| Jimmy McDowall | |
| Fullname: | James McDowall |
| Birth Date: | 1896 |
| Birth Place: | Maybole, Ayrshire, Scotland |
| Death Place: | Ayr, Scotland |
| Status: | Professional |
| Prowins: | 3 |
| Masters: | DNP |
| Usopen: | DNP |
| Open: | T16: 1934 |
| Pga: | DNP |
James McDowall (1896 – 5 November 1944)[1] was a Scottish professional golfer. He was one of the leading Scotland-based professionals of the inter-war period, winning the Northern Open, the Dunlop-Scottish Tournament and the Scottish Professional Championship.
McDowall was an assistant at the Links Golf Club, Newmarket before World War I.[2] He later became the professional at Williamwood Golf Club, Glasgow and then moved to Prestwick Golf Club and, in 1927, to Turnberry.[3]
McDowall won the inaugural Northern Open in 1931 by 7 strokes.[4] The following year he led by 7 strokes after 3 rounds but was caught on the final afternoon and lost a playoff.[5] [6]
McDowall also won the inaugural Dunlop-Scottish Tournament played on the King's course at Gleneagles in October 1933. This was a match-play event, the equivalent of the Scottish Professional Championship which was stroke-play. McDowall received a bye in the first round.[7] After four rounds on the next two days, McDowall reached the final where he played Mark Seymour.[8] [9] Seymour had won three of the previous four Scottish Professional Championships. In the 36-hole final, McDowall was 5 up after 7 holes, although the lead was reduced to 4 holes after the opening round. In the afternoon McDowall won 6 of the first 8 holes to be dormie 10. Seymour then won the next 5 holes before a half at the 14th gave McDowall a 5&4 victory.[10]
McDowall was runner-up in the Scottish Professional Championship in 1933 and 1934 behind Mark Seymour.[11] [12] In 1935 he won the event, finishing 6 strokes clear of the field and 9 ahead of Seymour.[13]
McDowall was a regular competitor in the Open Championship, qualifying for 10 successive years from 1926 to 1935. His best finish was to be tied for 16th place in 1934. He was also a regular in the Scottish team from when the professional international matches were restarted in 1932 until 1936.