwide ChampionshipThe Nationwide Championship was a golf tournament on the Champions Tour from 1991 to 2000. It was played in Alpharetta, Georgia, United States, at the Country Club of the South and at the Golf Club of Georgia ....
, VFW Senior Championship - 19961996 Senior PGA TourThe 1996 Senior PGA Tour was the 17th season since the Senior PGA Tour officially began in 1980 . The season consisted of 39 official money events with purses totalling $37,400,000, including four majors. Jim Colbert won the most tournaments, five...
(2) Royal Caribbean Classic, Cadillac NFL Golf Classic - 19971997 Senior PGA TourThe 1997 Senior PGA Tour was the 18th season since the Senior PGA Tour officially began in 1980 . The season consisted of 38 official money events with purses totalling $41,750,000, including four majors. Hale Irwin won the most tournaments, nine...
(1) Toshiba Senior Classic
Other senior wins (2)
- 1995 Diners Club Matches (with Jim ColbertJim ColbertJames Joseph Colbert is an American professional golfer.Colbert was born in Elizabeth, New Jersey. He attended Kansas State University, where he finished second in the NCAA golf championships in 1964, before graduating and turning professional in 1965.Colbert won eight times on the PGA Tour,...
) - 1996 Diners Club Matches (with Jim Colbert)
Results in major championships
| Tournament | 1966 | 1967 | 1968 | 1969 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Masters | T59 LA | 52 LA | DNP | CUT |
| U.S. Open U.S. Open (golf) The United States Open Championship, commonly known as the U.S. Open, is the annual open golf tournament of the United States. It is the second of the four major championships in golf, and is on the official schedule of both the PGA Tour and the European Tour... |
T15 LA | T23 LA | T32 | 5 |
| The Open Championship The Open Championship The Open Championship, or simply The Open , is the oldest of the four major championships in professional golf. It is the only "major" held outside the USA and is administered by The R&A, which is the governing body of golf outside the USA and Mexico... |
DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP |
| PGA Championship PGA Championship The PGA Championship is an annual golf tournament conducted by the PGA of America as part of the PGA Tour. It is one of the four major championships in men's professional golf, and is the golf season's final major, usually played in mid-August, customarily four weeks after The Open Championship... |
DNP | DNP | DNP | T63 |
| Tournament | 1970 | 1971 | 1972 | 1973 | 1974 | 1975 | 1976 | 1977 | 1978 | 1979 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Masters | T23 | T13 | T43 | DNP | DNP | 42 | T28 | T31 | DNP | DNP |
| U.S. Open U.S. Open (golf) The United States Open Championship, commonly known as the U.S. Open, is the annual open golf tournament of the United States. It is the second of the four major championships in golf, and is on the official schedule of both the PGA Tour and the European Tour... |
CUT | CUT | T63 | T20 | DNP | T3 | CUT | DNP | CUT | T25 |
| The Open Championship The Open Championship The Open Championship, or simply The Open , is the oldest of the four major championships in professional golf. It is the only "major" held outside the USA and is administered by The R&A, which is the governing body of golf outside the USA and Mexico... |
DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | T48 | DNP | DNP | DNP |
| PGA Championship PGA Championship The PGA Championship is an annual golf tournament conducted by the PGA of America as part of the PGA Tour. It is one of the four major championships in men's professional golf, and is the golf season's final major, usually played in mid-August, customarily four weeks after The Open Championship... |
T2 | T46 | T40 | T35 | T32 | T25 | CUT | T25 | T54 | CUT |
| Tournament | 1980 | 1981 | 1982 | 1983 | 1984 | 1985 | 1986 | 1987 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Masters | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | CUT |
| U.S. Open U.S. Open (golf) The United States Open Championship, commonly known as the U.S. Open, is the annual open golf tournament of the United States. It is the second of the four major championships in golf, and is on the official schedule of both the PGA Tour and the European Tour... |
CUT | DNP | DNP | T50 | DNP | DNP | CUT | DNP |
| The Open Championship The Open Championship The Open Championship, or simply The Open , is the oldest of the four major championships in professional golf. It is the only "major" held outside the USA and is administered by The R&A, which is the governing body of golf outside the USA and Mexico... |
DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP |
| PGA Championship PGA Championship The PGA Championship is an annual golf tournament conducted by the PGA of America as part of the PGA Tour. It is one of the four major championships in men's professional golf, and is the golf season's final major, usually played in mid-August, customarily four weeks after The Open Championship... |
T20 | 18 | T34 | DNP | CUT | T62 | 69 | DNP |
LA = Low Amateur
DNP = Did not play
CUT = missed the half-way cut
"T" indicates a tie for a place
Green background for wins. Yellow background for top-10.
See also
- Florida GatorsFlorida GatorsThe Florida Gators are the intercollegiate sports teams that represent the University of Florida located in Gainesville, Florida. The "Lady Gators" is an alternative nickname sometimes used by the Gators women's teams...
- Golfers with most PGA Tour winsGolfers with most PGA Tour winsThis is a list of golfers who have won five or more official money events on the PGA Tour.Players under 50 years of age are shown in bold. On his 50th birthday a golfer becomes eligible to compete on the Champions Tour, and he is unlikely to add to his tally of PGA Tour wins after that date This is...
- Golfers with most Champions Tour winsGolfers with most Champions Tour winsThis is a list of all the golfers who have won ten or more official events on the U.S. based Champions Tour, the leading golf tour in the world for men aged 50 and above. The list is up-to-date through August 7, 2011.-See also:...
- List of Florida Gators golfers
- List of Sigma Alpha Epsilon members
- List of University of Florida alumni