Bruce Devlin Explained

Bruce Devlin
Fullname:Bruce William Devlin
Birth Date:10 October 1937
Birth Place:Armidale, New South Wales, Australia
Weight:158lb
Residence:Weatherford, Texas, U.S.
Spouse:Gloria
Yearpro:1961
Extour:PGA Tour
Champions Tour
Prowins:32
Pgawins:8
Auswins:1
Champwins:1
Otherwins:22
Masters:4th: 1964, 1968
Usopen:T6: 1965
Open:5th: 1964
Pga:T6: 1965
Award1:New Zealand Golf Circuit
money list winner
Year1:1963

Bruce William Devlin (born 10 October 1937) is an Australian professional golfer, sportscaster and golf course designer.[1]

Early life

Devlin was born in Armidale, New South Wales, Australia. Devlin won the Australian Amateur in 1959.

Professional career

In 1961, Devlin turned pro and joined the PGA Tour the following year. During his PGA Tour career, he had eight victories all of which occurred between 1964 and 1972. In 1972, he earned $119,768 and finished eighth on the money list.[2]

In 1970 Devlin teamed with David Graham to represent Australia in the 18th World Cup in Buenos Aires, Argentina. The Australian team held a record advantage of 19 strokes going into the final round. After each of the two Australians shot one-over-par-scores of 73 in the last round, they still won, with a record aggregate of 32-under-par 544 over 144 holes, by eight strokes and finished second and third individually.[3] [4] Devlin and Graham again represented Australia in the 1971 World Cup, but when Devlin was not selected for the event the year after, Graham refused to play and neither Graham nor Devlin participated in any World Cup events again.[5]

At the 72nd hole of the 1975 Andy Williams-San Diego Open Invitational, Devlin shot a 10 after hitting multiple shots into the water in front of the 18th green of the Torrey Pines South Course.[6] The pond was thereafter nicknamed "Devlin’s Billabong".[7]

Devlin is one of only four golfers to have scored a double eagle (three-under-par) at the Masters Tournament. He achieved this in the first round of the 1967 Masters, holing a 4-wood from 248 yards on the par-5 8th hole.

Later career

On the Senior PGA Tour, Devlin won one tournament, the 1995 FHP Health Care Classic. At the end of the 1998 golf season, Devlin decided to retire from the Senior PGA Tour to concentrate on his Golf Course Architecture and Design business and his commitment to ESPN's golf telecasts.[8]

The main focus of Devlin's career in the past 30 years has been his work as a Golf Course Architect and Designer. Devlin has designed and built more than 150 golf courses throughout the world including Australia, Japan, Scotland, the Bahamas, and the United States. About two-thirds of the golf courses he designed have been in Florida and Texas. Many of these courses have hosted all of the professional golf tours, including: The Houston Open, HealthSouth LPGA Classic, Key Biscayne Golf Classic, and The Nike Cleveland Open. His golf design business is based in Scottsdale, Arizona.

Devlin has also worked as a television commentator. He worked for NBC from 1977 to 1982; ESPN from 1983 to 1987; and since 1999 has occasionally covered professional golf for ESPN.

Personal life

Devlin married Gloria in the late 1950s. They have three children, eight grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.

Amateur wins

this list may be incomplete

Professional wins (32)

PGA Tour wins (8)

No.DateTournamentWinning scoreMargin of
victory
Runner(s)-up
115 Mar 1964St. Petersburg Open Invitational−16 (69-64-69-70=272)4 strokes Dan Sikes
222 May 1966Colonial National InvitationE (67-68-70-75=280)1 stroke R. H. Sikes
33 Sep 1966Carling World Open−6 (73-70-74-69=286)1 stroke Billy Casper
427 Apr 1969Byron Nelson Golf Classic−3 (71-66-70-70=277)1 stroke Frank Beard, Bruce Crampton
58 Feb 1970Bob Hope Desert Classic−21 (67-68-68-70-66=339)4 strokes Larry Ziegler
628 Jun 1970Cleveland Open−12 (69-69-66-64=268)4 strokes Steve Eichstaedt
78 May 1972Houston Open−10 (69-70-67-72=278)2 strokes Tommy Aaron, Lou Graham,
Doug Sanders
820 Aug 1972USI Classic−13 (69-68-69-69=275)3 strokes Lee Elder

PGA Tour playoff record (0–3)

No.YearTournamentOpponent(s)Result
11968Bing Crosby National Pro-Am Billy Casper, Johnny PottPott won with birdie on first extra hole
21969Atlanta Classic Bert YanceyLost to birdie on second extra hole
31972Cleveland Open David GrahamLost to birdie on second extra hole

PGA Tour of Australia wins (1)

*Note: The 1983 Air New Zealand Shell Open was shortened to 54 holes due to rain.

New Zealand Golf Circuit wins (3)

No.DateTournamentWinning scoreMargin of
victory
Runner(s)-up
17 Sep 1963Wills Classic−6 (69-74-71-71=287)4 strokes Ted Ball, Kel Nagle
221 Sep 1963Caltex Tournament−18 (68-68-69-69=274)3 strokes Darrell Welch
328 Sep 1963New Zealand Open−11 (68-70-66-69=273)1 stroke Peter Thomson

Other Australian wins (16)

Other wins (3)

Senior PGA Tour wins (1)

*Note: The 1995 FHP Health Care Classic was shortened to 36 holes due to rain.

Senior PGA Tour playoff record (1–0)

Results in major championships

Tournament19621963196419651966196719681969
Masters TournamentCUT4T15T28T104T19
U.S. OpenCUTCUTT6T26T23T9T10
The Open ChampionshipCUTT335T8T4T8T10T16
PGA ChampionshipT39T6T28WDT32
Tournament1970197119721973197419751976197719781979
Masters TournamentT31T13T5T8T31T15T19T42
U.S. OpenT8T27T65CUTT60CUT
The Open ChampionshipT25T37T26T18T39
PGA ChampionshipT18T13CUTT24T22T50T51
Tournament1980198119821983
Masters TournamentT31CUT
U.S. OpenT12T26T10T65
The Open Championship
PGA ChampionshipT30CUT
WD = withdrew
CUT = missed the half-way cut
"T" indicates a tie for a place

Summary

Tournament Wins 2nd 3rd Top-5 Top-10 Top-25 Events Cuts made
0 0 0 3 5 10 17 15
0 0 0 0 5 7 17 13
0 0 0 2 5 8 13 12
PGA Championship 0 0 0 0 1 5 14 11
Totals 0 0 0 5 16 30 61 51

Team appearances

these lists may be incomplete

Amateur

Professional

Notes and References

  1. Web site: About Bruce Devlin . 20 February 2024 . The Devlin Foundation.
  2. Web site: Biographical Information from golfpodium.com . https://web.archive.org/web/20110928231504/http://www.golfpodium.com/Bruce_Devlin.htm. 28 September 2011.
  3. Jenkins . Dan . 23 November 1970 . Australia's Cup Runneth (32) Under . Sports Illustrated . 28–29 . Dan Jenkins.
  4. News: 17 November 1970 . Aussies win cup – but Roberto gets the cheers . The Straits Times . 23.
  5. Book: James, Russell . David Graham: From Ridicule to Acclaim . 18 September 2012 . Ryan Publishing . 9781876498702 . Chapter 4.
  6. http://www.centuryclubofsandiego.org/torrey_pines.php 40th Anniversary – PGA Tour at Torrey Pines
  7. Web site: Featured hole: Torrey Pines .
  8. Web site: Bruce Devlin Golf Course Designer – Career Highlights as Professional Golfer .