Harry Bradshaw (golfer)
Encyclopedia
Harry Bradshaw was a leading Irish
professional golf
er of the 1940s and 1950s.
Bradshaw was born in Delgany
, Wicklow
. He was the son of the Delgany professional golfer Ned Bradshaw and he and his three brothers Jimmy, Eddie and Hughie all became professional golfers. He was a ten-time Irish professional champion between 1941 and 1957, Irish Open
champion in 1947 and 1949, and (with Christy O'Connor
) helped Ireland win the Canada Cup in Mexico in 1958, finishing second in the individual section of the event despite suffering nosebleeds due to the altitude. Bradshaw played in the Ryder Cup in 1953
, 1955
and 1957
. He was twice British Masters champion, in 1953 and 1955.
Bradshaw lost the 1949 The Open Championship
following a playoff against Bobby Locke
at Royal St George's
, after an extraordinary incident in the second round when his drive at the 5th hole came to rest against broken glass from a beer bottle on the fairway. Rather than taking a drop (to which he would probably have been entitled) Bradshaw elected to play the ball as it lay, but was only able to move it slightly forward, dropping the shot. The setback resulted in his tying with Locke with an aggregate of 283, thereby equalling the championship record. However he lost the playoff to Locke. Arguably the incident with the bottle cost Bradshaw the tournament. He won the Irish PGA Championship
10 times in his career, tied with Christy O'Connor Snr
for most wins in that event.
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
professional golf
Golf
Golf is a precision club and ball sport, in which competing players use many types of clubs to hit balls into a series of holes on a golf course using the fewest number of strokes....
er of the 1940s and 1950s.
Bradshaw was born in Delgany
Delgany
Delgany is a village in County Wicklow on the R762 road between Greystones and the N11 road at the Glen of the Downs. It is about south of Dublin City centre....
, Wicklow
Wicklow
Wicklow) is the county town of County Wicklow in Ireland. Located south of Dublin on the east coast of the island, it has a population of 10,070 according to the 2006 census. The town is situated to the east of the N11 route between Dublin and Wexford. Wicklow is also connected to the rail...
. He was the son of the Delgany professional golfer Ned Bradshaw and he and his three brothers Jimmy, Eddie and Hughie all became professional golfers. He was a ten-time Irish professional champion between 1941 and 1957, Irish Open
Irish Open (golf)
The Irish Open is a professional golf tournament on the European Tour, currently played at the end of July or early August each year. The event has been played in many locations on the island; its current home is the Killarney Golf & Fishing Club in County Kerry in southwestern Ireland...
champion in 1947 and 1949, and (with Christy O'Connor
Christy O'Connor Snr
Christy O'Connor is a former Irish professional golferO'Connor was born in Knocknacarra, Galway. He turned professional in 1946. Throughout the 1960s he won at least one professional event during each year on the British Tour, a level of consistent success matched by very few other players...
) helped Ireland win the Canada Cup in Mexico in 1958, finishing second in the individual section of the event despite suffering nosebleeds due to the altitude. Bradshaw played in the Ryder Cup in 1953
1953 Ryder Cup
The 10th Ryder Cup Matches were held at the Wentworth Club in Virginia Water, Surrey, England.The United States team won the competition by a score of 6½ to 5½ points.-Format:The Ryder Cup is a match play event, with each match worth one point...
, 1955
1955 Ryder Cup
The 11th Ryder Cup Matches were held at the Thunderbird Country Club in Rancho Mirage, California.The United States team won the competition by a score of 8 to 4 points.-Format:The Ryder Cup is a match play event, with each match worth one point...
and 1957
1957 Ryder Cup
The 12th Ryder Cup Matches were held at the Lindrick Golf Club in Rotherham, England. The Great Britain team led by captain Dai Rees beat the United States team by a score of 7½ to 4½ points, winning the Ryder Cup for the first time since 1933....
. He was twice British Masters champion, in 1953 and 1955.
Bradshaw lost the 1949 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...
following a playoff against Bobby Locke
Bobby Locke
Arthur D'Arcy "Bobby" Locke was the first internationally successful South African professional golfer. He won four Open Championships.-Early years:...
at Royal St George's
Royal St George's Golf Club
The Royal St George's Golf Club is one of the premier golf clubs in the United Kingdom, and one of the courses on The Open Championship rotation. It has hosted 13 Open championships since 1894, when it became the first club outside Scotland to host the championship...
, after an extraordinary incident in the second round when his drive at the 5th hole came to rest against broken glass from a beer bottle on the fairway. Rather than taking a drop (to which he would probably have been entitled) Bradshaw elected to play the ball as it lay, but was only able to move it slightly forward, dropping the shot. The setback resulted in his tying with Locke with an aggregate of 283, thereby equalling the championship record. However he lost the playoff to Locke. Arguably the incident with the bottle cost Bradshaw the tournament. He won the Irish PGA Championship
Irish PGA Championship
The Irish PGA Championship is a golf tournament played annually in Ireland since 1907. It is one of the oldest golf tournaments in the world, the oldest in the Emerald Isles, and has been played at many different golf courses in Ireland. It is the marquee event on the PGA Tour of Ireland's...
10 times in his career, tied with Christy O'Connor Snr
Christy O'Connor Snr
Christy O'Connor is a former Irish professional golferO'Connor was born in Knocknacarra, Galway. He turned professional in 1946. Throughout the 1960s he won at least one professional event during each year on the British Tour, a level of consistent success matched by very few other players...
for most wins in that event.