Jimmy McDowall explained

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.

Golf career

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.

Professional wins (3)

Results in major championships

Note: McDowall only played in The Open Championship.
CUT = missed the half-way cut
"T" indicates a tie for a place

Team appearances

Notes and References

  1. News: Deaths – M'Dowall . . 14 November 1944 . 1.
  2. News: £400 Professional Tournament . . 24 July 1913 . 13.
  3. News: Scots Golf Professional Dies . . 14 November 1944 . 3.
  4. News: Northern Open tournament . . 1 May 1931 . 4.
  5. News: Thrilling tie at Nairn . . 22 April 1932 . 18.
  6. News: Troon assistant wins Nairn play-off . . 23 April 1932 . 16.
  7. News: Scots Professional Title . . 12 October 1933 . 17.
  8. News: Scots Professional Match-play Title . . 13 October 1933 . 4.
  9. News: Scots Professional Match-play Title . . 14 October 1933 . 17.
  10. News: A Remarkable Final . . 16 October 1933 . 21.
  11. News: Seymour wins again . . 9 June 1933 . 6.
  12. News: Professionals at Nairn: Seymour retains title: M'Dowall second . . 8 June 1934 . 7.
  13. News: M'Dowall wins by six strokes . . 7 June 1935 . 7.